“Yes, he is.”
“Thank God. It’s Monday morning and when he didn’t show up for school—”
“Shit.” Leni winced at the curse that slipped past her lips in front of Riley. There were far worse things she needed to tell Carla right away too. Taking the phone into another room, she closed the door behind her and kept her voice just above a whisper. “Something happened last night.”
“No kidding,” Carla replied, anxiety lacing her voice. “Travis Parrish is dead, Len. The bartender at Tall Timbers found his body late last night in the parking lot behind the pub. Someone strangled him. From what everyone’s saying, it sounds like someone wanted to make damn sure Travis was dead. His larynx was crushed like it had been in a vise and his spinal column was practically severed in the process.”
Leni couldn’t feel remorse for the brutality of his death. Not after what he’d done to Shannon. Not after Knox had told her about Travis’s history of hurting women. All she felt was gratitude that no one else would ever fall victim to him again.
“I know he’s dead.”
Silence stretched on the other end of the line. “It was Knox, wasn’t it?” Carla didn’t wait for Leni to confirm. “Oh, God, Leni. Sheriff Barstow’s got deputies crawling all over town looking for him as we speak. They’re looking for you too. Are you and Riley okay? Where are you?”
“We’re fine. We’re somewhere safe.”
Carla exhaled a relieved sigh. “Please stay there until this blows over. I’m worried about you. Dwight and Jeb Parrish are talking about organizing some kind of posse to search for you guys. Leni, they’re out for blood.”
Although it shouldn’t have come as any surprise, hearing that Travis’s brothers were already seeking retribution put a knot of cold dread in her veins. “They won’t find us. Knox arranged for a safe house from the Order. The Order’s sending a team up from Boston at sundown tonight to come and get us.”
“The Order?” Carla’s voice took on a soberer tone. “Where will you go?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Damn, girl. This shit’s really real, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“But you’re okay?”
“I am,” Leni assured her. “I’m better than okay, Carla. Knox and I . . . we’re together. We’re in love. Last night, he drank my blood. And I drank his.”
“Holy shit. Do you mean you two are—”
“Blood bonded,” Leni confirmed, giddy just to say the words. “In spite of everything else going on right now, I’ve never been happier in my life.”
“I can hear it in your voice,” Carla said. “Then again, I heard it in your voice the last time I saw you too. You deserve to be happy, Leni. No matter where you have to go to find it. I mean that.”
“I know you do. Thank you.”
She had been struggling to come to grips with the idea of leaving Parrish Falls, telling herself that no matter where she ended up she would be okay so long as she was with Knox and Riley. But the idea of leaving her best friend opened a fresh ache inside her.
“I’ll be in touch as soon as I can, Carla. This isn’t goodbye.”
“It better not be, bitch.” She laughed, knowing just how to take the sting out of any situation. “I’m going to be expecting an invitation to your wedding. Is that even a thing with the Breed?”
Leni smiled. “I don’t know. I’ll have to find out and let you know.”
“You do that. And while you’re at it, tell Knox to fix me up with his hottest brother as my date.”
Leni laughed. “I love you, you know that?”
“Yeah, I do. Love you back, girl.” She sniffled a little bit. “Miss you already.”
“Same.”
They ended the call, and when Leni walked back into the kitchen she found Knox waiting there with Riley. His handsome face was schooled into a calm expression, but she could sense the concern in him. She could feel it through their bond.
He came over to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Are you okay? I was on the phone with Razor when I felt your pulse spike. Riley told me you took a call from Carla.”
