And even though my thoughts are still whirling with the new information, I’m exhausted enough to fall back asleep.
Chapter 24
Oakley
I don’t sleep a wink.
Willow is sleeping soundly beside me, and I’m a stone’s throw away from a panic attack.
I watch through the blinds as the sun starts to rise, and I know things are about to change today. It’s something I both want no part of and know that I need to finish. Tennison needs to be stopped, and Woodcroft and I are the ones to do it.We have to be the ones to do it.
I was serious when I told Willow I couldn’t lose her. Serious when I said I needed her to be safe. Hell, I almost told her I loved her, but it wouldn’t be fair to her. What if something does happen to me? I couldn’t tell her that and then not come back to her—that’s a whole different level of cruelty.
A sharp knock at my door tells me my time with Willow is up. She starts to stir next to me as I get out of bed.
“That was the door?” she asks with a sleep-roughened voice.
“Yeah.” I sigh.
“I’ll meet you out there,” she says as she swings her legs over the side of the bed.
I nod as I throw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Walking to the front door, I open it, and find Woodcroft and Sheriff at my front step.
“Thought we’d make it a party,” Woodcroft says, far too happily.
“Great,” I grumble and open the door so they can come in.
As they make themselves at home in my living room, Willow comes out in a pair of leggings and one of my shirts, making it more than obvious what transpired last night.
“Morning, Willow,” Sheriff says, not trying to hide his smirk.
“Morning. Coffee?” she asks them both before looking up at me.
I nod and join the men, hoping it will shield her from the worst of this conversation.
“What do we know?” I ask, not beating around the bush.
“We know he was spotted again last night near Austin. A gas station, but he was gone before anyone could get there. He grabbed a bag of chips and filled up on gas before hitting the road again. Paid in cash. We received another tip about the same car on the eastern side of the national park,” Woodcroft says.
“So, how do we get him? How do we stop him?” I ponder, still not any closer to a solution.
“Well, I think it’s positive you know where he’s going. That helps with the end game.” Willow’s voice reaches my ears.
“Willow, go home. You don’t need to be here for this,” I say offhandedly. I just need her far away from this, but I don’t think about my actual words.
“Oh, shit,” Sheriff mumbles under his breath as Willow cocks her hip.
“Too bad,” she says simply before plopping down in the dining room chair she’s been using to write. She gives me a hard stare, daring me to tell her to leave again, but Lord knows I can’t tell her what to do in any situation.
“I like her.” Woodcroft holds out his hand. “Name’s Kellen Woodcroft. Nice to meet you.”
She takes it with a smile. A growl escapes my throat, and they both laugh.
“Willow Hutton. Lovely to meet you as well.”
“I think she’s right. This is a leg-up we’ve never had,” Woodcroft says.
“Thank you,” Willow says as she tucks her feet and takes a sip of her coffee.
