“Right, tell me you have good news?”
“Wish I could, but we followed the trail down to the city, and just nothing. Just that one message telling us that we’ve lost. I don’t know if we got the right person, Vale. I’m starting to think he’s still alive.”
Vale glares at the ensuite.
“What are you thinking?” The idea that we fucked up this monumentally is causing this unfamiliar bubble of fear. Not for us, but for Bonnie. I have something to lose, something I want to protect. If this asshole has escaped our net again…well, I don’t know what I’ll do, but it won’t be pretty.
“I’m thinking something terrible.”
“What?”
“I’m thinking that if I were him, I’d send a taunt like that only if I knew who he was.”
My stomach drops out, but it confirms the horrible thoughts I was having last night. “How?”
“I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.” Vale stands up and then hesitates. “From now on, we stay with her. At least one person at all times.”
“Where are you going, Vale?”
“Back to the city, there’s something about where he left the letter that has my senses tingling. I’ll go alone and be back tonight.”
“It’s not safe alone. Take Rory.”
Vale winks at me, his calm confidence returning in a second. “Nah, I got this. You guys look after our girl. I’m going hunting.”
I watch him get ready and then walk him out to the car.
“You drive safely. Have a look around and come back,” I say and pull him into me, hugging him hard. He kisses me and then gets in the car.
I watch him until I can’t see it anymore.
“What do you want?” I snap, turning to find Pix right behind me.
“Checking on my girl.”
“She’s not yours. She’s fine. Sleeping.”
Pix makes a disbelieving sound.
“Come in, there’s lasagna cooking.”
I lead him into the house and find Rory stretched out on the couch with her asleep on top of him.
Pix stops dead.
“What?”
“She doesn’t sleep.”
“Pardon?”
“She never sleeps with strangers in her room, even family. The exception is when she’s out on the guides, but she sleeps so lightly, even a crack of a twig will wake her. She doesn’t sleep with people around her, not even me.”
“She slept in my arms all night. She always has,” I say without thinking.
Pix hums, which draws the attention of Kota.
“Well, hello, friend of my love.”
