I wasn’t sure how long I stood there staring at it. The stupid white card was identical to the others Amos had left for my family over the years. The ones that had eventually chased them into hiding.
“What the hell is this?” I asked August.
Palmer straightened in her chair. “What does it say?”
I ignored her and stared my brother down, my glare demanding answers.
August sighed and lifted his coffee mug, taking a slow drink before setting it down on the counter beside him. “It seems like he’s targeting her.”
Something inside me snapped.
I crushed the card in my fist.
Palmer reached for my hand, carefully tugging the crumpled card from my grip. I let her take it, though every instinct in my body screamed not to let her.
She smoothed the card open, her fingers flattening the creases as she read the message.
Her body went very still, but she didn’t seem afraid.
If anything, her eyes sharpened, like anger had taken root where fear should have been.
I dragged my gaze away from her and looked at Graham. “What does this mean?”
If anyone understood the twisted logic inside monsters like Amos Anderson, it was Graham.
My brother ran a thumb along his jaw. “I don’t think he actually cares about Palmer,” he said. “But he does seem to know that Palmer is important to you.”
My teeth ground together.
“Why would he care if Palmer is important to me?” I snapped, jabbing a finger to my chest. “I have no connection to this monster.”
“We all have a connection to him.” Reid joined us at the table. He crossed his arms, his shoulders stiff and tight.
“Ever since I married Lark, and Emersyn fell for August,” he continued, “a target was put on our entire family.”
Conflicting emotions crossed his face, frustration battling guilt. “I don’t think it matters that you don’t personally have a connection to him. You have a connection to us, and that’s enough.”
I shoved both hands through my hair, gripping the dark strands as I tried to calm the storm raging through me. The idea of Amos anywhere near Palmer made something violent coil inside me, ready to strike.
“What’s the plan?” I snapped at August.
Something dangerously close to uncertainty crossed his face.
I didn’t like that one bit.
“We’re still going to stick with the original plan,” he said carefully. “Use the fundraiser as a distraction.”
My brow furrowed as my hands dropped to my sides. I clenched them so tightly my nails dug into my palms. “The fundraiser isn’t for another four days.”
August didn’t waver. “It’s still our best bet.”
I shook my head. “No. I can’t leave her vulnerable to him for that long.”
Finally, I turned toward Palmer. “You should go back to the safe house.”
She was still holding the card, staring at it like she was memorizing every word.
“No,” she said, calm but firm as steel. “I’m not running.”
