Page 7 of Outlaw Ridge: Shaw (Hard Justice: Outlaw Ridge #5)

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Ava felt too numb and too drained to object as Shaw pulled into the garage of his house. This was where they would be spending the night—sleeping, or more likely, trying to do that anyway.

She doubted either of them would have much luck in the sleep department. The memories were too fresh, too raw. Images of pulling Grant from that ventilation duct flashed through her mind. The way he’d struggled to breathe, barely clinging to life.

But barely alive had still better than dead.

Unlike Donovan and the other victims the Riddle Killer had claimed, Grant had survived.

They’d gotten to him in time. Now, he was at the hospital, and while he hadn’t been able to answer their questions tonight, there was hope he might be able to tomorrow since he was in stable condition with no serious injuries.

Tomorrow, they might finally have answers. Might finally know who she was.

For now, though, all they had were possibilities. Lorelei or Valerie—Grant’s final words seemed to point to one of them. Both women had motives for killing Donovan and Grant. And for coming after Shaw and her next.

Yes, sleep wasn’t going to come easy tonight. If it came at all.

Shaw turned off the engine of the cruiser and sat there for a couple of moments before turning to her. “Look, I know this isn’t ideal for you—”

“Not for you either,” she reminded him.

He sighed. Nodded. “Yeah. Lots of complications.”

Truer words had never been spoken. Their past was a snarled tangle of bad stuff, some good times, and the horrific memories that made it easier for them to be apart than together.

But here they were. Together.

And apparently about to stay under the same roof. The last time that’d happened, they had ended up in bed, and with her defensives at practically nil, Ava was going to have to work to make sure the bed wasn’t their destination once again.

After muttering a single word of profanity under his breath, he got out of the cruiser and grabbed the go-bag that Owen had put together for her.

Ava had no idea what was in it and didn’t care.

Considering everything else they were facing, clothing and such seemed way too far down on the scale of importance.

He ushered her inside to, well, a surprise. The Craftsman’s style house had looked vintage but inside was a modern, streamlined open plan with furnishings that weren’t man cave or fussy. It just looked comfortable with its pale green décor and cozy country-style kitchen.

And some moving boxes tucked in one of the corners.

“How long have you lived here?” she asked.

“Six months.” He followed her gaze to the boxes. “Some military things I haven’t gotten around to unpacking. Not ready for that shitstorm yet.”

He winced as if sorry he’d added that last part, but Ava knew some bits and pieces about it. About the danger he’d faced as a Combat Rescue Officer. At the lives he’d saved.

And the ones he hadn’t.

If that shitstorm was anything like the one they’d experienced seven years ago, then Ava hoped he never unpacked those boxes. Out of sight didn’t mean out of mind, but she figured it would be torture to have to go through a tragic past that couldn’t be changed, forgotten or completely accepted.

Sometimes, redemption and resolution just didn’t happen.

“Gus,” Shaw called out. “Activate all security.”

“Gus?” she repeated.

“My security app. Named after my favorite character in Lonesome Dove .”

Despite everything, that made her smile. “I take it that Gus will do a good job locking up the place.”

“He will,” Shaw assured her. “Sensors on all the doors, windows, roof, and around the perimeter of the house. If someone gets close or tries to break in, we’ll know about it.”

Good. And that made her think of who might be doing such things to try to get at them. Lorelei or Vanessa. Or, heck, someone else that wasn’t even on their radar.

“The killer could be a female relative or spouse of one of the original victims,” she said, voicing an idea that’d been stirring in her mind. “Or a woman that Dell has hired. But it doesn’t mean that Dell wasn’t the force at work seven years ago or that he’s not at work now.”

“Agreed,” Shaw was quick to say. “And while I’d love for us to start digging into that tonight, I’d rather you try to get some rest.” He tipped his head toward a hall. “I can show you the guestroom.”

“Thanks.”

But Ava didn’t budge. Why, she had no idea, but her feet suddenly seemed glued to the floor.

She stayed put and continued to glance around until her attention landed on the sole framed photo on the mantel.

She smiled again when she saw it was a picture of Shaw and his three brothers, and all of them were in military uniforms.

“How are your brothers?” she asked.

“They’re good. Hayes and Aiden are engaged. Declan soon will be. I guess you could say their lives are falling into place.”

Ava was happy for them. “Falling into place,” she repeated under her breath. “I haven’t been close to that since…” She stopped, sorry that she had gone down this particular memory lane.

But she knew it hadn’t happened since she’d been with Shaw. Since before Dell had struck. And Shaw knew it, too.

Sighing again, he reached out and pulled her to him. His arms wrapped around her with that all too familiar strength, and she didn’t resist. Instead, she leaned into his chest, her forehead resting against the curve of his shoulder.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, their breathing the only sound in the silence. The weight of the rescue, the chaos, and the fear were all still there. But something else had entered the playing field.

The heat.

Yes, it was there alright. Always simmering beneath the surface, ready to come to full boil in a blink. Ava wanted to blink. Wanted the soaring heat. But there were prices to pay for this sort of lapse. Because anything that brought on the memories could also trigger a panic attack.

Did that cause her to step away from Shaw?

Nope.

And in that moment, in that whirl of heat, she wasn’t even sure she could put an end to this. “This is a bad idea,” Ava whispered, her voice muffled against his shirt.

When he pulled back, their foreheads touched, and he let out a low, breathless laugh. “The worst,” he agreed.

But still, neither of them moved. For that single moment, the fire they were playing with felt like the only warmth that mattered.

She risked leaning back just enough to meet his gaze, and she wasn’t surprised to see the heat there. The need. Oh, so very much need. Part of her wanted to dive right in, to kiss him and let that need take over, to let Shaw give her a much needed moment of release.

But she didn’t.

Because she wouldn’t be the only one who’d pay the price for this. Shaw would, too. And there was that really serious bottom line. Lack of focus could get someone else killed.

It could get them killed.

And Ava already had enough deaths on her conscience. Enough ghosts in her head. She wasn’t sure she could take on or survive any more.

Now, she did step away from him and slapped together every ounce of resolve she could muster.

“Show me the guestroom,” Ava said, and for this night, for now, she’d be going alone.

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