It was ridiculous and loud and…perfect in its own way. No one refused the little girl, as if she were the most important person in the room.
I let myself smile, watching the way this family moved together so easily. They leaned into one another, comfortable and content with who they were and where they fit into the group.
They were rooted. I’d lived with many families and people throughout the years, but the Ramseys felt sorightthat it scared me.
I let myself imagine what it would feel like to be part of something like this. Something so full of a love that seemed as close to unconditional as I’d ever experienced.
I hadn’t realized how much I craved something like this.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, distracting me.
I was going to ignore it, but the only person who would be texting me was Roman. As I pulled my phone from my pocket, an unknown number flashed on the front screen.
Someone I didn’t know had sent me a picture.
With one swipe, I opened the message and my breath stalled.
A candid photo of Roman popped up, taken at a distance. He was mid-stride, jaw tight, head bowed as he walked up the steps of the bed-and-breakfast.
Beneath the image was a single butterfly emoji.
The room around me blurred. My fingers went cold. I tried to rationalize what I was seeing, tried not to panic before I had a reason to, but deep in my gut I knew something was wrong.
My phone buzzed again.
You shouldn’t have left him alone.
My vision tunneled.
I couldn’t hear the fire crackling anymore. Couldn’t hear Hailey’s giggles. It all faded against the tsunami of panic and anxiety.
“Palmer?”
The voice came from somewhere to my left.
I blinked up at Graham’s baby-blue eyes.
His posture shifted immediately in the armchair he was sitting in. “What is it?”
I couldn’t speak. My fingers trembled as I gripped my phone.
August stopped mid-dramatic death scene and turned toward me, his expression changing the moment he saw my face.
He crossed the room in three strides. “Palmer,” he said quietly. “What happened?”
I swallowed and held out the phone.
He took it from me, his jaw tightening as he saw the message. “When did this come in?”
“Just now,” I whispered.
He didn’t say a word for a beat, but handed the phone to Fox.
“Trace it,” August instructed.
Fox was already pulling his own phone from his pocket, movements precise and controlled.
The shift in the room was immediate and chilling. Reid stood up and Graham moved toward the windows, staring out into the darkness.
