Page 52 of Raven's Curse
Only this time, she wasn’t sure she’d find her way back.
Footsteps.
Closing in on her. Dragging her from that edge as they stopped in front of her. Taking a breath, she looked up.
Chase stared at her for a moment, head tilting off to one side. “You’re still shivering.”
She shrugged. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.” He drew in a deep breath, then offered her his hand. “C’mon. Bodie’s here. He’ll take over.”
Greer stumbled to her feet, tripping against Chase before drawing herself up. “I already told you. I can’t leave until I know…”
Eli wasn’t going to make it.
She knew it. That, despite all Chase had done, it wouldn’t be enough. That Eli’s fate had been sealed before they’d spotted his cruiser.
That in the end, it was all her fault.
Chase slipped his hand over hers. “You already know. He’d lost too much blood. Suffered horrific internal injuries. The only reason he even made it into the chopper alive was because the cold water slowed everything down. Bought him some time. Once I pulled him out…”
Greer looked at the room, noting the lack of movement. The unnatural silence suffocating the space. She scrubbed her hand down her face. “I can’t…”
“I know.”
She closed her eyes, tried to quiet her mind, only to have the images bounce back. Threaten to drag her under. “I need his clothes. We need a CSI team out to the site. I?—”
“Bodie’s on top of it.” Chase shook his head when she opened her mouth to interrupt him. “Everyone’s got backup and state’s on scene. The best way to help is to give yourself some time to process everything. Grieve. You were barely holding on before, now…”
“I can fall apart once I end this bastard.”
“You can’t bring him down if you’re so messed up, you can’t think straight. I’m not telling you to throw in the towel. You just need a break.”
“And if he strikes again?”
Chase clenched his jaw. “I think he’s made his point clear tonight. To everyone.”
Her chin quivered, all the pain and guilt burning her eyes. She turned away, swallowed the hurt, then nodded, heading for the exit without looking back. She stumbled her way to the helicopter, slipping inside the cabin without even looking at Mac or Foster.
Chase settled in beside her, close but not touching. Just a warm presence if she wanted the contact. The helicopter rocked, the rotors picking up speed before they lifted off, the return ride noticeably calmer than the last.
A mix of bleach and lemon infused in the air, all traces of their race against time washed away. She glanced out the window, watching the fog creep below them, reflecting the glimmer of moonlight low on the horizon. Trees stood black against the indigo sky, a few stars punching through the darkness.
The rest of the trip passed in a hazy blur — landing at the hangar, then riding with Foster and Mac back to that pullout in the road. Chase jumped out, talked to one of the state cops, then slipped behind the wheel of her Bronco. She hadn’t even realized he’d been following them until he pulled in behind Foster’s truck, parked her SUV off to the right.
Mac moved in to give Greer a hug, stopping short when Greer wrapped her arms around her chest. Instead, her friend simply nodded, then followed Foster up to the main house before disappearing inside.
Chase shouldered up beside her, gently guiding her down the path to his door. The alarm chirped, a light burning down the hallway as she stepped inside, wincing at the firm thud of the door.
Every noise was too loud, every light too bright. Chase must have read her mind because he dimmed everything until only a soft glow remained. She wiped her palms along her pants, wishing she could just disappear when he moved in behind her — pressed his chest to her back.
She tensed, all the anger and guilt burning along her skin. Threatening to self-combust from the simple pressure. She turned, fisting his shirt in an effort to shove him away, when he placed his hands over hers. Held her captive with nothing but the press of his palms — the comfort of his skin over hers.
The first sob caught her off-guard. Ripped a hole in her soul as it clawed free. She pounded her fists against his chest, still clenching the fabric as the next guttural gasp escaped. Punched right through those walls she’d spent a lifetime reinforcing, pulverizing them into bits of sand.
Chase held firm through three more rounds before wrapping his arms around her — holding her tight.
She sank into him. Any defense still standing crumbled within his embrace. And she would have fallen to her knees if he hadn’t been bracing all her weight. Tears burned her eyes, each shuddering breath stealing more of her strength.
