Page 114 of Fragile Heart

Melissa’s eyes are wide, her cheeks pale. But she doesn’t hesitate. “All right. Let me get you to the guest house.”

She opens the driver door and hops into my SUV, waiting until I’ve closed the passenger door to start toward Emily’s place. She doesn’t say a word, just watches as I get out of my own car and run to the safety of the small cabin that’s become my home, my nest. The second I’m inside, I shut the door. Cinnamon and mint hit me in a singular, overwhelming wave, and I crumple to the floor.

Chapter Fifty

CALEB

My body aches as Sam and I work through the preparation for the last flight for the day. Two hours, and then I can grab some dinner and talk to my son and my Omega. My hands ache with the need to touch her, feel her warmth and curves and the silky strands of her hair. My phone rings, cutting through the near silent hangar. Sam raises an eyebrow as I dig it out of my back pocket. I frown.

Why the hell is Melissa calling me? Did something happen with the ranch? Oh shit, did something happen with Phoebe? Had Brielle gotten hurt while going out for that ride?

No.

No, Ethan would be calling if something like that had happened. I swallow the growl and shove the phone away, trying to focus on my job. I’ve already been frazzled during this assignment, my head not totally in the game.

The ringing stops. I run my hand through my hair and join Sam in going through the final checklist. And then my phone rings again.

Sam frowns, too, looking over from where he’s running through everything in the copilot seat.

“Take it,” Sam says. “I’ll finish the walkthrough.”

I nod and step down from the plane, answering the call without bothering to find privacy. If something’s happened, Sam will have to know anyway.

“Melissa?” I answer, bypassing a greeting.

“You need to get here,” she says, her voice full of panic. She sniffles and then stutters in a ragged breath.

Is she crying?

“What’s wrong?” I ask, glancing up at Sam. “Why are you upset?”

“It’s…” She blows out a breath. “It’s Brielle.”

My stomach drops. It’s like I’m reliving four years ago, getting the call from Ethan that confirmed what I already knew from the broken connection, the lack of feeling in my chest. My hands are clammy, and I tighten my hold on the phone. Ironic that it’s literally the day after the anniversary.

August is a shit month.

“Melissa?” I ask, trying to figure out where to start. Fuck, why is this happening again?Howis this happening again? “Melissa, you need to tell me what happened.”

I put as much command as I can manage into the words, and she whines.

“Brielle and Ethan got into a fight, I think. I’m not entirely sure. She… she wouldn’t tell me.” Melissa’s words grow rushed, and they run over the top of each other. “She’s packing a bag. Emily’s trying to stop her, but she’s inconsolable and…” She trails off, and then she sobs again. “Ethan dropped Cam with Mark at the hotel.”

He dropped Cam with my dad? Dread sinks deeper into my stomach, and bile burns the back of my throat. He wouldn’t.Losing Kayla that way nearly destroyed us both. He wouldn’t do that to me, to Camden.

“With my Dad?” I ask, my voice stark.

Melissa sobs. “He won’t answer his phone. Lynn texted Emily about it.”

There’s a long stretch of quiet.

My mind races and yet stands utterly still in the oddest of paradoxes, a sensation I had hoped to never relive, never feel again. I swallow, trying to wet my mouth. Fuck me, where the hell do I even start this time?

“I… I can’t go over there,” Melissa whispers, her voice broken. “I’m sorry. I know I should.”

God damn it. The last thing our families need is Melissa finding Ethan’s body right now.

“No, don’t go over there,” I say, letting my voice drop into a croon. I rush around the plane, catching Sam’s attention. My look must say everything because he nods and waves me out of the building. I’m running before I hit the back door. “I’ll be there in a few hours. Get Emily to calm Brielle down.”

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