Page 101 of Her Rugged Guardian

A grin remained on my face until I heard Cass’s voicemail click in. Maybe it was too loud at the diner to hear her phone. Ending the call, I immediately called the diner. It rang three times before someone answered.

“Millie’s.”

“Becca?”

“Yeah. Jake?”

It was loud, as if half the town had converged on the place. “Yeah, it’s me.”

“You’re a goddamn hero. You’re all over the news.”

“Hey. I was just doing my job. Can you grab Cassandra for me?”

“Who?”

“You know, Margaret’s daughter? She’s not answering her phone.”

“Jake, I’ve been here all night. She’s not here.”

“You’re certain.” Hairs had risen on the back of my neck.

“Yeah, I’m positive. Do you want me to call you if she comes in?”

I jumped into the truck, immediately turning over the engine. “Yeah, please do. Thanks.” I slammed the gear into drive, pressing down on the accelerator, and was forced almost immediately to hit the horn several times to get people to move out of my way.

There was no doubt in my mind that Malcolm had used the fire to get to her. I grabbed my phone, immediately dialing Bart. I didn’t expect to get anything but his voicemail since he’d been called to the fire to control the crowds.

“I was just about to call you. You’re a goddamn fool even if you are the big hero. Everyone is talking about you,” Bart said immediately after answering on the first ring.

“Yeah? Well, it might be at the cost of Cassandra’s life.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“She’s not answering her phone and she’d not at Millie’s where I told her to go. I’m headed back to the winery now. I think Malcolm made good on his threat.”

“Whoa. Just hold on. You need to hear something.”

I powered through a yellow light, moving in excess of sixty miles per hour in a thirty-five zone. I refused to allow anything to happen to her. “What? Just say it.”

“Did you know her ex was in town?”

“What?”

“Yeah, and the man has a violent background.”

CHAPTER 27

Jake

I threw open the door, listening for any sounds.

The voices I heard were eerie and it took me a few seconds to realize the sound was coming from the television. I moved into the living room, turning it off and scanning the area. Nothing seemed out of place, no indication that anything out of the ordinary had occurred, but her truck was sitting outside, which confirmed something was terribly wrong.

I headed into the kitchen, flicking on the light. Then I moved from room to room, including racing upstairs.

There was also no sign of Moose anywhere.

I returned to the living room. Given the fact nothing had been turned over, no obvious signs of a fight, it was possible that she’d opened the door to Stephen. However, I doubted the conversation had been friendly. How could it be, given the way their relationship had ended? I turned in a full circle, ready to leave when a strange noise caused me to pause. What the hell?

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