BANG. BANG. BANG.
I flinched, my pulse racing.
“Palmer!”
I stifled a gasp, recognizing the voice, but not able to fully place it. It wasn’t Jude.
There was a small window beside the door, and I pushed back the curtain just enough to glimpse outside.
The pounding came again.
“Palmer! Open up!” the voice shouted. “Something happened!”
My entire body went cold.
I leaned closer to the glass, squinting through the darkness until I could make out the figure standing on the porch.
It was the man I’d met the day Hearthstone burned. It was Nolan, Roman’s brother-in-law.
Why the hell would Nolan be here?
I stepped back to the door but didn’t open it right away. There was a chain lock still secured across the frame. I left it in place and cracked the door open enough to peek out.
Nolan’s eyes were wide with panic. The second he saw me, he leaned forward, bracing his hands against the sides of the door.
“Thank God you’re in there, Palmer,” he said, panting, as if he’d run here. “Something happened to Roman.”
Terror exploded through me. “What do you mean?” I demanded.
“He sent me to get you,” Nolan said, his tone urgent. “You need to hurry. Let’s go.”
He reached for me, but the chain stopped the door from opening wider.
My hand moved toward the chain, but I hesitated, trying to keep a sound mind amid the frantic thoughts.
I glanced out into the darkness beyond the porch. I thought there was a faint glint of a vehicle somewhere in the trees, but it was too dark to make out clearly.
“Where’s Jude?” I asked.
“He already left,” Nolan said without hesitation. “He went to help Roman and the others.”
Panic clawed up my throat at the thought of Roman being hurt, but I forced myself to remain as calm as I could.
“I didn’t know you were part of this,” I said slowly.
Nolan blinked at me like I’d said something ridiculous.
“Of course I am,” he said. “I’m Roman’s brother, too. He kept me up to date on what was going on in case they needed me to help.”
I stared at him, my brain racing and wishing that I had my phone.
Nolan was agitated, like I was wasting precious time. “Palmer, come on. We don’t have time for this.” He shook his head. “How else would I know where you were?”
He had a point.
No one else should know where I was.
“What happened to Roman?” I repeated.
