I wanted to argue. Every instinct screamed at me to stay with my mate, to be by her side, to protect her from whatever new horror was unfolding. But Noah was right. Someone needed to stay with the kids. Someone needed to coordinate.
And I’d made this mess by drinking instead of dealing with my problems like a goddamn adult.
“Go,” I said to Noah, the word tasting like ash in my mouth. “Take care of her.”
“Always do.”
Lina was already out the door, not even looking back at me. The bond between us was still muted on her end, still locked down tight. I couldn’t feel what she was feeling, couldn’t sense her emotions. She was shutting me out, and I deserved every second of it.
Noah followed her out and a moment later I heard the car engine start and tires crunching on gravel as they pulled away.
I stood there in the kitchen, fists clenched at my sides, and fought the urge to put my fist through the wall.
Stupid. Fucking stupid. I’d been sitting here feeling sorry for myself while my mate needed me. While her livelihood was being threatened. While everything she’d worked so hard to build was in danger of being destroyed.
I grabbed my phone and called Hunt first. He answered on the second ring.
“What’s wrong?” No greeting. No pleasantries. Hunt could always tell when I was in crisis mode.
“Someone’s trying to torch Pine Valley shop. Lina’s on her way there with Noah. I need you here to help with the twins, then we’re following them.”
“On my way.” He hung up without another word.
Next I called my parents. My mother answered, her voice groggy with sleep.
“Knox? What time is it?”
“There’s an emergency. I need you and Dad to come to the house now. The twins are asleep and I need someone to watch them.”
“What’s happening?”
“I’ll explain when you get here. Just hurry.”
I hung up before she could ask more questions. Then I paced the kitchen, waiting, my anxiety climbing higher with every passing second.
The bond was still muted, but I could feel echoes of Lina’s fear. Her grief. Her determination to get to Pine Valley as fast as possible. Every mile that separated us felt like a blade in my chest.
My parents arrived first, both of them looking worried and disheveled. They’d clearly thrown on whatever clothes were closest and rushed over. My father’s shirt was buttoned wrong. My mother wasn’t wearing any makeup, which was practically unheard of for Serena Raven.
“What’s going on?” my father demanded as he walked through the door.
“Someone’s trying to set fire to Lina’s coffee shop in Pine Valley. She’s on her way there now with Noah.” I ran a hand through my hair. “There’s more. Things I should have told you weeks ago.”
They both went still, their expressions shifting from worried to wary.
“Lina’s been receiving threats,” I continued. “Someone’s been targeting her. Threatening her and the babies. We’ve been keeping her on lockdown because we thought it was the safest option.”
“Who’s behind the threats?” my mother asked.
“Mary Thorne. She escaped from house arrest about a month ago. Took Cole’s baby with her. We’ve been searching for her but haven’t been able to track her down.”
The silence that followed was deafening. My parents exchanged looks, a whole conversation passing between them in the span of seconds.
“You kept this from us,” my father said finally. His voice was calm, but I could see the fury simmering beneath the surface.
“I was trying to contain the situation.”
“By keeping your family in the dark? By not telling us that our grandchildren were in danger?” My mother’s voice rose sharply. “Knox, how could you be so foolish?”
