Page 65 of Fragile Sanctuary

A million what-ifs circled my brain. And most of all, I tried to think of someone who hated me enough to wish me dead. I couldn’t come up with a single person. Obviously, my radar was off because someone clearly did. “Do you have any idea…who…I mean, are there suspects?”

“We’re not sure. Not yet,” Trace said. “But we will find out. I promise.”

Anson took a step toward me. “But until you get one hell of a security system in here, you’re not staying alone.”

19

RHODES

“This is ridiculous.”I couldn’t help the exasperation as sleeping bags were strewn across my living room floor.

Fallon wrapped an arm around my waist and squeezed hard. “It’s this, or Mom moves you in with her and Lolli.”

That had me snapping my mouth shut. Thankfully, I’d talked Nora, Lolli, and Arden into going home, but only after Trace and Shep promised they’d stay.

“Deal with it, Rho,” Trace said, pinning me with a stare.

“What about Keely?” I pressed. “I’m sure her sitter doesn’t want to stay all night.”

He shook his head. “She’s at a sleepover.”

My shoulders slumped. “That floor is going to be ridiculously uncomfortable.”

“Then go see what’s taking Shep so long with the air mattresses,” Trace grumbled.

I huffed out a breath, extricating myself from Fallon’s hold and heading for my front door. The fire crew was gone, but the crime scenetechs were still working. By the time Shep had gone to get camping gear and everyone else had left, it was almost five a.m. Sleep would be futile.

Tugging open the front door, I came up short as I took in Shep and Anson speaking in hushed but clipped tones. Anson’s head jerked up at my flicker of movement. I swallowed hard. “Everything okay?” I thought Anson had taken off an hour ago.

Shep scrubbed a hand over his face. “Just making a plan for tomorrow. Need to move the crew to a different job for the day.”

Shit.This was screwing up more than my life. I had to remember that. “Sorry, Shep.”

He crossed to me then, two camping mattresses under one arm. He used the other to pull me into a half-hug. “None of this is your fault.”

I eased into his side. “I’d like to junk-punch whoever did this.”

Shep chuckled, but the sound didn’t ring true. “I think that’s more than fair.”

Anson watched us in the glow of the porch light. “Be careful. This isn’t someone you should be taking on.”

I swore there was worry in Anson’s tone, giving away that he might care more than he wanted to. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking. “I’ll be careful. And it’s not like anyone’s going to make it through my two bodyguards.”

“Three bodyguards.” A voice cut through the dark as Kye’s motorcycle boots hit the walkway up to the guesthouse. Even in the low light, I could see that his face was paler than normal, worry creasing his brow. “I’m sorry. My phone was on silent. I just saw all the texts and calls. You okay?”

He didn’t move to hug me. That wasn’t Kye. But I could see the true concern in his eyes. Guilt gnawed at me. This second family I’d found all carried their own scars, and here I was, triggering the hell out of them with this close call.

I did my best to force a smile. “Well, Lolli tried to get me high in an attempt to help, so it’s not all bad.”

Kye’s lips didn’t even twitch. “Rho.”

My shoulders slumped. “I’m all right. Really. But Fallon was worried when you didn’t answer. You should tell her you’re okay.”

Kye muttered a curse. “Yeah.”

He headed inside without saying a word to Anson. It wasn’t that he was trying to be rude. His head was just elsewhere.

Anson cleared his throat. “I’m going to head out.” He glanced at Shep. “I’ll touch base in the morning.”

---