Page 86 of Whispers of You
“Because I love you too damn much.”
Wren only cried harder. “I-I can’t lose you, Holt. Don’t make me lose you.”
I held her tighter, rocking back and forth. “You’re not going to lose me. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Wren’s hands fisted in my shirt as the sound of sirens filled the air.
“See? The cops are coming. Whoever this was is long gone.”
“They could come back,” she whispered. “They could be faster next time.”
She had a point there. I’d be calling Cain tonight to see what their company had for bulletproof glass. Maybe something with a tint that you couldn’t see through.
“We’re gonna stay safe. I promise.” Because we had no other option. I wouldn’t lose Wren now. Not when I’d held her in my arms again. Not when I knew now what it meant to lose myself in her—with her. Not when I was finally home.
Three police department vehicles came to a screeching halt outside the cabin. Lawson was the first out of his SUV, running for the house. Nash was hot on his heels, the other officers right behind.
“We need to let them in, Cricket.”
Wren simply clung to me.
So, I got up with her still in my arms. She held on tight, her face burrowed in the crook of my neck.
“Holt?” Lawson called.
“Coming.” I picked up my weapon, holstering it and starting for the door. I unlocked it and stepped back. “I’ve got my weapon at the small of my back.”
I didn’t say it for Lawson and Nash, they’d assume I was armed after everything that had gone down the past few days. I said it as a courtesy for the officers behind them.
Concern creased Nash’s face as he took in the scene, noticing Wren, who still held on to me for dear life. “Is she okay?”
I gave my head a small shake. “She’s not injured.” But Wren was far from okay.
“Why don’t we get you sitting down?” Law said and then instructed the other officers to begin working the perimeter and searching for the shooter’s nest.
Moving into the living room, I lowered myself to the couch and positioned Wren so she could curl up in my lap.
Lawson crouched so he could make eye contact with Wren. “You sure you’re okay?”
She nodded, starting to come back to herself as she took in Lawson. “I’m okay.”
The words were barely audible, but she sat up. Wren started to slide off my lap, but I kept her close, my arm wrapped around her. Instead of fighting me, she snuggled against my side.
“Walk us through what happened,” Lawson said.
I held Wren tighter, not wanting her to have to hear this after living through it, but also not able to let her go. “We were standing by the island, and I saw a glint on the window. I knew it wasn’t the sun—it was coming from the wrong direction. Instinct took over. I took Wren down and rolled her. The window shattered. A minute later, I heard an ATV while on the phone with you.”
“You’re sure it was an ATV?” Nash asked.
“Could’ve been a dirt bike, I guess. It wasn’t a car, truck, or SUV, though. Different engine.”
Lawson nodded, making a note in his phone. “We’ve got all available officers looking.”
Nash strode to the wall opposite the new opening where the window had been. “There’s your bullet.”
Wren swallowed hard. “This could’ve been so bad.”
I leaned into her, resting my forehead against her temple. “We’re okay.”
