He lifted a shoulder. Looked away. “Maybe?”
“Thanks, bro.”
He swallowed. “Now, that hurt.”
She laughed and Mike smiled.
His phone rang as soon as he exited the elevator. “Martinelli.”
Sierra couldn’t help herself. She paused, listening. He nodded. “When?”
She stopped at the concern on his face. Frowned.
“Keep trying.” He hung up.
“What? And remember, I know when you’re lying.”
His mouth tightened. “Rowan’s phone went dark.”
She stared at him. “I thought you said you were sending backup.”
“We did—we went to the mayor’s office, but no one was there. And Alden’s phone has fallen off the grid too.”
She stared at him. “You don’t know where they are.”
“Could mean anything,” Mike said. “He might have turned off his phone to avoid detection.”
“Or Alden found him,” Sierra said quietly.
“We have BOLOs out,” Mike said. “State police, federal agents, local search and rescue. If they’re out there, we’ll find them.”
Not if Rowan didn’t want them to. “We need to get home,” she said finally.
“I’ll drive you. And stay until Rowan gets back,” Mike offered. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Thank you.”
She picked up Huck from the cafeteria and got a hug from Bailey. “Call me if you need anything,” Bailey said.
The automatic doors opened, and the cool evening air washed over them.
Somewhere out there in the darkness, Rowan had morphed into the previous version of himself.
She—they—needed that version tonight. Right now.
But…Rowan, please come home.
The words carried on the mountain wind, a prayer and a promise wrapped together. She would wait. She would hope. She would believe in the man she loved and the future they could build together.
But first, Hammer had to survive the night.
Fifteen
No need for this to get crazy. Rowan gripped the steering wheel tighter as he navigated the winding road toward the Jenkins place, his knuckles white against the worn leather. He just wanted to talk. That was all. Have a conversation between two adults about attempted murder and decades of lies.
Talk. Right.
Maybe with some hurt added—no. He cut off that thought before it could take root. He wasn’t Alden.
