Page 85 of The Moment He Couldn’t Walk Away

“Come on.” Finch’s hand settled on her elbow, guiding her forward.

Mabel let out a small, subdued meow. Even the cat seemed to understand that tonight was not the night for theatrics.

“I don’t want to leave my house,” she said irrationally.

“I know, but you have to. Now, it’s cold, and snowing, plus there’s no more you can do tonight,” he said, nudging her forward. “So let’s go.”

“Are you all right, Nina?” her neighbor who lived on the left asked.

“I’m okay,” Nina called back. “Mabel too.”

Finch guided her to his pickup. She climbed in the driver’s side after he’d opened the door, and slid across the bench seat with Mabel still in her arms.

“Don’t you think I should bring my car?”

“We’ll get it tomorrow,” Finch said.

“Thank you,” she said quickly as Lynx got in on his side. “And it’s just for a night.”

Neither brother spoke. Finch started the engine, and the heater kicked on, filling the cab with a low, steady warmth that made Nina realize how cold she’d gotten standing out there. Mabel, restless and displeased, meowed for release and then scrambled free of Nina’s arms. She climbed across the seat and settled on Finch’s lap.

“I don’t understand any of this,” Nina said, watching the dark houses slide past the window. She was fighting hard to keep herself together. “I never leave my hair straightener on, so this has to be deliberate, don’t you think?” she asked, needing one of them to tell her she wasn’t going crazy.

“We can run through this tomorrow, Nina. You need some sleep now.”

“What if it’s him?” My father.

Finch shot her a look before returning his eyes to the windshield. “I told Lynx the details of what has been going on, Nina. I trust him.”

“If it’s him, why not just come and see me? Why not knock on the door like a normal person? Or does he want me dead because I’m his daughter?”

“I don’t think he wants you dead, Nina,” Finch said calmly. “You need to settle down now, and we can work through this more tomorrow.”

How was she supposed to settle down? Nina had lost her mother, the woman who’d been the one constant in her life. She’d found out she wasn’t born Nina Winters, but someone else, and that her father still lived, and he was a criminal. And now she was sure someone had set her house on fire. If ever she’d needed a reason not to settle down, those would be good ones.

The McAllister land appeared ahead then, and the outside lights of the cottage were burning warm and gold when they pulled up in front of it. The main house to her left was in darkness.

“Are we going to wake your parents? Because that seems⁠—”

“You’re staying in the cottage,” Finch said, cutting the engine. “Come on.”

“I don’t have any of my things.” She heard the desperation in her voice and stomped down the panic.

“You don’t need anything tonight. We’ll go back in the morning and get what you need,” he said, already out of the truck. “Come on.” He held out a hand to her.

She took it and let him lead her into the house.

Inside, someone had left the light on, and the woodstove still threw out heat.

“I’ll take the sofa,” Lynx said and lowered Mabel gently onto the cushions. The cat landed, regarded the space with suspicion, then leaped off and began a methodical investigation.

“Nina is sleeping in my bed,” Finch said. His voice was matter-of-fact. His eyes weren’t. He was watching her with that steady, unnerving gaze.

“I-I can’t⁠—”

“Right, that’s settled then,” Lynx said. He looked from his brother to Nina and then away. “See you both in the morning. And, Nina, I’m really sorry about what’s happening. But you’re safe here. Dan and the others will get to the bottom of it.”

He disappeared down the hall, and Nina heard a door close.