Page 21 of Claiming Ours (Anchor Bay #2)

LIAM

“ T hey don’t know shit,” Aiden grumbled from where he paced on the other side of Harry. I nodded, agreeing with him as I continued to clean out his hoof. “And our only lead wasn’t a lead at all.”

Carefully releasing the gelding’s leg, I patted his side in silent communication that I was moving on to the next one.

Noting that Aiden had paused, I glanced over the horse’s back. He glared at the ground, both hands on his hips, no doubt thinking about Caroline. No one had heard from or seen her for weeks now. We didn’t want to assume the worst, but it wasn’t looking good for our friend.

“What about that notebook or whatever Jasper said he was looking for when we caught him going through Caroline’s cabin?” I asked as I lifted Harry’s back hoof and set it on top of my knee. “Though that sounds sketchy as shit, like something he made up as an excuse for him being in there.”

“Hudson and Oliver worked him over pretty good.” A huffed laugh escaped at the happiness in Aiden’s tone.

“They believe him, and while we haven’t known Hudson that long, he seems like the kind of guy who can smell bullshit when it’s given to him.

” His brows pulled in tight. “Why didn’t Caroline tell us she was doing her own investigation for the missing women?

Why did she keep it a secret and write it all down in some mysterious journal instead of coming to us? ”

I stood straight and faced Aiden, absentmindedly running a hand along Harry’s back.

“Because every single one of us is an overprotective asshole who would’ve made her stop because it was dangerous.

” Aiden’s noncommittal grunt made me chuckle as I shook my head.

“You know it’s true. Look at the way we acted last night.

We practically stormed into Dave’s and dragged the women out like the fucking cavemen we are. ”

“I’m sad that I missed out on being there.

From what Miles and Aspen told me, it sounded…

entertaining.” A wide grin spread across his face, erasing the earlier concern.

“I heard you took Baylee home, though, and didn’t go back to your place until this morning.

” A single brow lifted in a silent question. “I’m assuming that means you two are….”

“I’m not telling you shit,” I muttered. “But yes, I stayed the night to make sure she was good. I was worried she’d get sick considering the amount of alcohol she consumed and mixed too.

” He winced, and I nodded, knowing that was a fucking death sentence for hangovers.

My hand paused on Harry’s spine, and I narrowed my eyes.

“Wait. How in the hell do you know about me staying the night with Baylee?”

Hands in his jeans pockets, Aiden shrugged, but there was no missing the smirk he attempted to smother.

“Come on, you know my best friend and roommate is basically the neighborhood watch.” Clearly wanting to change the topic, he gave a pointed glance at the horse I was almost done grooming. “You have trail rides today?”

“None scheduled for today or tomorrow, which is good. The horses need a few days off. We were booked solid last week.” I didn’t need to mention that I fully intended to spend the downtime over the next couple of days worshipping Baylee.

My cock twitched in my jeans, remembering our earlier time in and around the shower.

“What about you and Miles? Any ATV or dirt bike excursions booked?”

His hair shifted as he tilted his head to one side, then the other.

“A few, but instead of doing them together, Miles and I asked Brandon if we could alternate so one of us could be out with the search party looking for Caroline.” His worried gaze shifted to focus over my shoulder to the open barn doors and mountains beyond.

“What are your suspicions about what’s happening on the trail?

I don’t know what to make of it besides someone taking the women and killing anyone who stands in their way, but why?

” He ran a hand through his hair. “And what is that person doing with them?”

Harry swung his head around and chuffed, demanding I get back to my job. I gave his long neck a few comforting strokes as I debated my answer.

“Those are my thoughts, too, and everyone’s at this point, I think.

It makes the most sense that some fucked-up psycho has been snatching women off the trail.

The who and why and what the fuck is being done with them, I don’t have a clue.

” Anger vibrated through me, making me want to punch something repeatedly.

“Worse, I can’t even think about someone in our town being responsible, but that’s what makes the most sense too.

Though I guess since women have gone missing from the fjord’s end of the trail as well, it could be someone there. ”

“I hope she’s dead.” My head snapped around so fucking fast my neck cracked.

With a devastated expression, Aiden shrugged.

“Tell me you don’t want the same for Caroline.

I’ve seen enough crime shows. There are some sick fuckers out there.

If she was taken, me hoping she’s dead is more merciful than her being alive. ”

A grimace tightened my features as I dipped my chin in reluctant agreement.

That was the quiet part no one wanted to say out loud. Hudson and Oliver probably discussed it in their private meetings, but around Anchor Bay and those in our community, no one gossiped about what could be happening to the missing female hikers.

Aiden was right. The most merciful outcome was they were dead and not out there alive, subject to who knew what. We humans were brilliant at creating new ways to hurt each other, each more depraved than the last.

“I know what you mean. If what happened to Caroline is the same as all those other missing female hikers and not just some bouldering accident….” I trailed off, not wanting to finish the statement.

The other part no one mentioned was that the ongoing search parties for Caroline had changed from rescue to recovery focused.

Hell, some went to help now as moral support for our group, knowing how hard this was on us, because this time the person missing wasn’t some unknown tourist.

Caroline was a friend to all of us and an important part of the Anchor Bay community. She was basically a native to the wild state, having grown up in various areas of Alaska. People respected her, appreciated the care and concern she had for the delicate ecosystem and animals.

And now she was one of the missing.

Yet another victim of someone out there literally hunting unsuspecting women on a trail so many flocked to Anchor Bay eager to explore.

There was still a remote possibility that she went looking for alternative rock-climbing locations, like she told Miles and Jasper before going missing, and suffered a fatal accident, but we would’ve found her body by now if she had.

It all pointed toward the horrible conclusion that we had one sick fucker living among us.

“I came by to see if you wanted to head over to Dave’s for lunch. Aspen is hungover as hell and said their nachos would save her life.”

I tugged off my cowboy hat and swiped a forearm over my sweaty forehead. “Thanks, but I think once I’m done here, I’ll head over to the clinic to see if Baylee wants to grab something together.”

Aiden’s laugh rolled through the open barn. “You’re so fucking whipped over that woman.”

I flipped him the bird and gathered the brushes and tools I used on Harry to store back in the tack room. “You’re one to talk, asshole. You and Miles won’t even take a piss without asking Aspen first.”

“I’m not saying it’s bad, Liam, just pointing it out.

I’m happy for you two, especially her. Since you two have been doing whatever you’re doing, she seems to have more good days than bad.

” Pride swelled in my chest at his compliment.

“She deserves to be happy, and I think you’re helping her get there.

Keep doing whatever you’re doing, and don’t break her heart.

The woman’s been through enough of that for several lifetimes. ”

With a wave, he strolled toward the barn entrance, whistling like he had no cares in the world, and disappeared around the corner of the metal building. I checked my watch, noting that it had only been two hours since I dropped Baylee off, but fuck, I wanted to see her again.

I needed to see her, to feel her body mold beneath my hands and kiss the fuck out of her.

What we did that morning lit an all-consuming fire inside me, making me even more needy for her than before.

I craved her pussy tightening around my fingers, her delicious flavor coating my tongue, her screaming my name as an orgasm ripped through her tiny body.

A frustrated groan vibrated in my chest, and I adjusted my rock-hard cock where it pressed against the zipper of my jeans.

Fuck it.

The chores could wait, my insistent craving to see Baylee wouldn’t.

The anticipation of surprising her made me hustle faster than normal.

It took less than an hour to secure Harry in the pasture with the other horses, grab a quick shower, change into clean clothes, and get over to downtown Anchor Bay.

Fingers wrapped around the metal key, I turned off the truck’s engine and shoved open the driver-side door.

My boot heels clicked along the walkway as I strode past the various businesses, tipping the brim of my cowboy hat at the few locals who waved.

As I passed Sips, movement inside slowed my steps to a halt.

Brows pulled in tight, I watched through the large glass window as Paul McGravey paced behind the counter, one hand holding a cell phone pressed to his ear while the other rubbed at his sweaty forehead.

His movements were jerky, agitated at whoever was on the other end of the call.

At the next turn of his pacing, our gazes collided, and he froze like someone had just hit a pause button.