Page 40 of July 27

She raised her arms to his chest and pushed, knocking him back into the hallway. "Go. Leave me alone."

Shady shooed her away. "Don't let anyone in the house tonight."

She snarled at his back. He was already calling Corbin and heading toward the door. She waited until she heard them leave and then ran out into the front room, turning the deadbolt and pushing the overstuffed chair in front of the door.

She felt better even though she knew the lock wouldn't keep someone out if they were determined to get inside.

Tucking her hair into the hood of her hoodie, she ran her fingers under her eyes. She needed money. Returning to her room, she picked up the black garbage bag and spilled the clothes on the floor. Finding the jeans where she hid the money Ruger gave her, she took the cash and shoved it in her front pocket.

It would be enough money to get an Uber to drive her to Ruger's cottage. If he weren't home, she'd sit on his front porch and wait for him. She'd be safer there, even outside his house, than inside her house with her brother gone.

She checked the time on her phone and then searched for a driver. The second to the last one took cash, too. With her ride on the way, she slid the cell into her pocket and moved the chair out from in front of the door. If she left now, she'd get to Seaglass Cove before dark.

An hour later, she stood in Ruger's driveway and watched the Uber driver drive away. As soon as she arrived, she knew Ruger wasn't home. His Harley was gone. He never parked in the garage unless he worked on the motorcycle.

There were no lights on. The curtains in the living room window were closed.

She walked the stone pathway and sat on the front step in front of the door. Hugging her knees, she tried to keep the nerves at bay.

More than anything, excitement filled her. She'd missed Ruger every day since going back home.

When she first left Ruger's cottage, she was angry—so angry at him. He let her go without saying anything and without looking at her.

She hadn't understood how he could act as if he enjoyed being with her for the entire time she stayed with him to the coldness he'd given her when Shady showed up.

It took her a week to realize not all her anger was aimed at Ruger. She carried a lot of anger toward her brother. It was because of him that she was kidnapped. That she had gone through the worst pain in her life. That the beatings Ruger had subjected himself to, to protect her, was because of Shady.

It was because of her dad.

She wasn't asked to be born into a crime family.

Her anger came from her frustration that she could not leave her life behind. Everything she wanted and needed was on the outside.

She wanted to escape.

And the only place, the only person, the only thing she wanted was Ruger.

She sighed, impatient to see him. Whatever attitude he threw at her for showing up at his cottage, she'd wait for him until he understood how much he meant to her.

A car honked in the distance. She raised her head and squinted, scanning the front yard. The sun had quickly gone down.

She shivered. It was dark.

Scooting backward, she pressed her back against the door. He was probably at the clubhouse. He'd have a drink, see his daughter, and then ride home. Maybe instead of a drink, he'd eat something if he'd gone on a ride today.

The wind picked up in intensity. She buried her face in her upturned knees. The smell of fish was always in the air when the weather shifted, and the high tide came. Having lived on the Oregon coast her whole life, she used to wonder how far inland the briny air traveled before it became pure and undetectable, but she never had the chance to travel to find out.

At one time, she believed that the moment she turned eighteen years old, she'd move away from everything she knew. But by the time she graduated school, she understood that going out on her own would be impossible.

It was the first time she understood why her father, and her brother had chosen the life they lived. A regular, honest job without education wouldn't be enough to leave.

Shady kept running the streets, hoping to hit it big. Maybe he wanted to run away. Maybe he wanted more things to call his own. Maybe none of that was the goal. Sometimes, she believed he enjoyed the danger. That's why he let himself get into debt with others.

A lone headlight headed toward the cottage. She squeezed her knees to her chest.

She stayed in the dark, suddenly nervous. What if he told her to leave without talking to her?

Ruger stopped, turned off the motorcycle, and swung his leg over the seat. Dressed all in black, he was more a silhouette in the night. Something she dreamed about when she closed her eyes.

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