Page 29 of A Secret Promise

"I'm just being appreciative," Vixen protested. "State animals aren't excatly common knowledge."

Rule was about to side with Vixen when he noticed a woman in the background. She had emerged from a large oak tree like a ghost out for vengeance, and something about her felt completely off.

"Dad?"

His daughter followed his gaze, and that was when both of them saw the woman pick up a rock and take aim at Vixen.

"Vixen, watch out!"

It was Riley who cried out in her distress while instincts simply took over for Rule. He threw himself at her, and Vixen's back hit the soft ground.

But it was still too late, and something hard and sharp struck the side of his head.

Twelve

POLICE WAS STILL COMBINGthe area for clues over an an hour later, and Rule was in full support of this. The only thing he cared about was finding out who it was behind the attack, and the sooner that person was behind bars, the better.

Pastor Ryder had offered one of the private rooms in the church for the police's use, and it was now Riley's turn to be questioned.

"I thought I was seeing a ghost at first," Riley revealed shakily.

"Can you describe her appearance?"

"Tall. Thin. Like a model. But she had her hood up and a face mask."

"And her clothes?"

"A plain gray hoodie. And jeans."

"Anything else?"

His daughter turned to him, and the pain that clouded her gaze spoke volumes. It was easy to tell they were both thinking the same thing.

Rule asked for a private moment with the detective in charge after his daughter's interview and grimly shared his suspicions.

"I did hear about your ex coming to town." Detective Sterne's brisk and business-like tone perfectly matched her appearance. "And based on what you've just told us, you and your daughter believe the suspect has a similar build to your ex?"

"Yes."

"Would she have any motive for wanting to harm Vixen?"

Rule provided the details of Beatriz's last conversation with Vixen.

"And do you know where she is now?"

"Vixen and I haven't had any contact with Beatriz since the night I asked her to leave. She hasn't been answering my daughter's texts either."

"We'll look into this," Detective Sterne informed him. "But in the meantime...look after each other."

Thirteen

VIXEN STARED AT HERreflection in the mirror after her shower. Riley had lent her a fresh set of pajamas, and the clothes somehow made her feel younger...but also more vulnerable.

That she would stay for the night might have been a foregone conclusion as far as Rule and Riley were concerned, but what ultimately convinced her to accept their offer was when Rule himself insisted on having Salt and Light stay with them as well.

"Everything you care about, Riley and I care about, too."

When they arrived, Salt and Light had surprised her with how quickly they had adjusted to their new surroundings. They hadn't also made any fuss when she left them in Rule's library. The last time she had checked on them, the two had already settled in...which, unfortunately, was something she couldn't say for herself.

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