Page 20

CHAPTER 20

REDLEY

Tears fill my eyes as I can practically hear my mama's laughter and singing, and my daddy calling her name when he would come in the door. I hear their screams and cries too when I woke up in that closet, knowing it was too late to help them. Everything that ended with the Wolf runs through my mind. My heart wants to rip itself out of my chest, and I hate myself deeper than anyone ever could for all the soft feelings I still harbor for him.

“You okay?” Porter asks.

I know what’s expected of me, so I say, “Yes.”

All our belongings are still here. My brother's book lies open on the coffee table where he left it. Instead of leaving well enough alone, I pick it up. The pages are dusty and brittle, and the edges chip off beneath my fingers as I turn them. I swallow hard before I put it back down. I’m sick in a way I can’t explain, closer to my family than I’ve been in years and somehow even more alone.

I am so terribly far from okay.

“Shit, is that blood too?” he asks as his flashlight traces the floor.

“A lot of people have died on this mountain, and no one has ever helped us,” I answer numbly, too caught up in my own pain to deal with his shock.

He swallows hard, and the lights flicker like the bulb might go any moment. He’s frowning hard, dreadfully serious with a pinch between his brow, and a tremble in his lip like he might actually care for the pain of my family. That sense that I might love him already grows a little stronger.

“I’m going to help you, but let’s get out of here for tonight. We can try again in the daylight.”

“You afraid, Deputy?” I ask with a raised brow.

“Of course not.” But he swallows and clears his throat. “No use investigating what I can’t see properly. I’ll take a good look in the morning. You got extra room in that cabin of yours?”

“Why do you ask?” After all the little hints he’s made tonight, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.

“I can’t stay down here,” he counters.

“I didn’t know you needed to stay at all.”

He shrugs like it isn’t a big deal. “It only makes sense, being it took a few hours to drive out here, and it’s already so late. I’ll be no good to you tomorrow without any sleep, and you’ve got the room.”

The reality of the situation smacks me in the face. I’m suddenly sure that he didn’t have any good intentions when he came out here. He saw an opportunity to screw me, and now he sees crimes were actually committed. What an asshole.

But is that such a big deal? another side of me counters. He’s in law enforcement, and he’s on this mountain. As far as I know, that’s already a first-time occurrence, and I’d rather not press my luck. He can play games and so can I. I’m getting justice either way.

“Sure, Deputy. You can sleep at my house,” I agree, knowing he won’t be sleeping in my bed tonight. I’ll never let a man in my bed again.

His satisfied smile overrides his fear for a second. I said he could sleep at my house but never said I was going to sleep with him. That will be his own disappointment to bear.

“Come on then, let’s head back,” he says like he’s excited about what might happen. A cocky smile hangs on his cheeks, and I have to remind myself not to forcefully put him back in his place.

I forgot myself for a minute, but I don’t have any interest in men, women, or anything, other than spilling the Wolf’s guts on the floor of this forest.

We’re about three-quarters of the way back to the car when Porter stops and turns toward me. “I wanted to ask you something,” he says.

This spot is a little less densely overgrown than others. He aims the beam of the flashlight at my chest rather than away from me, and my eyes struggle to adjust. I can barely see his outline over the top of the halo.

“What’s going on?” I ask, trying to figure out if he saw something I didn’t. There’s wildlife out here, and some of it you don’t want to mess with. I was kidding about the bear, but this is uncomfortable and puts a new perspective on the “spotlight.”

“What’s your first name, Miss Little?” he asks, still aiming the light at me.

“It’s Redley.” I’m not sure why he’s asking me right now or why he’s still pointing that light at me. “But we should get back to the car. These woods aren’t safe at night.”

“I’m James.”

“Oh, okay, nice to meet you,” I say, not trying to be rude but growing more certain by the moment his help isn’t just contingent on the possibility of marrying me but also sleeping with me tonight. “We better get moving.”

“Pretty, tough, seem smart too. Not the type of girl to cry over a broken nail.”

“Not many girls are that type.” Men just don’t often listen to why they’re actually crying .

“You’re too modest, and damn, I like a humble girl.”

“I’m not that humble,” I argue as a sick sense of unease moves up my back. He takes a step closer to me.

“I don’t think that’s true, Redley. I’ve seen enough about you to know you’re easy to please.”

I don’t need much, but I’m not sure I like his interpretation of things.

Cologne surrounds me, and it’s too much compared to the fresh night air. I take a step back, but he grabs my hand so I can’t take another without pulling free. James looks down, but I can only see the shapes of his features. If he’s trying to scare me, it’s working. I’m so damn tired of being helpless.

He’s got the power, though, the power to hurt me or help me. And he’s a cop, so when doesn’t he?

He leans in, lips pursed, and I never imagined my second kiss would look like this. Why didn't he just wait until we were back at my house to try to make things physical with me? All around, it seems like the better option. Is there something to be gained from doing this in a place where I’m uncomfortable and can’t see? I’ve played a lot of games, but this is a new one for me.

“You’re damn pretty,” he tries to compliment me again, but it sounds more like he’s admitting how hungry he is.

“Thank you.” I swallow hard, definitely in over my head.

I don’t want his lips on mine, but what can I do? He doesn’t expect rejection, and why would he when he’s got me exactly where he wants me?

I’m debating my options, but ultimately, time is running out. His lips are crashing toward mine. I most certainly am not going to sleep with him tonight, but what’s one kiss really? Sure as hell isn’t like Bobby is special to me.

Who has ever been willing to help me?

My eyes fall closed, as I decide to accept my fate if it means justice. My stomach twists because I really don’t want this even though I’m letting it happen. Rather than warm lips, a whooshing sound pierces the air, followed by a wet thunk like an arrow ripping through a deer.

His flashlight drops to the ground, and while it doesn’t go fully dark, I’m blinded by the sudden change. Porter falls hard, hitting the ground and landing on top of my feet. I scream on pure impulse and quickly shuffle out from under him before dropping to my knees at his side. Despite all the death I’ve seen, I’m still not too keen on touching it. Forcing myself to keep quiet, I feel for a pulse.

My fingers skim his throat. Finding his pulse spot still. I hold out hope for a second longer, but then blood dribbles onto my fingers. Oh no. I span the flashlight across him, and the beam reveals the arrow sticking through one side of his skull and straight out the other.

“Fuck, fuck.” I start to gasp. “Goddammit dammit!” I shout.

He can’t be dead, I argue with myself as I wipe the sticky blood off on the ground. The only cop who listened to me isn’t dead right now.

But he is.