Page 10

Chapter 9

Mila

I squeezed my eyes closed, teeth gritted against the pain. Willa had come over to check my healing and was now measuring the range of motion in my shoulder.

She’d busted in here not long after Jude had left for work, looking all sweet and concerned. It was all an act. She was an evil, evil woman who was putting me through actual torture.

It was luck that I was here when she pulled up. I’d lingered to drink another cup of delicious coffee while putting together a plan for the day. If I’d pushed myself out the door immediately like I’d intended, there was no way she wouldn’t have called Jude.

I’d found a mountain bike in the garage while inspecting the property yesterday and figured I’d ride to the state park to retrace my steps, praying I’d find my phone. I’d found a pair of gloves that fit me, as well as a headlamp and extra batteries in the oddly organized junk drawer in Jude’s kitchen.

So far, I’d decided that every morning, after Jude left, I’d search for a few hours. And I wouldn’t stop until I found the damn thing.

Maybe I didn’t know how I’d ride a mountain bike with one arm, but that was a small detail. I wouldn’t let it stop me.

But the good doctor had shown up and fucked up all my plans.

I winced as she pushed my arm higher. Her hands were deceptively strong, pushing and kneading while she felt around my tendons.

“I’ve kept the sling on,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Good.” She lowered my arm gently. “It’s time to start moving it. Getting the blood flowing is important.”

With a step back, she dug around in her large bag. When she straightened, she held up a small tube.

“I’ll roll BioFreeze into some of the accessory muscles and massage it in. That’ll get the blood around the injury moving and help with the swelling.”

As she began, the menthol smell hit my nostrils and made my eyes water.

“So,” she said, digging into my neck with those skilled hands. “Do you mind telling me how on earth you ended up working undercover at a biker bar and trying to take down a drug trafficking operation on your own?”

I closed my eyes, relishing the pain that came with the way she worked my muscles. “When you say it like that, it sounds insane.”

“Nah, when I say it like that, it sounds brave but reckless.” She pushed her fingertips into my bicep.

I closed my eyes, willing, unsuccessfully, my twitching muscles to relax. Despite the debilitating pain, I’d remained in denial about just how badly I’d been hurt. This, though, was proving I had a long way to go until I was healed.

“My brother,” I said, wincing as she moved to a new spot. “When he was attacked, something inside me broke. I became fixated on bringing his attacker to justice. In the process of trying to identify that person, I discovered the breadth of what was going on. I have the skills to track down information, gather data, and build a case, so why wouldn’t I put them to use? It’s what I’ve done since I was a second grader investigating missing Halloween candy.”

She chuckled. “So you’re one of those. I performed surgery on dolls at that age.”

A chuckle escaped me.

“The more I dug, the more I uncovered about the criminal organization working around here. This is so much bigger than Hugo.” My throat tightened. I’d been in so deep for so long, and the weight of it was all beginning to hit me.

“So I let myself become Amy,” I continued. “No one had succeeded in stopping it, so I took it upon myself to infiltrate the ring and find the evidence and gain the access required to shut them down.”

Hugo was still my primary concern, but this was so much more now. It was part of me.

Willa continued to poke, prod, and massage in silence.

I was quiet too. There was nothing more to say, no way to make it make sense for someone like her.

Once she’d massaged every inch of me from my neck to my forearm, she put away the cream and helped me back into the sling. “Maybe you can’t do it all on your own,” she said softly.

My muscles locked up tight. “Did you just stare into my soul and articulate my greatest fear? Jesus, Doc.”

A warm smile spread across her face. “My mom is a psychologist. I get your thought process. For a long time, I thought I had to do everything myself, that if I wasn’t overachieving, I was failing.”

“Amen, sister. I’m the oldest daughter. My whole life, it’s felt as though the weight of responsibility has been placed directly on my shoulders. I was supposed to protect my little brother, but I failed him.”

She squeezed my hand. “You didn’t fail. Something terrible happened, and you have no control over that.”

Familiar guilt rose up within me. The feeling that I was so close to a breakthrough but still far enough away to worry that I’d never get there.

“How about I make tea?” Willa asked. “I brought treats too.”

I joined her in the kitchen where she filled the kettle and bustled around, pulling mugs from a cabinet and tea bags from a canister. “Jude’s a coffee guy, but I’ve been slowly building up a stash of tea here. And…” She reached into a cloth grocery bag. “I brought peanut butter cookies. My husband makes them. They’re life changing.”

“Thank God.” I barked out a laugh that had me wincing and clutching my ribs. “Everything in this house is made from spelt.”

With a snicker, she peeled the lid off the plastic container. “Try one.”

Without hesitation, I snatched the biggest I could find and took an enormous bite. When the flavor burst on my tongue, a loud moan escaped me. Sweet, salty, chewy, and rich. Damn, that was good.

“I know.” Her eyes danced as the kettle whistled. “Sinful. It’s my mother-in-law’s recipe, but Cole has perfected it.” She poured the scalding water into our mugs and nodded at the stools along one side of the island. “Sometimes a really good cookie can help heal a person.”

With a huff of a laugh, I eased onto a stool. “Is that your medical opinion?”

“Absolutely. Our bodies are complex.” She set both mugs down and picked up her own cookie. “The mind-body connection is so strong we still don’t fully understand it. You’ve been through some traumatic stuff, and while your body will heal quickly, it’ll likely take more time to recover emotionally. That’s why a really great fucking cookie can help.”

She lifted her cookie up to me, and I tapped mine against it in a toast.

“You’re kind of amazing,” I said.

She blushed, fidgeting with her steaming mug. “No. I’m a work in progress, same as everyone else. And you’re gonna be okay.”

Head lowered, I gave it a shake. “Probably not. I’m in a wild mess of my own creation, and right now, I can’t see a way out.”

She pressed her lips together, considering me for a moment. “You’re smart and capable. But I think patience and support are the key here. What did Parker say?”

I slumped against the counter. “To sit tight and heal and let the adults handle it.”

Willa burst out laughing. “So the odds of you listening are…?”

I rolled my eyes. “Zero. Like I’m going to sit around here, doing nothing.”

She hummed. “I figured. But…” Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “Jude’s not bad company.”

With a noncommittal grunt, I sipped my tea.

“You know.” She reached for another cookie. “You never did tell me how you met him.”

I took a bigger sip to avoid having to answer, this time burning my tongue.

“I ask because I’m protective of him,” she said, her inquisitive stare making me squirm. “I’m an only child, but I grew up with the Heberts, and Jude is my brother now. He’s the quiet one, but he feels deeply.”

It would have been easier to tell her to fuck off and mind her own business if I didn’t like her so much. But Willa had gone out of her way to help me, providing medical care and emotional support. Not to mention the excellent cookies. So giving her at least a little of the truth felt like the right thing to do.

“Okay,” I sighed, closing my eyes. “I first met him at karate. I signed up for a women’s self-defense class. Figured I could use the training. He was assisting the instructor.”

She nodded behind her mug.

“I went pretty regularly for a couple of months, and each time, he was so kind and helpful.”

“Women’s self-defense?” She straightened. “I wanna take that class.”

“When this is over, we’ll do it together. I need a refresher. And you’ll feel like such a powerful badass after.”

She leaned in, resting an elbow on the granite, her green eyes growing wide. “Okay, so you fell in love with my brother-in-law while karate-chopping him. Adorable.”

My heart lurched, and I reared back enough to make my shoulder throb. “I did not fall in love.” I cringed. “I just thought he was good-looking and nice. We chatted, but I chatted with everyone there. I was making myself known as Amy, the bartender who was new in town.”

She raised her eyebrows. “But?”

Cringing, I considered whether to give her the full story.

I was leaning toward no when she tapped her nails on the counter. “I’m waiting.”

Shit. I blew out a breath and wrapped both hands around my mug. “Fine. Last year, some women I’d met at the bar mentioned that there was great live music in Lovewell. They said the band playing that weekend was amazing and went on and on about how hot the lead singer was.”

“Jasper?”

“Yes.”

She shrugged, unimpressed. I could understand the reaction. Why bother ogling a decently good-looking musician when she was married to a seven-foot-tall hockey God?

“Anyway, I was still getting my bearings here. It hadn’t been long since my brother had been attacked, and I was anxious about what I’d gotten myself into. So I went. Had a beer and a basket of fries.”

She hummed. “They do have excellent waffle fries.”

“Then the band came on stage,” I continued, spinning my mug on the countertop.

“And you made eye contact and fell in love.” Willa squealed, popping up straighter.

“No.” I huffed. “I saw him and immediately recognized him. And… I can’t explain it. He was different from the man I’d met at the dojo. The man I knew had been shy and reserved and serious. But playing guitar?”

A dreamy sensation floated through me, making me feel as if I’d been lifted off the stool.

“He came alive right in front of me.”

I barely blinked during the entire set. I was too enamored by the passion radiating from him, too caught up in the mix of pain and passion in every movement of his fingers.

“And I couldn’t take my eyes off him.”

“So this is basically a rock star romance,” she said, her tone light. “If you need recs, I have several. The knitting club is deep into smut right now. Jodie, who was my elementary school PE teacher, is all about knotting.” With a shudder, she shook her head.

I huffed a laugh, hoping she’d run with that change in topic, but no, she zeroed in on me again, her expression expectant.

So I continued. “Even from halfway across the bar, there was this tether connecting us, urging me closer to him. And when the set ended. He put his guitar on the stand and walked through the crowd, his eyes never leaving mine.”

“Oh my God.” She kicked her feet and fanned her face with one hand. “So hot.”

“He strode right up to me, all muscly, with those sexy glasses, and took the beer bottle out of my hand. Without looking away, he took a swig, then handed it back.”

“Jude?” Willa froze, her hand pressed to her chest. “Jude Hebert did this? The mild-mannered dog dad who has a ‘system’ for folding his towels? That man took a sexy swig from a stranger’s beer bottle?”

I nodded, willing the heat the memory brought with it to subside.

I considered stopping there. The rest of that night was illicit. The most provocative experience of my life. But Willa, with her infectious smile and amazing healing hands, was kind of a friend now.

So I said, “It was so fucking hot. All I could think was I need to get this man naked .”

She rubbed her hands over her face. “I can’t even wrap my mind around this. Obviously I don’t blame you.” She shook her head, her blond curls bouncing. “But I didn’t know he had it in him. I’m impressed. Sometimes the brothers joke about him. How he’s the most eligible bachelor in Lovewell. How girls are always throwing themselves at him.”

My stomach clenched at that tidbit of information.

She didn’t seem to notice. “One time, I mentioned that I worried about him being lonely up here with only the company of his dog.” She took another sip of her tea. “Cole laughed and swore that Jude has plenty of company. He’s quiet about it. Now I know how he does it.” She shook her head and laughed.

I shifted on my stool as unease rolled over me. I didn’t want to think about him going home with lots of other women after they’d gotten all hot and bothered watching him play the guitar.

“But,” I said, forcing the conversation on before I could spiral, “I didn’t come here because of that. Yes, we had a great time.” Cheeks heating, I fixed my focus on the pattern of the granite. “But I came here mainly because he’s a Hebert and I needed help. I was in the woods—”

“How did you find this place?” she interrupted, clearly seeing through at least some of my bullshit. “It’s not exactly easy.”

“I don’t know. I hid out in the state park, and when they were gone, I started walking in this direction.”

Her eyes went wide. “Wet, freezing, with a dislocated shoulder, and in shock?”

“Yeah, I guess so.” In the moment, it felt as though this was the only place I could go. I couldn’t go home and put my mom and Hugo in danger, and the police were probably compromised. It was highly unlikely anyone would draw a connection between Jude and me, so I had no other options.

She got up and spun in a circle, waving her arms and shaking her hips. “You’re getting married,” she sang, dancing around the kitchen.

“ Stahp ,” I whined. God, I sounded like a preteen girl. I needed to rein it in before I embarrassed myself further.

Willa tossed her head back and cackled.

“It’s okay. When I woke up in Vegas and discovered I’d drunkenly married Cole and then had to move in with him, I had many giddy moments. Those Hebert boys can reduce the most self-assured, confident women into giggling mush. It’s genetic.”

She wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t want to confirm the squealy, giddy sensations that Jude inspired in me, so I kept my mouth shut tight. It was more mature to keep those thoughts and feelings bottled up and deny their existence to the outside world. Right?

She came to a stop and let out a sigh. “Just promise me something.”

“Sure.”

“Stay safe. Don’t go running into another dangerous situation.”

I sat up straighter. “I’m not planning on it.”

Brows raised, she crossed her arms. “But?”

“But danger kind of finds me,” I said weakly.

She shook her head and sighed. “That’s what I was worried about.” Easing back onto her stool, she said, “How about this? Do not put my brother-in-law in danger.” She swiveled so she was facing me head-on. “He’s one of the best people I’ve ever known. I don’t want him to get hurt.”

“Neither do I.”

One brow cocked, she scrutinized me, wary.

“I know I’m shady as hell,” I explained. “And I’m so grateful to you and Jude. To your whole family, really. I won’t do anything to hurt any of you.”

Seemingly satisfied, she turned back to her tea.

“Once the dust settles, I’ll be out of here. I’ll collect my evidence and go to the police. I’ve given too much to this to quit now, and I don’t want anyone else getting hurt.”

She nodded slowly. “What you’re doing is ridiculously dangerous, but I admire the hell out of you.” She smirked. “Chief Souza drugged my husband and then tried to frame him. There’s no way that’s not connected.”

“If you’re implying that wasn’t the first illegal activity that sad excuse for law enforcement was involved in, then you would be correct.”

“Excellent. Make sure you take him down too, okay? Get him a nice long sentence. Because no one fucks with my husband.”

“I will.” I dipped my chin. “He attended many poker games with the traffickers. He’s dirty as hell.”

She smiled broadly and stood. “Okay, I’ll get out of your hair. Ice, rest, and do the exercises I showed you. No need to sleep with the sling, but keep it on when you’re awake. And please try to stay out of trouble.”

Once she was gone, I paced around the house, my mind spinning and adrenaline coursing through me. The longer I stayed here, the more danger I put Jude in. The more danger I put his whole family in.

There was no more time to waste.

I snagged a large dark hoodie from Jude’s closet and pulled a gray beanie over my head, then loaded up on supplies. I couldn’t risk another injury, especially after learning that I was healing well, so riding the bike was out. I’d have to go on foot.

I had about six hours until Jude would return. If I jogged through the trails, I could make it to where I’d hidden in an hour or so. I’d search that area first, and if I didn’t find the phone before I had to return, I’d work from there.

I found a small backpack that I could loop around one shoulder. Once I’d filled a water bottle, I tossed a few snacks into the bag, along with my headlamp and another sweatshirt in case this one got wet from digging around.

I was tying the laces on my muddy sneakers when Ripley padded up to me, her nails clicking on the hardwood floor.

She stood in front of me, wearing a disappointed look on her face. Like she knew I was going against Jude’s orders.

“You can’t tell.” I stroked her ears. “He won’t understand, and I don’t want him getting hurt.”

She lowered her head, as if acquiescing. But when I walked out the door, she followed. Okay, then. I guess I had a friend. Once I hit the edge of the forest, I took off at a jog, wincing as each step made my shoulder ache.

Ripley matched my pace, clearly not letting me out of her sight.

I was anxious and in pain, but at least I wasn’t lonely.