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“That can’t be. No. Jonah won't do something so…”

“Even if he didn’t do it, Millie’s still not here. We have to find her. I’ve called for a search and rescue. He couldn’t have gone too far.”

Mayor Bricks glanced at his wife, who was busy coordinating with the caterers, before turning back to me with an apologetic look. “I’ll tell them to leave now. I’m so sorry.”

Doctor Stanley looked at me with a sigh. “I’ll keep everyone inside. Asher, you—”

“Asher will help us,” I interrupted him, and he nodded.

“Sure, sure.”

“Close the main door and keep everyone inside their rooms, Doctor Stanley,” I said. Nodding, he walked toward the main building. Becca looked at me, eyes begging, desperate. I gave her a nod. She wouldn’t lose her niece, not again.

“The cabin in the woods,” I said to Asher, my voice barely above a whisper. “But if we tell Vincent, he’ll know you killed them both. This will be like handing solid evidence to him.”

Asher’s jaw tightened. “I don’t care. I just want Millie safe.”

Maybe that was why I loved him, but I loved him.

I exhaled, rubbing a hand over my face. “But I care, Asher.” Even as I said it, the guilt grew. “Maybe I’m more selfish than I thought, but I want to protect you more.”

He turned to me then, his eyes burning with something fierce, something desperate as he softly, discreetly traced my face. “It’s okay. We’ll find Millie. We won’t let that bastard hurt her the second time.

I nodded, biting my lips.

“Deputy Clark and I did a thorough search on the perimeters, babe. No sign of them,” Layne said with a frown.

“We need to go to Duskwood Park now. If it’s all connected, he’ll be there,” Asher said, looking around the place.

“Where’s Vincent?” I asked Layne.

“I think he left to talk with the fire department. Deputy Clark is still here.”

“Lay, please stay and keep an eye on everything.”

“I will. Go now.”

“I need to go to my cottage first,” I said as Asher took my hand in his. “I have to change and…”

Asher gave me a nod, cupping my face. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll get Millie back.”

“Will we? I feel like I’m doing something wrong.” I shuddered when Asher pulled me closer, pressing a kiss on my forehead.

“No. None of it’s our fault,” he said, pulling away. I wanted to hold on. To not let go. To stay right here and not move, but Millie needed us.

My hands lingered on him. He rubbed my back. “I’m going to grab my tools. I’ll meet you at your cottage?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Be careful,” he said. “Don’t let yourself get hurt, Diya Sharma. It will… kill me.”

“You too.”

Nodding, he jogged off, disappearing into the long arches of trees.

I took a deep breath and made my way outside the door, passing Mayor Bricks as he barked orders at the caterers as they packed everything back into the vans.

“Tick tock,” he said, looking at his watch. “Hurry up. Time’s a-wastin’.”