Page 48 of Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5)

TRACE

I stepped out onto the back deck, softly closing the door behind me.

Thea was having a quiet word with Ellie, and I wanted to give them that.

Because each understood the path they’d walked like no one else could.

It didn’t matter that the circumstances were different, the digging-out was the same, and I couldn’t give Ellie the gift of understanding. I was glad Thea could.

Through the dark, I could just make out Linc and Arden sitting on the deck’s steps, leaning into one another. Arden turned at my footsteps. “How is she?”

“Strong as hell. Thea’s with her now.”

Arden nodded, a sad smile of understanding on her lips.

“Can I have a minute with Linc?” I asked.

Arden stood, but when she did, she stepped in front of her fiancé and bent. She took his face in her hands and kissed him. It wasn’t gentle; it was a reminder. “Love you, Cowboy.” And then she started for the house.

I took a seat on the steps beside Linc but gave him space. I didn’t speak right away. And I was right not to .

“She told you, didn’t she? About Bradley.”

My throat worked as I swallowed. “She did.”

Linc muttered a curse. “I failed her. In so many ways.”

“You got her here. Where she needed to be. You gave her the courage to break free. Just because you weren’t the first person she opened up to doesn’t mean you didn’t help her in infinite ways.”

Linc slowly lifted his head and turned to me. Even in the dark, I could see the pain in his eyes. It reached out like a living, breathing thing and punched me right in the gut.

“You don’t get it. I left. When I graduated high school, I ran. Left for California. I was so desperate to get away I didn’t care that I was leaving her with that monster.”

I knew he was talking about Philip Pierce. A different sort of monster.

“He manipulated her. Did the same shit Bradley was doing. I know it because I lived it. Cruelty and punishments if you didn’t bend to his iron will.

He’s the one who forced her into that relationship with Bradley.

He’s the one who took away all his attention and bastardized affection when she tried to leave the first time. And I wasn’t there to protect her.”

Tears glistened in Linc’s eyes, and I reached out, gripping his shoulder hard. “Fuck that noise. Ellie told me how much you were in her life. How often you called and visited. And when she was strong enough to leave, where did she go? Straight to the place she felt safest. You.”

His shoulders shook as he let the tears go. “I want to fucking kill him.”

“Trust me, I know.”

Linc looked up then, the tears fading. “You love her?”

Fuck.

It was a question I purposely hadn’t asked myself. Maybe because I was afraid. Maybe because I wasn’t quite ready for the truth. But looking at the torture Linc was wading through now, I knew truth was the least he deserved.

“She changed what love meant. I don’t think I understood until she came into my life.

What it could truly be. She’s made me a better father.

A better brother. A better son. She’s made me a better man.

And I will do everything in my power to be a good steward of that love.

To honor it. To protect it. To protect her . ”

“Fuck,” Linc muttered. “Now I know why Cope was so pissed he couldn’t punch me.”

That startled a laugh out of me—the last sound I’d expected to make. “I can give you a free shot if it’ll make you feel better.”

“It’s no fun if you’re letting me have it.”

Another chuckle sprang free. “Sorry?”

“You should be.”

My phone dinged, and I pulled it out of my pocket.

Gabriel

Meet me out front? Want to go over a plan of attack.

I got why he went for the text. He didn’t want a bunch of law enforcement personnel pouring into my house while Ellie was so raw. And I appreciated his sensitivity. It was one of the many things that made him such a damn good cop.

“You need to go?” Linc asked.

I pushed to my feet. “Gotta get a planning brief from Gabriel.”

Linc stood. “Fill me in after? I’m going to check on Ellie.”

“Will do.” I headed for the side gate so I wouldn’t get waylaid in the house. When I stepped out front, I cringed at all the official vehicles. The lights on at all the houses up and down the street told me the neighbors were all watching the show, and I was sure the rumor mill was running rampant.

Moving toward the street, I found Gabriel, Beth, Laney, and Fletcher all gathered together.

I frowned. Fletcher wasn’t even on tonight, but I guessed I should appreciate all the extra hands we could get.

I scowled when I saw Will headed our way, though.

Because even needing extra help, I didn’t want his hands anywhere near this.

Fletcher looked up at my approach. “How’s Ellie?”

“Hanging in there. Want to bring me up to speed?”

Gabriel nodded, flipping back a page in his notebook. “We’ve got deputies who will rotate sitting out front overnight. ”

“That didn’t do any good before,” I gritted out. Whoever had taken that goddamned photo had snuck in while someone sat in Ellie’s driveway.

“Working on that, too,” Gabriel said. “Have another batch of deputies rotating one street over. My best guess is whoever took those photos came in through the back. There are pick marks on the lock.”

I cursed, and all eyes turned to me.

Will snickered as he walked up. “Guess this prank got the boss spun up if he’s cursing.”

I slowly turned toward Will. “Did. You. Say. Prank?”

He shrugged carelessly. “If somebody wanted to slice and dice your girlfriend, they would’ve done it.”

I moved so fast Gabriel almost didn’t get to me in time.

My fist flew, but Gabriel managed to catch my arm at the last moment, just as Beth took my other.

Together, they pulled me back, but Laney got right in Will’s face.

“You’re done, pissant,” she barked. “Suspended without pay. And I’m filing a complaint with the mayor. I hope like hell Trace fires your ass.”

It was more than time. But right now, I was struggling to breathe.

Because Will had voiced the deepest, darkest fears that had been stirring inside me since I saw those photos.

The knowledge of just how easy it would’ve been for someone to end Ellie’s life.

To take her from Linc. From Keely. From me.

“Breathe, Trace,” Gabriel ordered.

Will was mouthing off at Laney as she kicked him to the curb. Deputies Allen and Smith gaped at the scene. Great. More fodder for the rumor mill.

I shook off Beth and Gabriel. “Her damn dog didn’t even wake up. How’s that possible?”

Gabriel scrubbed a hand over his stubbled face. “I don’t know. I heard that little thing snoring up a storm at your house. It might not have been able to hear the person coming in if they were quiet.”

I guessed that was true, but it still bothered me. Someone should’ve seen something .

“I’ve got more of an update. You want that out here, or do you want me to update you and Ellie together?”

I looked at the friend I’d had for half my life, trying to read into what the update might be. But his poker face was too good. “Together.” What Ellie wanted more than anything was to finally be in control of her life, and I wouldn’t take that away.

“All right,” Gabriel said. “Beth, will you fill everyone else in on the plan?”

She jerked her head in a nod. “On it.”

“We’ve got your back.” Gabriel’s voice was quiet, but the force behind the words was a vow.

“Thanks.” My voice was raw, emotion having shredded it to pieces over the course of the night.

As we stepped inside, the various conversations quieted, and all eyes came to us. Linc was seated next to his sister, but he stood at the sight of me, offering me his seat. It was more than just a simple gesture. It was his acceptance of who I was to Ellie, and who she was to me.

She searched my eyes as I sat. “They found something?”

“I don’t know. I wanted Gabriel to tell us together.”

Surprise lit Ellie’s pale green eyes but then she leaned into me. “Thanks, Chief.”

“It’s Sheriff.”

“Whatever you say.”

I wrapped an arm around her, pulled her closer, and looked up at Gabriel, waiting.

“Got a few updates for you,” he began. “First, Jasper was drinking with a friend after your little run-in at the elementary school. The friend alibied him, but we’re looking for corroboration.”

My back molars ground together, but I managed a nod.

“Heard back from someone at Philip’s correctional facility,” Gabriel went on. “The only people he’s talked to in the past two weeks are his lawyer and Ellie. Nothing else on the phone or computer logs.”

“His lawyer could be a go-between,” Linc said, his voice tight. Arden melted against his side and wrapped an arm around his waist .

Gabriel lifted his chin in Linc’s direction. “We’re looking into that the best we can.”

“Bradley?” Anson asked. And the way he did it told me his mind was leaning in that direction on the suspect list.

“That’s where things get interesting.” Gabriel flipped his notepad page. “The NYPD visited Bradley’s apartment. No one home. And the doorman said he hadn’t seen Bradley in a few weeks. Doesn’t think he’s been home because the mail’s been piling up.”

Ellie stiffened against me, and I pressed a kiss to her hair. “He can’t get to you. Not now.”

“Police went to his parents’ residence,” Gabriel continued.

Linc scoffed. “Can’t imagine Henrick and Helen were thrilled about that.”

Gabriel shook his head. “The detective I spoke to said Henrick Newbury was downright combative. But Helen Newbury was worried. She hadn’t spoken to her son in weeks either, and they usually talked every other day or so.

We got a photo of Bradley. We’ll circulate that around town, but I think you should all take a good look, too. ”

The Colsons all nodded and offered murmurs of agreement. Gabriel turned to Ellie. “Where do you want to stay tonight? We’ll put a detail on you until we find him and know for sure he’s the one responsible.”

“Holt and his team will be here tomorrow to install the security system,” Linc interjected. “But I think you should consider staying at Cope’s.”

Ellie looked up at me in question.

“I’m where you are,” I said. “Wherever you want to be, I’ll be with you.”

The tension thrumming through her eased a bit. “Here. I feel safe here.”

And hell if that didn’t make a shot of pride surge through me. I’d built a home that gave Ellie that. I gave her that. “Then we stay here.”

“It’s actually easier to cover this place than Cope’s, so that works for us, too,” Gabriel said.

“Hey, what’s wrong with my place?” Cope pouted .

Sutton patted his chest. “You built that monster mansion in the middle of nowhere, Hotshot. It would take twenty officers to surround it.”

“I hope that doesn’t mean you’re insecure because you’re lacking in other departments,” Lolli said, arching a brow.

Cope’s jaw went slack and then his face screwed up like he was a little sick to his stomach. “Did my grandma just insult my dick size?”

Kye clapped him on the shoulder. “Truth hurts, Puck Boy.”

Cope whirled to Sutton. “Tell them that’s not true.”

She instantly started laughing. “I am not telling your family you have a big dick. Sorry. That’s where I draw the line.”

“See,” Cope demanded. “She said it. Big dick.”

“I don’t know,” Rhodes said, lowering herself to the arm of Anson’s chair. “You kind of seem like you’re protesting too much.”

“If anyone has Big Dick Energy here, it’s me,” Lolli said with a smirk. “It’s rolling off me in waves.”

“That’s actually the pot smoke,” Kye offered.

Lolli winked at him. “Both can be true.”

“Dear God,” I muttered. “Someone save me from my family.”