“The guest room door was open this morning. Her things were gone and your door was closed.” He shrugs, that damn smirk widening. “I can put two and two together.”
“It was practical. The bed is bigger.”
“Practical.” Aldar’s eyes gleam with amusement. “And was it also ‘practical’ what I heard from the bathroom this morning? Sounded like you were in distress. Should I have called for help?”
Heat crawls up my neck, but I refuse to be embarrassed in front of my family. These males have all been through this—or will be.
“You’ll understand when it happens to you,” I say flatly. “And I think it will. Soon.”
Aldar’s smirk falters. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Lucy.” I let the name hang in the air. “How many hours a day are you on the phone with her now?”
“That’s different.” His arms tighten across his chest. “We’re just talking.”
“You pace the backyard every night while you talk to her. Garlen’s security cameras don’t lie.”
Dane chuckles from his armchair. “He does pace. Laurie’s noticed too.”
“That doesn’t mean—” Aldar starts.
“You’ve never talked to any female this much,” I press. “Never been interested. Never cared. And now you’re glued to your phone every night, talking to a human who lives across the country. That’s how it started for me, you know. And now look where I am.”
Silence.
Garlen’s voice is quiet, thoughtful. “Have you considered that Lucy might be?—”
“She’s not.” Aldar’s voice is sharp. Too sharp. “I’d know. My body would react. It hasn’t.”
“Would you know?” Dane asks gently. “You haven’t scented her. You’ve only heard her voice.”
Aldar looks away. His jaw is tight. For once, my confident cousin has no clever response. “Can we get back to the actual threat assessment?” he mutters.
Dane leans forward in his chair. “The neighborhood watch is active. Any unfamiliar vehicles will be flagged immediately. I’m coordinating with local contacts—some of the neighbors from Garlen and Ellie’s wedding have become trusted allies.”
“The safe room in the basement is prepped and stocked,” Garlen adds. “We learned from what happened with Anna. We’re better prepared now.”
I stop pacing long enough to add my piece. “Secure communications are established. Sloane’s working on organizing her evidence and writing the article. Her editor at the Washington Post knows she went dark—she’ll reach out through secure channels today.”
“Timeline?” Dane asks.
“A few days to a week to publish. Depending on legal review.”
Garlen nods slowly. “So the race is getting the story published before Aldridge finds her.”
“Yes.” I resume pacing. “And we need to be ready in case he finds her first.”
We discuss tactical planning and agree that Sloane doesn’t leave the house. Someone is always with her. We rotate watch shifts at night. Aldar continues law enforcement coordination. I work with Sloane on the story—help however she needs.
“What about after?” Dane asks. “Once the story is published?”
“Aldridge will be arrested. The FBI contacts I’ve cultivated are solid. Once the evidence goes public, they can move.”
“And if he’s not arrested immediately?”
I meet my uncle’s eyes. “Then we keep her safe until he is.”
“For how long?”
