Page 102 of 5 Golden Flings

CHAPTER 15

“We can meetyou there and take a look...”

As Colby’s friend continued to talk on the line, his phone beeped with another incoming call. Probably from the station. He’d catch it in a minute.

“Sounds good,” he replied. “I’m getting things together to head back out there now.”

“We will too,” Gray said. “See you there.”

No sooner had he hung up than his phone rang again. He noticed it was Brynn as he answered. “Hey, your phones working?—”

“Colby, get here....now.”

The panicked sound of her voice broke through the crackle of the bad connection. “Brynn? Are you okay?”

It seemed like an eternity before he heard her again. “Someone—woods—help?—”

“I can’t hear you, Brynn. What’s going on?”

Even as he spoke he rushed over to throw on some more outerwear and grab his backpack. Everything else was already packed in the truck for his return.

“Locked inside.”

Shit. What was happening? He left the phone on speaker as he ran out the door and started his truck. After several minutes of no sound, he glanced down to see the call had cut off. Focusing back on the road, he sped as fast as he dared down the mostly clear roads within the city limits. He had to get to her as quickly as possible.

His mind raced a mile a minute as he evaluated every curve and twist for just the right speed to keep him on the road and not in a ditch.Please don’t let me hit any black ice.But he couldn’t slow down. He had to help her.

He should never have left her alone.

Opening the gate was an exercise in frustration, but he knew it was quicker to get the truck through than to try to run the distance to the house. He gunned it down the driveway, not worrying about the exact route.

Get there...get there...get to her...

Once again he found himself pounding on the front door, desperate to get inside. This time for a completely different reason. He didn’t need to save himself. He needed to save Brynn.

After what seemed an eternity, the door flung open and she was in his arms. “Colby! Colby!”

“Oh my god, Brynn,” he whispered into her hair. “I was so scared.”

“I couldn’t get the phone to work again. I didn’t know what to do. I just locked myself inside and hoped you would get here...”

“Shhh.... shhhhh...” The feel of her shaking against him lit up every protective instinct he owned. “I’m here now.”

Finally he looked behind her, scanning the open rooms he could see. “Is someone inside?” he whispered.

She shook her head against his chest. “No. Outside.”

His heartrate slowed just a touch. He kicked the door closed behind him and shifted them from the foyer to the doorwaybetween the living room and kitchen, still surveying the space for anything awry. “What happened, love?”

“I went for a walk.”

As she spoke, Colby noticed the extra clothing and sweatshirt hood hanging behind her neck.

“And I found these in the woods when someone ran off.”

He glanced down to see photos in her hand. The one on top showed her lying asleep on the couch in the living room. He cursed under his breath. “Okay, let’s?—”

“Hello?”

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