Page 11

Ten

DECK SAT AT HIS DESK , combing through files of a cold case that had become a borderline obsession for him. Anything to keep his mind off what was happening with his baby sister and off her .

Spending every night waiting for Harper Grace to text was ridiculous. He barely knew the lady. They’d only spent a short time together while Christian and Andi worked a recent heist case, and he and Harper—Andi’s best friend and former FBI colleague—paired up to investigate corruption claims for Andi. It’d been a matter of a couple of weeks, and then Harper was gone. Off to Africa on a humanitarian trip for months.

He raked a hand through his hair. Why couldn’t he stop thinking about her?

He stalked to the kitchen for a glass of water, and his cell vibrated in his lounge pants pocket. Retrieving it, he glanced at the number. “Hey, Grey,” he said, struggling to keep worry from his voice.

“What’s wrong?”

So much for trying. His mind was a mishmash of great concern for his sister and warm thoughts of Harper, which irritated the heck out of him.

“Deck?” Grey said. “What’s going on?”

He exhaled, the panic that swept through him at his sister’s distress call sweeping over him anew. “Someone attempted to ambush Riley on her way home from work.”

“What?” Grey asked, his voice tight, strained.

Deck explained most of it, but was cut short by another call. He checked the screen. “Hey, Grey. It’s Riley. Hang on just a sec, or I can call you back?”

“I’ll hold.” Concern held thick in Grey’s voice.

“Hey, kid,” Deck said, switching to her call.

“Again with the kid?” she said, clearly attempting irritation, but her voice quivered.

He stiffened. “What’s wrong?” Was she still shaken up from the ambush?

She cleared her throat. “I’m fine, and the place is clear, but someone broke into my house and trashed it.”

Anger and protectiveness washed over him, and he headed for the door without thinking, calling Christian on the way.

“What’s up, man?” Christian’s voice held slumber.

“Someone broke into Ri’s.”

“Coming.”

Racing there, Deck realized Grey was still on hold. He clicked over, and in the barest of words caught him up to speed. Grey dropped the call before Deck could.

Reaching Riley’s open door, he burst inside. The floor was covered with the contents of her house.

She walked out of the kitchen, her arms wrapped tight around her. Fire burned in her eyes, yet weariness radiated there too.

He rushed forward, engulfing her petite frame in his arms, and she leaned into him.

“You okay, kid?” he asked, hands on her shoulders.

“Yep.” She nodded but bit her bottom lip. Nervousness tracked through her gaze and stiff smile. He stepped back, and she straightened, then exhaled. “Furious at this mess more than anything else.”

He scanned the room, better this time. Lamps knocked over, couch cushions tossed about the floor, everything upturned. “You know what they were looking for?”

“It has to be the key.”

“Where is it?” he asked, shifting his attention to the heart of the matter.

She pulled it from her pocket.

“Why don’t you give it to me?” he offered, not wanting anyone to have a reason to come after Riley again. Whoever had left the key left her in a heap of danger.

****

Hot fury rushed through Greyson as he raced for his Rover.

He shifted the SUV into Reverse and skidded out of the snow-covered drive.

His headlights cast beams through the thick snow driving at his windshield.

He accelerated, praying the road was empty, and time passed in warped fashion.

His heart thumping in his chest, the feel of Riley in his arms invaded his thoughts again. Rather, still invaded. He’d gone in for the hug without thinking, the feel of her in his arms amazing, but the realization of what he was doing hit him, and he’d awkwardly pulled away. He was never awkward. Not for years. Not since going into the military what seemed like a lifetime ago. That had shaken it out of him in a good way. But around Riley ... he lost all his cool. He flicked his wipers higher as the snow drove in waves, wind lashing the Rover, shaking it as he made his way up to Jeopardy Falls from his home in Santa Fe.

“Come on!” He pushed the gas pedal and shifted again, going with the slide, then managing to pull out of it. Finally, hitting the long dirt driveway covered in a thick blanket of white, he streamed down it, all the way to Riley’s door.

Wind whirling in his ears, he raced inside.

Riley, Deck, and Christian each held various belongings in their hands. His gaze fixed on Riley.

She turned to Deck. “You called Grey?”

“He was on the phone with me when you called.”

“Oh.”

Grey stiffened. She didn’t want him there? Ouch.

She looked up at him, fatigue in her eyes. Evidence of tears shed mixed with her furious expression. “Thanks for being here. But you didn’t need to come all the way out here.”

He swallowed. It’s you. Of course I came. “I wanted to make sure you were safe. See if there’s anything I can do.” He wanted so much more. Wanted to wrap her in his arms and tell her he’d die before he ever let anything happen to her.

“Jump on in,” Christian said, pulling Grey from his thoughts and tossing him a blanket. He gestured to the tumbled basket, throw blankets strewn about the floor nearby.

“Of course.” He started folding blankets.

Two hours later, Ri’s place was back to normal—or at least the stuff in it was. But having been breached, the normalcy and safety of home on the ranch had to be anything but for Riley.

“I think that just about does it. Thank you so much,” she said, broom in hand, its bristles tipped white with flour. “I’ll handle the mopping and such in the morning.”

“I can mop for you,” Grey said, moving toward her kitchen, where she kept her supplies.

“It’s not necessary,” she said, once again pulling him from the tumble of his thoughts. “But thanks. I appreciate you all helping me put things back together.” She looked around. “Now I can sleep.” She set the broom aside and moved to hug Deck goodnight.

“Whoa!” Deck said.

“What?” She frowned.

“You’re not thinking of sleeping here, are you?”

Her nose scrunched in that adorable way it did when she was about to argue. “Why wouldn’t I at this point?”

“Seriously? Your home was just broken into,” Deck said. “Not to mention the ambush on the road.”

“He’s right.” Christian ran a hand through his hair. “You should definitely stay with one of us.” Grey so wished it was with him. Not with him in that way, but under his watch and care. He needed to do something practical or he’d pace the floor with concern all night.

“I don’t think that’s necessary.” Riley shrugged a shoulder. “Whoever did this didn’t find the key here, so why come back?”

“Because they know you either stashed the key, in which case they need the information from you—” Deck began.

“Or they know you have it on you, and they take you,” Greyson said, his stomach bottoming out. “Either way, you need to get rid of that key. Let one of us keep it. We’ll protect it.”

“I’ll take it away from here,” Riley said. “Take it to the retreat tomorrow morning.”

“I like you away from here. That’s a fantastic idea, but the key...” Deck said.

She rested her hands on her curvy hips. “You guys can keep going, but I’ve made up my mind. I’m not letting it out of my sight.”

“We don’t even know what it goes to,” Christian said.

“I stopped in town during my lunch break on the ranch. I tried it at the bus depot, but no luck. And Clyde’s gym—again no luck.”

Greyson took a stiff inhale, his rib cage gripping his lungs. “Are you sure there’s no way to talk you out of this?”

“Positive. Where I go, the key goes.”

Which terrified him.