Page 72 of Mountain Void

And you sat by and let it happen.

He’d lost her because he hadn’t fought hard enough for them.

That was the truth.

For the longest time, nothing moved around him except the river. Shadows fell, but Lorenz barely noticed.

Eventually, a single light appeared on the far side of the bridge, cutting a pale path through the darkness.

The engine died. Lorenz narrowed his eyes, recognizing Beau’s motorbike an instant before the other man spoke.

“Lorenz?”

Lorenz stood up awkwardly, his legs protesting. Pins and needles shot through his feet. He reached out with a half-frozen hand, grabbing onto the railing before his knees could give way. Only then did he register the cold.

“I’m here.”

Beau’s long strides ate the distance between them in a matter of seconds. He took one look at Lorenz and immediately shrugged out of his uniform jacket.

“Put this on.”

“I’m fine,” Lorenz stammered, but the words came out slower than he’d intended.

Beau ignored him, placing the jacket over his shoulders.

The warmth felt foreign.

“What are you doing here?” Lorenz asked.

“Looking for you.” There was an edge behind Beau’s calm voice. “We’re all looking for you.”

Lorenz’s stomach tightened.

“Is everyone okay? Is Charlie okay?”

He’d promised to take care of her, and then he’d left her. Alone. Once again.

Beau sighed. “She’s fine. She’s the one who called, when she couldn’t reach you.”

Lorenz frowned. “I must have left my phone at home. What time is it?”

“A little after midnight.” Beau pulled out his phone. “Let me send a message to let everyone know you’re okay.”

“Charlie …”

“She’s at your place. Ry and Isla are with her.” Beau studied him for a long time. “What’s going on, man?”

“I … I needed time to think,” Lorenz said, realizing how pathetic he sounded.

“Are you done thinking?” Beau asked. “She was really worried.”

Lorenz thought of Charlie’s tear-streaked face as he’d left the house. He tried to imagine how scared she must have been to call his friends.

And he’d been the one to do that to her.

Lorenz closed his eyes briefly.

“I need to go home. I need to talk to her.”