Seb steps closer and wraps his arm across my collarbone, pulling me into his embrace. “Should we do anything?” he asks the group.
“Although disturbing, there is nothing outright threatening in the photos. They are all in public places,” Alex replies, worry furrowing his brows with his thinking face on.
“Sunshine, are you comfortable staying here now?” Seb asks.
I think through my feelings. Whoever this is, is obviously watching us and knows we are two hours from home, which means they’ve been following us or are tracking us somehow. I’m uneasy,but damn, I’m tired of other people affecting my life so much. I want to enjoy our last weekend of summer together. “If Nick thinks it’s okay, I want to stay.”
We retake our seats and wait for Nick, with me sitting on Seb’s lap. After a few more minutes, Nick comes back to stand in front of us, looking agitated. “What did Troy say?” Seb asks.
“He’s gonna contact the FBI and wants the photos.”
“Are we safe staying here?” I ask.
Nick nods, then points at all of us. “Stay alert. No one goes anywhere alone. He’s taunting us, but I don’t know his endgame.”
We agree as everyone settles around the fire, lost in their own thoughts. “Hurry, I was going to sleep with you and E but I don’t want to leave Nick alone tonight,” I whisper.
“Good idea, Sunshine,” Seb says, squeezing my waist.
I request we move our tents closer together tonight, and the guys agree, so we take some time to move the smaller ones beside E and Seb, then go to bed. Their tent and items all dried nicely today. I remember to charge my phone, then snuggle into Nick’s side. “Can you contact your hacker friend when we get back, Grumpy?”
“I will,” Nick says as he turns on a movie for us.
Chapter 4
Summer
Monday morning, after a run around another new trail, we take turns showering while E cooks for us, then we pack up our stuff. Once we are loaded up, I take one last look around. “So, what do you guys think of camping?” I ask.
“It was fun, Sunshine,” Seb says. “But I’m never putting that tent together again.” The guys all agree with that.
“Relaxing,” Alex adds.
“Yeah. It was nice to get away from everything for a few days,” E replies.
I look toward Nick, who just nods. Bay agrees it was an enjoyable weekend too.
When we get back to Mt. Pleasant, we stop at Bay’s house first and unload his bags. I say hi to Olivia and chat with her while the guys dig out his stuff. Next, we stop at my house. Zander comes outside to greet us as I unload my bags and tent. We’re also keeping the extra gear here up in the loft. Everyone helps me unload and carry it upstairs. We switch Nick and Seb’s stuff to the Jeep, and the guys divide up the leftover food. Once we’re done, I give everyone a hug before they leave.
Zander helps me carry my bags inside. “So how was it, darling?”
“Fun outside of the photos. The campground was well-run and clean. It was peaceful.”
“I’m glad you had fun. Tell me more about the photos,” he says, concern etching his features.
“They were of all of us except Nick. We were at work, outside Finn or, in my case, the plantation. Someone took them from a distance, so while disturbing, they weren’t invasive.”
Zander contemplates for a minute before sighing deeply. “I don’t like this, darling. I’m paranoid after what happened in the spring. The FBI can’t do much but watch for him since he’s out of state and hasn’t committed a crime.”
“I know. I promise I won’t go anywhere alone, but I don’t know what else to do.” Photos, although unpleasant, aren’t overly threatening. Do I like people taking pictures of me? No, but compared to what I’ve been through, it’s not that big a deal to me. Thinking back, the flowers on my locker last year didn’t seem like a big deal either, but they led to my kidnapping. Yeah, perhaps I should be more concerned.
“I’ve informed Officer Sean, so he’s aware. He has Patrick’s picture posted so the cops know to keep an eye out.”
“Nick is watching too, and he's gonna contact his hacker friend to do some digging.”
Zander comes over to pull me into a hug. “Be vigilant, my darling. I want you back in training with Nick regularly now that school is starting. Are you carrying your pepper spray?”
“Yes, always, but I can’t bring it into school. I was thinking we could store one in each of the guys’ vehicles, so I have access to it right after school.”
