Page 14 of Liam James
“Either he’s here,” Fraiser said, “or he left in a hurry.”
I shook my head. “Not in a hurry. A plan.”
Because everything in that cabin screamed control. Not chaos.
And that meant Jarod Kennedy knew we were coming.
“Look at this,”Fraiser said, nodding toward a corkboard by the far wall.
Photos.
Not just of Jenny.
Of Liam. Poppy. Even me and Fraiser, from when we stopped for gas earlier today.
“Son of a—” Fraiser hissed.
“He’s ahead of us,” I said flatly.
Because he wasn’t just hunting Jenny anymore. He was watching anyone who stood between him and what he wanted.
And that meant the clock just started ticking a whole lot faster.
11
Jenny
The motel room was too quiet.
Poppy was asleep in the bed next to me, the connecting door closed but not locked. I paced the room, telling myself it was just because my mind was on Jarod, but maybe it was because I couldn’t stop this panic feeling.
Couldn’t stop thinking.
Couldn’t stop hearing every sound outside, certain it was my brother coming for us.
The clock on the nightstand glowed 1:14 a.m.
I stared at that door between our rooms until I couldn’t take it anymore.
Finally, I opened it and stepped through.
Liam was sittingin the chair by the window, boots off, T-shirt clinging to him like the heat in this room didn’t bother him at all. His eyes lifted the second I walked in, and there was no surprise there.
Like maybe he’d been waiting for me.
“You okay?” His voice was low, rough around the edges.
I nodded, even though it wasn’t true. “I just… I can’t sleep.”
He stood, closing the space between us in two slow steps. “You scared?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Come here,” he murmured.
And I did.
I didn’t knowwho moved first after that. Maybe both of us.
