Page 17 of Mountain Defender

“It’s okay,” I mumble. “He’s just doing his job. It’s not his fault I got upset.”

“She’s been doing great,” Officer Nelson tells Gage. She flashes a tiny smile at me before turning back to him. “We’re not pushing. You know that’s not how we do things.”

“Still,” Gage says, not sounding the least bit appeased.

“How about this?” Officer Quillian recaps his pen and slides it into his pocket. He turns to me. “With what you’ve given us and the evidence we’ve collected at your house, we have enough to go on for today. We can stop back tomorrow with any other questions we think of.”

“Will you still be here?” Officer Nelson asks. “Did they say when you’d be released?”

Sniffling as I brush away tears, I reply, “Tomorrow morning, as long as everything looks okay.” I force a joking tone to my voice. “They just want to make sure my throat doesn’t swell closed or I get a brain bleed or something. But if I’m still alive tomorrow, I can go home.”

“Rory.” Gage’s fingers convulse around mine. “Don’t say that. You’re going to befine.”

“Who are you staying with?” Officer Nelson asks. “It’ll take us another day or two to clear your house. And I wouldn’t recommend going back there until you add some more security.”

My stomach lurches. Twists. In a low voice, I reply, “I don’t have anywhere to go.”

“Yes, you do.” Gage lifts his chin as he glances at Officers Quillian and Nelson. “Could you give me and Rory some time to talk? Please?”

“Sure.” Officer Nelson pats me on the arm again. “We’ll talk tomorrow. Unless you think of something in the meantime. If you do, call me anytime. And Rory? It’s going to be okay. I know it doesn’t seem that way now, but it will be.”

I nod at her. “Okay.”

But what else can I say? I’m completely overwhelmed? On the verge of bursting into tears again? My throat is on fire after this recent bout of crying, my head is pounding, and I feel seconds from a panic attack?

And I have no idea where I’m going to go since my house is an active crime scene, not to mention no clue how to take careof the dogs. Can I sleep in the barn? Maybe bring out an air mattress? And what if the person who hurt me comes back to finish the job?

God.

What am I going to do?

I’ve always prided myself on staying calm in all situations. Sick dogs, unexpected home repairs, fender benders, trying to get to a kill-shelter before it’s too late—I’ve always faced the challenges with a confidence that I can fix anything. That I canhandleanything.

But this? I’m at a loss.

“Ror. It’s going to be okay.” Gage’s voice is gentle again. When I meet his gaze, his eyes are a soft chocolate instead of the chips of charcoal from a few minutes ago.

I look around the room, startled to find the police officers gone.

“They just left,” Gage explains. Reaching behind him, he drags a chair to the side of the bed and sinks into it. “I know this is overwhelming. But we’ll work this out. I promise.”

“How? I can’t go home yet. The dogs… I need to be there to take care of them.”

“Enzo and Ronan are there. Last text I got, they’re having a great time.”

“But they can’t stay all day. And what about tonight? Tomorrow? If I can’t stay in my house?—”

“Hey.” Gage takes my hand again, his touch so achingly gentle, I’m seized with a sudden desire to fling myself into his arms. “It’s alright.”

“How?” I repeat, my voice wobbling dangerously.

“So.” His gaze grows solemn. “You know what I do, right? Not with the flight simulators, but for Green Mountain Guardians.”

“Yes.”

“So, I was talking to the guys on my team about you.” He pauses. His cheeks go the slightest bit pink. “That sounds weird. What I mean is I talked to everyone about what happened. And they agreed with me.”

“Agreed with you about what?”