Page 112 of Love Me Fierce

“What do you mean someone hit her,” Sepp says.

Linden crosses his arms. Down below us in the parking lot, his fire engine and the rest of his crew are waiting, the cloud of exhaust from the tailpipe curling upward into the night.

“That’s what she said. We’re trying to track the person down.”

Sepp rubs his forehead. “How bad is she hurt?”

“She’s going to be okay. Some bruises. Probably a concussion, and a broken ankle.”

My phone chirps. It’s the sheriff. “I gotta take this.”

Sepp disappears inside.

Linden gives me a pointed look. “That was stupid. You both could have been hurt.”

“I had to get her out of there.”

He shakes his head. “What if the car had been unstable?”

“Then I knew you were right behind me.”

His nostrils flare, then he grabs me in a firm hug.

Emotion clots in my throat as I squeeze him back.

“Don’t fucking scare me like that again,” he says, drawing a shaky breath.

“I can make no such promises.”

He gives me a little shove backwards and shakes his head.

From the fire truck down below comes a snicker.

“Fuck.” Without saying goodbye, Linden turns on his heel and trots down the steps.

I answer my phone. On my screen is a reply from Grant’s mom, Sabrina.

No problem

I breathe a sigh of relief that Logan can stay over tonight. I’ll call him at Grant’s house as soon as I’m done with the sheriff.

“We found the Suburban,” Sheriff Olson says.

“And Jordy?”

“Him too.”

I brace off the side of the building and close my eyes.

“Rogue County Sheriff’s Department’s transferring him. He paid twelve hundred in cash for that Suburban on Friday.”

So, he’s talking? “What else have we learned?”

“He keeps blabbering about some LAPD sting operation that went wrong.” Sheriff Olson says. “Know anything about that?”

“I have some ideas.”

“Shawna Farrell’s alibi for Tuesday checks out. Zach’s drawing up the vandalism charges for the damage to Vivian’s car. Considering Ms. Farrell confessed to the spray painting, the judge will probably give her community service.”

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