Page 65 of Holden

He finished shoving his boots on and was about to open the door when a knock sounded.

His pulse jumped.

“Emily?” He swung his door open then exhaled.

Sinjin stood on his porch, slowly raising a brow. “What’s wrong?”

“She found out about the cameras when both of our phones alerted to a raccoon or something triggering the lights on her property.”

His buddy winced. “Take it she wasn’t happy.”

Holden shook his head and stepped outside. “She went home to check out her place before I…without me.”

He was about to say before he got dressed, but it wasn’t important. Catching up with Emily was.

“You coming?” he asked, nodding toward his car as he rushed for the driver’s door.

Sinjin answered by getting in the passenger seat. Holden handed the guy his phone with the camera feed on the screen.

“Let me know when you see her,” he said, backing out of his driveway. “Should be soon. She left a few minutes ago.”

His buddy nodded. “I know. I heard the slamming door.”

Holden cringed, recalling her parting words and the amount of force she used to shut his door.

“Carter is calling you,” Sinjin informed.

He blinked and nodded toward his phone. “Put him on speaker,” he said as he drove faster than he should through town.

“Go for Holden and Sinjin,” his buddy said, answering his phone.

“Hey. So, I assume you got the raccoon triggering the lights alert?” Carter said.

His stomach twisted at the memory. “Yeah, in front of Emily.”

“Shit,” the guy muttered. “Sorry, man. I’ve been there. I know that didn’t go well.”

His chest tightened. “No, it didn’t.”

God, the memory of the hurt and disappointment clouding her eyes as she stared at him with his phone gripped tightly in her hands shredded his insides. He’d give anything to take away that look he’d put in her eyes. Anything but his ability to keep her safe.

“Well, you are trying to help,” Carter pointed out.

Holden blew out a breath. “Tried to explain it, but she didn’t see it that way.”

“Yeah, didn’t work on Mel either.”

Great. He muttered a curse.

“Where are you?” Carter asked.

“In my car racing to Emily’s with Sinjin. Not convinced of the raccoon thing.” He glanced at Sinjin. “Did Emily get home yet?”

Sinjin shook his head and tilted the phone so he could see the empty screens.

“No,” Carter answered. “I’m looking at the feed, too.”

Holden’s heart lurched forward. “Not good. She should’ve been home by now.”