The room went still.
Olivia pushed off the wall, her face tightening in shock and then disgust. “I knew it,” she spat out. “I knew there had to be a reason you said that.”
She crossed the room in two quick strides and wrapped her arms around her sister. Ava let out a choked sound and clung to her.
“I’m sorry,” Ava muttered, her voice muffled against Olivia’s shoulder. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You’re safe now,” Olivia told her, pulling back just enough to look her in the eye. “We’re going to find Jason. And we’re going to end this.”
Delaney felt the knot in her chest ease slightly. For the first time since they’d stepped into this nightmare, it felt like the sisters were really on the same side again. And Delaney very much intended to “end this” as well. First though, they needed answers and more information.
Delaney leaned in. “Do you know who left the notes?” she asked Ava.
Ava eased back from Olivia. “I assumed it was Hale. He was always watching me. Always pretending to help.”
“We’re going after him,” Eli assured her. “The warrant has gone through. A team’s being assembled now.”
Ava’s wide eyes flicked to him. “What if he already hurt Jason? What if I was too late?”
“You weren’t,” Delaney said, sliding a hand over hers. “We’re going to find him.”
Ava obviously wasn’t convinced about that. The worry was still on her face. “What about those men outside the barn, the ones who came after me? Did you find them?”
Delaney figured there was worry on her own face, too. She had to shake her head. “They got away, but there are people searching for them as well.”
In this case, people meant an entire Crossfire Ops team who specialized in tracking. Delaney hoped they could find those SOBs soon so they could learn who’d sent them after Ava.
The door creaked open and a nurse stepped inside. “Visiting hours are over,” she reminded them. “And the doctor has ordered a sedative to help Ava rest tonight.”
Olivia straightened from the chair near the bed. “We’re not leaving her.”
Vivian stood too, her chin lifted. “Neither ofus is going anywhere.”
The nurse gave a resigned nod. “I figured. I’ll bring in a couple of cots and have dinner trays sent up.” She offered a small smile to Ava, then left the room without pressing the issue.
Delaney exchanged a look with Eli, then stepped closer to the bed. “We’ll check in tomorrow,” she said.
“Thank you,” Vivian said softly. “For bringing her back.”
Delaney gave a small nod, her gaze meeting Olivia’s briefly. There was a weight behind Olivia’s eyes, but also strength. They were shaken, but standing.
She and Eli stepped out into the hallway, letting the door close quietly behind them. A deputy stood to the right of the door, posture stiff and alert. He was in his early forties, tall with dark blond hair and a strong jaw. His name tag read “Griffin.”
“Deputy Griffin,” Delaney greeted. “You’ve got the detail for the night?”
He nodded. “Yes, ma’am. No one gets in or out without clearance from Sheriff Chase or Noah.”
“Good,” Eli said.
A few steps down the hall, they spotted Noah. He looked up as they approached, hands in his jacket pockets, jaw set in that way that told Delaney his mind hadn’t stopped turning since they left the scene.
“Let’s talk,” Noah said as they made their waytoward the exit.
As the elevator doors closed, the low hum of movement filled the silence. Noah turned to them.
“How’s Ava?” he asked.
Delaney exhaled. “Physically she’s fine. A few scrapes and bruises, but nothing serious. Mentally? She’s shaken. Really shaken. Finding her boyfriend would help with that.”
