Page 58 of Forever Theirs

“Because the female hikers they traveled with were missing instead of being found with the men’s bodies,” she said, pausing at the pathway that led toward her cabin to face us.

“Exactly.” He opened the tailgate to make it easier for Jubie to jump down. The dog’s massive paws barely made a sound when she landed and trotted over to where Aspen and I stood.

“And how many female hikers are you saying have gone missing off the trail in the last year?”

“Thirteen, though two of the victims’ bodies were found months later, badly decomposed.”

“Yet you still think it’s tied to the other missing women’s cases,” she hedged with a frown. “Seems suspicious, sure, but I don’t know if they’re all connected.”

“We don’t either, which is why the guy who owns Uplift asked a SEAL buddy, Hudson, a detective down in LA, to come help run the investigation.” I tossed an arm over her shoulders and turned us both, starting the short walk to her cabin. “The sheriff doesn’t think there’s a case. He thinks the women just got lost or were victims of unfortunate accidents. Which could’ve happened. Sure, the trail is difficult, but we believe there is enough suspicion to warrant an investigation. Hence why we want you to be extra cautious when you’re alone.”

She angled her head from side to side. “People get hurt or go missing all the time in parks and nature preserves. I can only imagine how much more dangerous a trail is here than anywhere else. Maybe it’s more about people coming here unprepared, expecting it to be all about the magnificent views and not the crazy-hard terrain and climate. Because I’ll be honest, I’ve hiked and explored a lot of different locations, and this place… the beauty is deceiving. You don’t realize how remote and treacherous it can be out there.”

“But you had fun?” I asked, leaning down to plant a kiss on her forehead.

“I had… there isn’t a word that describes the last twenty-four hours with you guys and being out there,” she said, angling a wide smile up at me.

“I’m sure you captured it in your pictures,” Miles offered behind us.

“Hopefully.” The excitement and energy in her tone was palpable. Digging the cabin key out of her front pocket, she reached for the door handle with the other hand. “I just need to…” Stopping, she frowned. “That’s odd.”

A massive body wedged itself between Aspen and me at her comment. I rolled my eyes at Miles’s back.

“What is it?” he demanded.

Not verbally responding, she pushed the door, which opened with ease. I narrowed my eyes at the key still in her other hand. “I’m positive I locked it,” she stated.

“Itwaslocked. I double-checked it before we left,” Miles said, sidearm already in his hand, stepping over the threshold. “Aiden, on my six.”

I pulled my own weapon, a shiver rolling down my spine, making the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck stand on end, the moment I entered the cabin. I adjusted my hold on the Glock, the rough grip caressing my palm, offering some comfort that I was armed if anyone was inside. After clearing each room twice, we met Aspen where she stood just inside the cabin by the open door.

I gave her a quick once-over, cataloging her pale face, arms crossed around her waist, and the way her nervous gaze jumped from side to side as if expecting someone to jump out of thin air.

Damnit, she looked absolutely terrified.

Holstering my gun, I pulled her into my arms and rubbed a hand along her spine in reassuring strokes. “You’re all right. No one is in here but us. We’re positive.”

“But someone was.” I shot my best friend a pointed “shut the fuck up, dude” look. He just shrugged in return. “What? She needs to know that someone has been here. The door was locked when we left, and the cabin just feels off.”

Well, he had me there.

“Was anything stolen?”

Slowly releasing my tight hold, I took her hand in mine and guided her to the single bedroom. “I don’t think so, but why don’t you go through your things to double-check? I’ll be right here with you.”

Teeth gnawing on her lower lip, she nodded and hesitantly slipped our joined hands apart. I stuck closer than her fucking shadow as she moved around the room, searching the bags I remembered helping with that first day, inspecting the contents of a few small ones in the bathroom, and rummaging through a computer bag next to a tiny desk.

Blowing out a slow breath, she looked up from where she knelt on the floor. “Everything is here. Could we be imagining this?”

I shook my head as I scanned the room. It didn’t make sense why someone would break in and not steal anything. The computer sitting on top of the desk would’ve been easy to grab, but they didn’t.

What the fuck was going on in Anchor Bay?

“I called the sheriff,” Miles said when he stormed back into the cabin from the back door, gun still clutched tightly in his grip. “Said he’d swing by when he could. I’ll stay and wait for that lazy fucker to show up. Aiden, you take Aspen to our place. There is no way in hell you’re staying here tonight, baby girl. Please don’t fight me on?—”

“I agree,” Aspen cut in. “No pushback from me. I don’twantto stay here alone tonight.”

“Thank fuck for that,” I grumbled to myself. “Come on. I’ll help you pack everything up.” I interlaced our fingers and raised her hand to my lips to kiss the back. “Though if you want to leave the underwear…” I waggled my brows, hoping to ease the tense moment. The slight curve of her lips was all I got, but it had to be enough for now. Later, I’d help her forget all about the break-in and her fear.

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