Page 66 of Quarterback Sneak

I nod, knowing I need to. “She hasn’t talked so far, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“Maybe you can get the friend,” Reid says.

Bringing Tessa here in the midst of all this feels like it might just be more of a problem, but I take in his suggestion. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

“You talk with your mate and get answers. I’m calling in several enforcers to run the woods. If there’s something to find, they’ll find it.”

I nod my thanks to my father and then head back to my room. I pause just inside the doorway and take in my mate. She’s curled into a tight ball now, and it guts me. I hate that she was scared tonight, that she got hurt. I vow for the hundredth time tonight to end those that threatened her. I walk over to the bed and sit down next to her. I can tell she’s still not sleeping, but her eyes are squeezed shut. I reach out and touch her shoulder, and she flinches. I curse under my breath and remove my hand. After waiting another minute, I finally talk. “I know you’re not asleep.” I keep my voice low and calm and steady. She doesn’t respond, and I continue. “Evie, you’re safe here. I give you my word, but I need to know what happened out there tonight.” There’s still no response. I run a hand through my hair, unsure what to do. I finally give into my need to touch her and crawl under the covers again and pull her body against mine. My tension eases when her soft skin touches mine, and her scent surrounds me. “Please talk to me,” I whisper against her temple. She still says nothing,and I try a different approach. “My mom is coming here. I want her to check and wrap your ribs. I think they’re injured; I can tell by your breathing.”Still nothing.I fall silent and simply hold her.

After a while, there’s a soft knock at the door. “Come in,” I call out softly.

The door opens slowly, and my mom’s face comes into view. “Can I come in?” she asks softly.

“Yeah, Mom.” She comes in quietly and approaches the bed. “Thanks for coming.”

“Of course.” Her voice is so gentle, but I can hear the worry beneath it. She puts her hand on my shoulder. “What can I do?”

“I need you to check Evie’s ribs and probably wrap them.” I pause. “And maybe check for any other injuries.” The words are hard to get out, and my mom seems to understand.

“I’ll be very gentle.”

“I know.” It’s hard for me to pull away from her, but I manage to do it. I climb out of bed and give my mom a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Of course, Honey. I’m so sorry.”

My hand on her shoulder tenses, but I merely nod and leave the room, casting a last glance at my mate.

Chapter 29

Zane

“What do you know?” I ask as soon as I join the men in the living room.

“Nothing yet,” my father says. “Did you get anything more from your mate?”

“She won’t talk to me.”

“Try to get her to,” he urges.

“Yeah, I know.” I pace the living room, feeling like I’m coming unhinged. Every time I think about Evie being in the woods at night, alone and terrified, I want to lose it all over again.

“We’ll figure it out,” Quint says. I appreciate the sentiment; but it doesn’t really bring any comfort right now, not when my mate is in pain and won’t talk to me.

The door to my room finally opens, and my mom steps out. She meets my eyes across the room, knowing I need to hear what’s wrong. “They’re not cracked. Severely bruised yes, but not cracked. She’s got bruising all over her stomach and chest...” A growl explodes out of my mouth. “But she’s okay,” she urges. And I know it could have been so much worse.

“Did she talk to you?”

Her eyes meet mine. “I don’t think she was even aware I was in there.”

“What happened out in those woods?”

The question comes from Quint, but I have the same question. I watch as my dad lifts his head and looks at me.Whatever that look is, it’s not good. “What is it?” I demand. His scowl deepens, and my heart hammers in my chest.

His eyes meet mine. “Does she know what you are?” he asks in a quiet voice.

“No. I haven’t had a chance to tell her yet. I’ve been trying to take it slow with her.”

He glances down the hall, towards my bedroom. “I think we may have a problem on our hands.”