Page 87 of Delicate Escape

My gut twisted, Raina’s glittering eyes flashing in my mind. “I want to help her,” I whispered.

Shep took my hand, squeezing. “I know you do. But we’ll find a way. Fallon’s going to talk to her.”

“Really?” After a taste of Fallon’s kind and empathetic energy, I knew if anyone had a chance of reaching Raina, it was her.

Trace nodded. “She’s been trying to figure out an approach where she’ll have some time with Raina without Raina worrying Russ will show up.”

I mulled that over for a moment or two. “Maybe you could call him in for a follow-up to his report. Have Fallon ready to go then. You could text her whenever Russ is leaving the station.”

Trace’s brows lifted slightly. “Good idea. You work secret missions before?”

My mouth wanted to smile, but it couldn’t quite get there. Between Russ making trouble for Shep and what Raina might be facing at home, it was all too much. “We have to help her,” I said quietly.

Shadows passed over Trace’s eyes. “I know. We’re going to do everything we can.”

Shep leaned in, brushing his lips over my temple. “We’ll get a hand out to her. She just has to take it.”

But when you’d been that beaten down, moving in any direction was the most terrifying thing in the world. Even if it was your only hope of freedom.

33

SHEP

Slamming my truck’s door,I headed toward the old farmhouse. It was the last place I wanted to be. Usually, when life got twisted, working on a new project was exactly what I wanted. What I craved. But not now.

All I wanted was to be with Thea, make sure she was okay, and that her demons weren’t getting to her. I knew Trace needed to talk to both of us, but I’d wanted to deck him for laying all that on Thea’s shoulders.

I’d tried to get her to take the day off. Between last night and this morning, she needed a break. Some time to recover.

Of course, Thea had refused, instead heading into Bloom to work the early shift with Rhodes. So, here I was. Maybe I could take out some of my anger and frustration in demo.

I strode past Anson’s truck toward the property’s front door, but just as I reached it, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Sliding it out, I grimaced as I took in the screen.

Mara

How is your hand? Do you need anything? I could bring you and Anson lunch at the new property.

With as small as Sparrow Falls was, and the fact that Mara worked at the hardware store, I shouldn’t have been surprised she’d heard about my new project. But her text felt a touch intrusive. Normally, I’d never just ignore her—or anyone—but I didn’t have the energy to deal with it today. So, I locked my phone and shoved it back into my pocket.

Opening the front door, I headed toward the demolition sounds. As I hit the halfway-open living space, Anson halted in mid-swing with his sledgehammer. He lowered it and pushed the goggles into his dark blond hair. “Wasn’t sure you were going to make it. How’s the hand?”

I lifted it and flexed my fingers. Pain flared to life, but nothing that meant broken bones. My knuckles were bruised, but the tears in my flesh were already scabbing over thanks to Thea’s first-aid skills. “Not too bad.”

Anson simply arched a brow at that.

“Really. I didn’t break anything.”

“Good,” he grunted. “How’s Thea?”

That was a far more complicated question. As I mulled over how to answer it, I tugged my wallet from my back pocket. Opening it, I pulled out another one-dollar bill and handed it to Anson.

He glared at me. “Seriously?”

I shrugged. “Are we in session, Doc?”

Anson set the sledgehammer down, resting it against some framing, then gestured for me to get on with it.

“Do you still have relationships with any of the hackers who advised your team at the Behavioral Analysis Unit?”

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