Page 125 of Beautiful Exile

My head swam as I tried to think of everyone I’d shared that information with. “I—I don’t know. Anyone I talked to about camping. It’s a public spot, so I might’ve recommended it to a friend or even a stranger. I’m sure I’ve talked about going there. I just…I don’t know to who.”

Trace reached out and patted my knee. “It’s okay. We’re just trying to narrow the field. We’ll figure it out. I’ve got deputies combing the surrounding property, trying to see if we can find a trail.”

“But until then, we have to assume they’re still watching,” I whispered.

A muscle fluttered in Trace’s jaw. “We do.”

“But if they were watching, why not take the shot before? Why wait until we were in the middle of nowhere?”

“The distance was likely too great,” Anson supplied. “Long-range sniper shots like that take a lot of skill.”

“That should narrow down your suspects, shouldn’t it?” Lincasked. Only it didn’t come out like a question, it was more of a demand.

“We’re working that angle,” Anson assured him. “My contacts at the bureau are putting a list together.”

Trace cleared his throat. “The U.S. Marshals also wanted me to pass something along.”

My gaze turned wary as I took in my brother. “What?”

“They want you to know that they’d be happy to put you back into WITSEC.”

“No.”

“It doesn’t have to be for?—”

“No,” I said, putting all the finality I could into the word. “I’m not running. Not anymore.”

“Arden,” Linc said, pain lacing his tone.

I jerked and turned to him. “I’m not doing it.”

“It would mean you’d be safe,” he said, his voice dipping low.

Everything in me twisted. “Safe and alone. I’m done with that. I’m not letting this asshole and whoever is pulling the strings keep me from living my life. Not anymore.”

Linc studied me for a long moment. “Okay.”

I blinked at him a few times. “Okay?”

He nodded. “I’m not going to try to force you to give up your life. You’ve worked too hard to rebuild it. But I am going to be by your side every step of the way, making sure you’re safe.”

The panic was back. “Linc?—”

“By. Your. Side,” he repeated.

My heart hammered against my ribs, but I forced out one single word. “Okay.”

Trace sighed. “I’ve got a deputy stationed outside. And we’ll be making the rounds throughout the night. We’ll do everything we can from a local perspective.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Trace squeezed my knee. “I’d do anything for my little sister. Even when she’s being stubborn and annoying as hell.”

One corner of my mouth kicked up as I tried to smile. “I’d befalling down on my job as your little sister if I wasn’t being both of those things.”

Linc let out a soft chuckle. “Iknowthat’s true.”

“Well, you’d better get some rest because I know it’s gotta take a lot of energy to bethatannoying,” Trace said, pushing to his feet.

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