Page 69 of Tactical Lies

Had it been a crack of lightning instead?

Or maybe it was just her imagination working overtime.

The wind howled outside. If someone fired a weapon, would she be able to hear it from inside?

She wasn't sure.

Her legs shook so badly she could hardly walk, but she had to. Had to figure out what she was going to do. Connor had told her to hide, but where was she supposed to do that?

It was the same problem she’d had when he first arrived, and she hadn't known it was him and she’d panicked and armed herself. There had been nowhere to hide then and there was nowhere to hide now.

Especially given that the cabin was remote.

If Connor was right and someone had tracked them to the cabin, then sabotaged the generator to plunge them into darkness and even the playing field, or separate them or whatever the reason had been, no one was going to be able to get to them in time to help them.

And Connor could be hurt.

Could be …

No.

She couldn’t even allow herself to think that.

For all she knew, it was Connor shooting at someone. Maybe he needed her help and she was just standing in the bedroom frozen in fear.

Come on, Becca.

Pull it together.

Connor needs you.

Why hadn't she said the words she’d already decided on? She should have told him that she was giving him a second chance. It was true, and she thought her actions had shown it, there was no way she would have had sex with him if she wasn't willing to try to work things out and rebuild what they used to have, and she was sure Connor knew it.

Didn't he?

There was no way to be sure, and now, all she wished was that she’d said the words. She wanted Connor to know for certain, especially since he’d gone running out into danger to protect her.

Palming her cell phone as she crept down the stairs, she wished she could walk as silently as Connor did. It must have been some super skill he learned as part of his training because he hadn't been able to walk without making a sound back when she’d known him. With her prosthetic, she doubted she could ever do what he did, but she wished she could.

Because someone could already be in the cabin.

It had been at least three minutes since Connor left the bedroom, and close to a minute since she heard what she was still sure was a gunshot.

Whether she was right or wrong it didn’t matter.

Calling for help was the smart thing to do. Whatever was happening someone needed to know, even if it was just the storm. Flooding from the river, the torrential rain, or the screaming wind could still wind up putting them in danger.

As she reached the main floor, she scanned the space, looking for any signs that someone was in there. The front and back doors were both closed, but it was hard to see much of anything because it was so dark.

Pitch black.

Because of the storm, there wasn't even any moonlight to filter in through the windows, and there certainly wasn't any light from neighbors. From what Cade had told her on the drive up there, the nearest neighbors were almost two miles away. Nowhere near close enough for her to easily reach in a storm.

When nothing moved and she didn't hear any other sounds than the wind, Becca crept over to the back door. The generator was around the back and off to the right a little. Cade had shown it to her just in case she needed to know where it was, although neither of them had thought she really would.

Since Connor was outside, there was no use calling him. She was close with all of his brothers, they’d all grown up together, but this was Cade’s cabin so she brought up his number and hit call.

The phone rang three times before it was answered.

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