Caleb needed to help—but first he needed to find someone to stay here with Millie. Peace of mind was important, and being here alone to wonder what was going on wouldn’t be good for her.
“Naomi?” Caleb raised his voice just enough for his sister to hear.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway as Naomi rushed from the office.
She paused, and their gazes connected, unspoken conversations taking place between them.
“I’ll stay here while you check it out,” she murmured.
“Thanks. We’ll be right back.”
He stepped outside.
The temperature had dropped even more while he’d been in the house. The cold hit him, the air sharp enough to burn his lungs. The security lights outside the kennel were on now, casting long shadows across the packed dirt and fencing.
The dogs barked in sharp, overlapping bursts.
It was probably nothing, Caleb told himself again.
But nothing was ever guaranteed.
He moved toward the kennel.
They had the ability to house twenty dogs, each with their own run. The kennel itself even had a different driveway and entrance from the house so they could keep things secure.
Right now, thirteen dogs were boarded in the kennel.
It wasn’t unusual for them to bark. In fact, one dog could usually set off all of them.
Caleb had been on edge lately. Too much was going on. This place had too many enemies. There were too many reasons for the shelter to fail.
But he wouldn’t let his sister down. He was doing this for her.
Whatever had riled the dogs, he intended to find it.
The barking didn’t stop, Millie mused as she sat at the table with Naomi.
Millie should have known better than to think she was safe.
Hope wasneverthat simple.
Her chest tightened as her thoughts continued to spin.
What if Garrick really had found her? What if his presence had set the dogs off?
She’d been careful when she left. And Max had checked her car for trackers and hadn’t found any. She had a burner phonethat Garrick didn’t know about—she’d only used it to text people here at Refuge Cove.
Was it even possible for Garrick to follow her? She wanted to say no, it wasn’t possible.
But he always seemed to excel at getting what he wanted. That had made him one of the best defense attorneys in DC.
The thought settled in fast and heavy, a weight she couldn’t shake.
A hand closed gently around her arm.
Millie flinched, breath catching. Then she forced herself to look up.
Naomi had risen from her chair and stood close—close enough that Millie could feel the warmth from her arm.
