“Report.”
I keep it tight. “Austin apartment intrusion. Heard movement upstairs from neighbor’s place. Two males on stairwell. Used cover to exit. No police. Disposed of phone. Brought her straight here.”
Gray’s expression doesn’t change. Only his eyes sharpen.
“Did they see her?”
“No.”
“Follow?”
“Not that I caught.”
Gray’s gaze slides to Sierra’s bag for half a second, then back to her face. He’s good. He notices everything without acting like he’s looking.
Sierra shifts, like she feels the attention on her bag.
Gray keeps his voice even. “You did right calling. You’re safe here for the night. In the morning, we’ll go over everything. Start from the first minute you felt off. Every detail matters.”
Sierra nods, but her eyes are glassy with fatigue. She’s running on adrenaline and grief and sheer stubbornness. She’s going to crash hard the second she feels truly contained.
Gray looks back at me. “You staying with her.”
It’s not a question.
“I planned to,” I say.
That earns me the smallest pause. The barest lift of his brow.
It’s subtle, but I catch it. So does Sierra, I think. Her gaze flicks between us like she’s trying to read a conversation that isn’t being spoken out loud.
Gray’s voice goes dry. “Your cabin?”
I don’t blink. “Closest. Easiest to lock down. One entrance. I know the approach routes.”
“Sure,” Gray says. “And I’m a pop singer.”
Sierra’s mouth twitches, surprised by the humor.
Gray’s gaze stays on me. “You’re taking an asset to your cabin. That’s new.”
“It’s practical,” I say.
Gray steps closer, voice lowering. “We’ll do the full debrief at first light. Until then, you stay on comms. If anything feels wrong, anything, you call.”
“Copy.”
His eyes cut to Sierra again. “You need water? Food? Anything before you go?”
Sierra swallows. “I’m just tired.”
Gray nods. “Sleep. We’ll be busy tomorrow.”
Sierra’s shoulders ease, just a fraction.
Gray steps back. “Go.”
We get back in the truck and pull away from the main building. The Ranch rolls out around us, fields and fences and lights stretching like a private world.
