Page 93 of All the Missing Pieces

Ridley tugged me toward reception before I could say a word, but I didn’t miss the way Ryan’s gaze dropped to our joined hands, the other officers’ too. I’d have the gossip mill working overtime. Not what I needed, but I didn’t give a damn.

Part of me was aware of the people we passed, the sounds of the station. But it wasn’t until we were outside, the sun streaming down, the fresh scent of the redwoods wrapping around us, that my vision cleared.

Ridley dropped my hand, but it was only so she could press her palms to my cheeks. “Look at me.”

My back teeth gnashed together, but I forced my gaze to hers, to those beautiful, hypnotic blues.

“We’re going to get him,” she vowed.

“I know.” Because I knew both of us were too damned determined for it to be any other way. “But what else are wegoing to find along the way? How many monsters? I’m not sure I can handle knowing the reality behind the people I’ve been living alongside my entire life.”

Empathy washed across Ridley’s expression. “It’s like rebreaking a bone. Hurts more than the first time, but it’s necessary to get it to heal right. We’re digging them all out. Bringing the monsters out so they can’t hide anymore, can’thurtanyone anymore.”

And, God, I did want that. Didn’t want there to be a soul in Shady Cove that was trying to do others harm. But I knew that was an impossible task. We’d just have to take what we could and keep doing the work.

My phone let out a series of dings in my back pocket, and Ridley’s hands dropped from my face. I missed their heat, their demanding strength when it felt like my own was faltering. But I wasn’t ready to ask for them back either.

Instead, I pulled out my phone.

Shortcake

Is my brother open to bribery?

An ache took root in my chest. Emerson had no idea what had happened today. How close I'd thought I was. My fingers flew over the screen.

Me

I’m an officer of the law.

Shortcake

I’m taking that as a yes then.

Me

I’m not above arresting you.

Shortcake

Arrest me after you come over here and eat fried chicken, coleslaw, and biscuits. Bring Ridley. Trey’s coming too.

I stared at my phone for a long moment, trying to figure out how the hell I felt about this. And what it meant.

“What is it?” Ridley asked, but she was already tipping my phone down so she could read the screen upside down.

I jerked it out of her grasp, a grin tugging at my mouth. “Nosy much?”

She smiled up at me, and it hit me somewhere in the solar plexus. The kind of pain you got from holding your breath for too long. Her blue eyes twinkled. “I get the best info from being nosy.”

I rubbed at that spot on my chest, trying to clear the sensation. “Em wants us to come over for lunch.”

Ridley’s brows flew up, but the reaction was quickly followed by a wariness that settled over her features. “And you don’t want me to go.”

“No,” I said quickly. “I’m not sure,” I finally admitted.

I didn’t miss the flicker of hurt in Ridley’s expression. It ground the guilt in deeper.

“I’d like to get to know her. Not because of who she is to this case but because of who she is to you,” Ridley said softly.

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