Page 25 of By Your Side
“I’ll walk you in,” I added.
We got out. Paige met us halfway.
“Briar,” she breathed, voice shaking.
“Mom,” she cried, and launched herself into Paige’s arms.
Paige wrapped around her like a shield, one hand in her hair, the other around her back.
“I’m so sorry,” Briar said between sobs. “I didn’t want to make things worse.”
“You didn’t,” Paige whispered. “You didn’t. I promise. It’s okay. Shh. I’m just glad you’re okay. You’re home now, you’re safe. I’ve got you.”
I stayed back, hands in my pockets, heart still pounding from the what-ifs. But watching the way Paige held her kid like she was piecing her back together was the only thing that really mattered.
Eventually, she looked over Briar’s shoulder at me. Her eyes were glassy, but alert. “Thank you,” she mouthed. Then she pulled out of Paige’s arms and ran to me, throwing her arms around my waist in a giant hug. “You saved me, Hunter, and you listened.”
Embarrassed, she darted away back to the house and ran inside with Paige following closely behind.
I pulled out my phone and called Cade.
“Hey,” he answered. “How is she?”
“She’s safe. I found her walking along the highway. But there was a truck. Old. Red and white, but rusted. I’d say it was a Ford F-100, 1959, if I had to guess. It followed her slowly as she walked. Took off when I pulled up.”
Cade’s voice dropped. “You get a plate?”
“No. Too dark. But it felt wrong. It seemed like whoever was in it was up to no good. Could have just been a kid messing around, but it couldn’t hurt to check it out. I can’t shake it, man. It gave me a bad feeling.”
“I’ll make a few calls. Check in with patrol. We’ll see if anything like that’s been reported. And I’ll send a car out there to look around.”
“Thanks.”
We hung up just as Noah’s headlights swung into the driveway behind me.
He stopped haphazardly and barely had it in park before he and Lark were climbing out. Paige must’ve already texted them.
Lark didn’t even pause—she sprinted to the front door and disappeared inside.
Noah spotted me and exhaled. “You’re the one who found her?”
I nodded. “She’s okay. Scared. Shaken up. But okay.”
“God.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “Okay. Thank you. Okay.”
He looked like he’d aged five years in an hour. I clapped a hand on his shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze.
“You did good,” I said. “Getting the info. Picking up Lark.”
He nodded, still dazed. “Thanks.”
I turned to go, to give them space, but then the screen door opened as another car pulled into the driveway. Paige stood there, arms crossed, her mouth a firm line as Eli burst out, running toward the porch.
“Is she okay?” he asked, looking around Paige into the house like he had a right to be inside with them, as if this entire situation wasn’t his fault.
“She’s safe,” Paige said flatly. “And staying here tonight.”
“I was worried?—”
