Page 46 of Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5)

TRACE

I couldn’t take my eyes off her, even when I should’ve been turning around and clearing out my SUV.

Instead, my gaze was locked on Ellie Pierce.

The way the late-afternoon sun hit her hair just so, making the red strands hidden beneath the brown flare to life.

How the blond wove through it all, creating its own sort of rainbow.

And those pale green eyes sparkling with amusement as she gave me hell.

But then it changed. One moment, she was teasing, and the next, her face lost all color. The life and mischief drained from those pale green eyes, and Ellie’s whole body started to shake.

I was running before I even knew why; all I knew was that I needed to get to her, had to make sure she was okay. It only took a matter of seconds to reach Ellie, but it felt like a lifetime, an infinity of unknowns and fears swirling in my mind.

By the time I skidded to a halt next to her, my lungs burned, and my heart pounded, making it feel like both could explode from my chest at any moment. But my gaze locked onto the items fanned out in Ellie’s hands. Photos. Of her. In her fucking bedroom .

But it got worse. So much worse. There were multiple shots, and on the last one, a gloved hand holding a knife reached out in front of the lens. Written on the photo in block letters was: COULD’VE SLIT YOUR THROAT AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3. GO HOME BITCH.

Blood roared in my ears as the panic set in. But I did everything I could to keep my voice even. “Ellie, slide the mail back into the mailbox but don’t shut it. Try not to touch anything more than you already have.”

If there were prints anywhere, we needed to be able to read them. Had to be able to find whoever had done this and nail them to the wall.

“Wh-what?” Ellie asked, her voice trembling as she blinked rapidly.

I placed a hand on her back, needing her to know I was there, that I was with her. That I had her back and always would. “Slide the mail back into the box. Nice and easy.”

My gaze swept the street, the houses all around. There wasn’t a damn thing out of place. A few families were getting home from school several houses down, but other than that, no movement.

Ellie’s hand trembled violently as she shoved the mail back into the metal box that somehow felt like an assault weapon now.

“That’s good,” I praised as I wrapped an arm around her and guided her toward the backyard. “Keels,” I called, still trying to keep my panic under wraps.

“Playing with Bumper, Daddy. It’s not time to stop yet, is it?”

My panic eased a fraction, and I breathed a little deeper. “Not yet.” Pulling my phone from my pocket, I hit Gabriel’s contact.

“I thought you were taking the afternoon to be with your girls. Why are you wasting time calling me?” he greeted.

“Need you to send squad cars and evidence techs to Ellie’s. Lights, no sirens. I don’t want to scare Keely.”

The sound of a chair shoving back came across the line, and I knew Gabriel was already moving. I heard him bark a handful of orders. “On our way. What happened?”

“Photos in her mailbox. Of her sleeping. Someone with a knife.” I didn’t want to give him any more than that. Didn’t want to put the image in Ellie’s head again. “I need someone to clear the house, but I don’t want to leave Ellie and Keels.”

“Be there in less than five. Where are you?”

“Backyard.”

“On it.” And with that, Gabriel hung up.

I unlatched the gate to the backyard and guided Ellie through it. She didn’t speak or make a sound, but I could feel her trembling against me.

“Look, Daddy! Bumper loooooves my horn.” Keely ran around the yard pretending to headbutt invisible foes while Bumper danced around her. Barks sounded from inside, and I saw Gremlin pawing at the doors to get out.

“Keys?” I asked Ellie.

She didn’t answer right away, and that killed something in me.

“Baby.” I crouched, framing her face as I got to eye level. “Can you give me your keys?”

She nodded, but it came in short, jerky movements. It took her a few tries to fish them out of her bag, but she finally handed them to me.

I didn’t want to leave her, but I didn’t want her or Keely with me in case I saw something inside. I unfastened the gun holster at my hip, happy as hell I hadn’t stowed it in the gun locker in the back of my SUV yet. One hand rested there as the other held the keys.

Ignoring Grem’s barking, I scanned the living room. Nothing looked out of place; everything was its typical, chaotic rainbow of color. I unlocked the door and sprang Grem from his lockdown. He tore out of the house and headed straight for his pals, Keely and Bumper.

I quickly locked the door again and headed straight back to Ellie.

Pulling her into my arms, I held her tightly.

It didn’t stop the shaking, but at least I could absorb it.

I held her as the happy sounds of animals and my daughter swirled around us.

I held her as Ellie’s world crumbled. I held her, knowing there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to erase this nightmare.

But I could protect her now. I could make sure nothing like this happened again. And I would. Even if it meant breaking every single law I played by.

Car doors slammed, and I knew the reinforcements had arrived. “Back here,” I called.

Keely looked up, a huge smile on her face. “Who’s here? Do they want to play with Bumper and Grem, too?”

I kept hold of Ellie. Wasn’t sure I could let go if I tried. “Some of my friends from the station are here. They want to see Ellie’s house.”

Keely’s smile widened even further. “Can I tell them I helped paint the rainbow? It’s soooooo pretty.”

“We can tell them, Keels.”

The back gate swung open, and Gabriel and Beth moved inside, shutting it behind them. Gremlin took off running toward them, but instead of attacking Gabriel as I thought he would, he did a little spin and let out happy barks.

Gabriel glanced at me. “This the attack dog you keep complaining about?”

I knew he was trying to keep it light for the girls’ sake. “He bites me when I come in.”

Gabriel grinned and bent to pick up the beast. Gremlin just licked his chin and snuggled in. “Oh yeah,” Gabriel said. “Real vicious.”

“Is that a goat?” Beth asked, amusement in her voice.

“This is my bestie, Bumper,” Keely called.

Beth shook her head. “I’ll be damned.”

“You got keys?” Gabriel asked, crossing to me.

I nodded, handing them over to Gabriel but still not letting go of Ellie. “Couldn’t see anything out of place through the back door. Left the photos in the mailbox with the rest of the mail. Ellie’s the only one who’s touched them.”

Gabriel took the keys. “Beth, you want to get the techs going with the mail?”

She lifted her chin in assent. “On it.” But she didn’t move right away. She looked at me and Ellie. “We’ll get ‘em.”

My throat worked as I swallowed hard. “Thanks.”

“We’ll be back. Hold tight,” Gabriel said .

I pulled Ellie into my arms, holding on as if that would fix everything.

“Why?” she rasped. “Why would someone do this?”

I didn’t have any answers for her now, but I would find out. And whoever was responsible would pay.