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“That our guy?” he asked as he checked the clip of his Glock.

I nodded. “Killed a doe about a mile back.”

The ranger’s head dropped forward with a sigh. “Ready?”

Steeling my spine with what little energy I had left, I nodded. “You have no idea.”

14

Cas

The rattleof a truck pulling into the drive pushed me deeper into the darkness the forest provided. Bright beams of light cut through the trees, forcing me behind a thick oak trunk to ensure I wasn’t seen. Not that waiting was wrong, but watching from the shadows for her to return from her shift might come off as disturbing instead of why I was really out there.

I was freaked the fuck out.

The more Peters and I studied the bastard abducting those women, the more I knew my Lady was a potential target. Alta coming home three hours late from her shift didn’t help my over-the-top protective instincts either. Which was why I was out here at three in the morning, waiting and watching to make sure she made it home safe.

Just as she killed the truck’s engine, a new truck roared up the short drive and skidded to a halt beside hers.

Jealousy set my lip in a snarl as her dipshit boss stepped out of the other truck and stormed to her door, which still hadn’t opened. On silent feet, I weaved between the trees, moving close enough to hear their conversation.

Okay, maybe now it was creepy, but fuck, I needed to know why he was there so late.

A rogue thought dropped like lead in my stomach.What if they were together? What if she played me?My feet paused. My fingers twitched against my thigh, desperately wanting to dig into my pocket and pull out a cigarette.

I shook my head to dislodge the idea. No, Alta wouldn’t do that. Something else was going on.

“Birdie,” John yelled at the windshield. “Open the fucking door.”

The driver door swung open. Shoulders slumped, spine rounded, she looked exhausted as she climbed out. Exhausted and dirty. Unease dropped my gut as Alta stepped into the light from the front porch. That wasn’t fucking dirt. I had seen enough in my lifetime to know exactly what covered the front of her uniform. Blood.

“John,” she said with a sniff, her voice hoarse and weak. “Go home. You can lecture me tomorrow, but tonight, I need a shower and would like to forget today ever happened. We got the guy, that’s what matters.”

“You could’ve been killed,” John yelled in her face.

Red-hot rage set one foot in front of the other. By the time I made it to the edge of her lot, Alta was halfway up the front steps with John two steps behind.

“Go home, John,” she said just as I stepped around the corner of the house, still hidden by the shadows. “I want to be alone, okay? Go home.”

“Birdie—”

“I said go home!” she screamed.

“No,” John responded, his voice cold and determined. “I’m not leaving you alone.”

The grind of the flint of my lighter snagged their attention. After a deep, soothing inhale of glorious cancerous smoke, I moved into the light. “She won’t be,” I stated while releasing a cloud of frosty breath and smoke. “Listen to the Lady and leave.”

Alta faced the door, almost like she was scared to make eye contact, while the idiot John stepped closer, cutting off my path to her.

“What the fuck are you doing here? You stalking her?” Jealous anger dripped from each of his accusing words.

“Making sure she’s safe.” My gaze locked on John, I said, “You okay, Lady?”

Keys rattled in her hand as she lifted them to the first lock instead of answering.

“Just go, John,” she whispered. Her voice sounded as tired as her body looked. “I’ll come in tomorrow.”

“Then he goes too.”