Not to fear.
To me.
I nodded once. “Okay.”
I moved toward the small table where I’d left my bag. Pulled out a satellite radio and set it down, then checked the time.
1:17 a.m.
The town was sleeping.
But danger didn’t sleep.
I clicked the radio on, low.
Static hissed, then Wolf’s voice came through, rough and steady.
“Trigger.”
I picked it up. “Go.”
“We’re set,” Wolf said. “Town’s quiet. Nora’s resting. She’s having contractions, but nothing consistent yet. I’m not leaving her side.”
“Copy.”
“And your girl?” Wolf asked.
I glanced at Rylie. She was watching me, listening even though she couldn’t hear the radio.
“She’s safe,” I said.
Wolf exhaled like he’d been holding his breath. “Good. Keep it that way. If Thomas makes a move, we’ll see it.”
“I know.”
Static crackled again.
Then Wolf’s voice dropped, lower. “Trigger… don’t underestimate him.”
My grip tightened on the radio. “I’m not.”
“Good.” A beat. “Because I’ve got a feeling he’s about to show us who he really is.”
The radio hissed and went quiet.
I set it down slowly.
Rylie’s voice came softly from the couch. “What did he say?”
I walked to her, stopping a few feet away.
“That the town’s quiet,” I said. “That Nora’s okay, having light contractions.”
Her face softened at Nora’s name—like the idea of someone else being safe mattered more than her own fear.
Then she swallowed. “And Thomas?”
I held her gaze, no sugarcoating, no false comfort.
