Page 30 of No Man Left Behind

“What’s up, Arrow? Someone in the woods?”

Marcus nodded. “Potentially. Finch alerted us to the problem. He’s still on guard, but he’s not growling any more.”

Everyone looked at the pup, who continued to stand and stare into the woods.

Branna leaned forward. “Is everyone okay?”

Marcus nodded. “Just one of those creepywe’re-being-watchedfeelings. Nothing overt.”

Elina’s head whipped up at his words. Eyes wide, she stared at him. “You felt it, too?”

He nodded, and she mimicked the action.

Sean had his hand on his gun but didn’t draw it. “You piss anyone off recently, Arrow?”

“No more than usual.” He was a cop. There was often someone annoyed with him. But between his gut and Elina’s reaction, he was pretty sure this wasn’t about him. “You have any trouble following you Elina?”

She hesitated for a few seconds before she spoke. “I don’t think so.”

Finch shook himself and looked up at the humans. Then the pup yawned and flopped to the ground to rest his head on his paws.

Branna laughed. “Is the danger gone, Finch? Are you telling us it’s over?”

The sense of being watched had dissipated as well. Marcus squeezed Elina gently, then eased his hold a little. “I think Finch is right. I think our guy is gone. Do you feel it anymore, Elina?”

She shook her head, eyes wide. “I don’t feel it now.”

He nodded. “It’s too late to go searching in the woods after someone. I’ll check out the trail in the morning.”

“You’re not going alone. I’ll go with you.”

He grinned at Elina’s fierce response. “It’s a date.”

She smiled at him, but wariness remained in her gaze.

Sean relaxed his hand from his gun. “Sounds like a group date to me. We’ll get the team involved.”

Marcus nodded. He wasn’t going to have Elina out there without protection on all sides. “Let’s get you back to the B&B.”

Sean and Branna walked with them, and it pissed Marcus off. Not the company, but the fact that his town wasn’t safe for Elina at the moment. This asshole was going to pay for that.

At the B&B, he waved off the other couple and followed Elina inside. He kept his voice low. “I’d like to talk for a bit. Can we use your room?”

She nodded, but her body tensed again. He followed her up the stairs, and into her room. He closed the door behind him.

This wasn’t Elina’s home but he learned more about her, anyway. One duffle bag. No larger luggage. No clothing strewn about. A couple of books on the nightstand. A dog bed and a cardboard box that probably contained kittens at night.

His Elina had an organized soul and a big heart. No surprise.

The room had a desk with a chair along with a comfortable armchair where she’d left another book. He chose the desk chair and gestured for her to sit. So far, he’d managed to keep his eyes and his mind mostly off the bed. If she chose that, it was going to be even more difficult to ask his questions.

Elina sat in the chair but didn’t relax into the cushions. Her fingers twisted, and she didn’t look at him.

He didn’t want to push her but he really wanted some idea what they were facing. Was it a jealous ex? An abusive asshole?

With her nerves practically screaming in the room, he left his chair to squat in front of her. He took her hands and lightly held them with his. “Hey. We’re okay. We’ll figure this out.”

“It was just a feeling. We don’t even know if I imagined it.”

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