Page 54 of Protection for Rowan

They’d divided up the area, each of them taking about ten blocks. He and Sharp were almost done with the area they were searching. The sun was gone, and the streetlights weren’t enough to see into the shadows.

“We’ll find her,” Sharp said again for about the twentieth time.

Shine was starting to doubt if they ever would. They’d been at it for hours, and his hope was fading.

“Let’s regroup,” Sharp said.

“Where? I’ll send a text.”

“The lot of the library. It’s not too far.”

“Sure.” Shine sent the text, hoping the guys weren’t ready to give up. He wouldn’t blame them. Searching for Rowan was his thing. He was responsible for her running, not them.

They pulled into the lot of the now-closed library, depression threatening to drown him.

About five minutes later, the other cars pulled into the lot. None of them had any luck. They needed tochange tactics. As he stepped from the car, thunder rolled in the distance. Just what they needed, a storm was rolling in.

“We need to find her. The storm will hit, making this worse.”

Griz pulled his phone from his pocket. “I still haven’t heard anything from my contacts.”

Apple palmed his chin and ran his fingers over his beard then tapped his chin. "Something frightened her. We don't know where she is or what she is doing. She has no credit cards or money, and she left her phone back in the coffee shop. Maybe she's heading home to her place."

Shine shook his head. “She doesn’t feel safe there. That’s where the initial attack happened. I should have done more to help her.”

Apple squeezed his shoulder. “Hey, there’ll be time to beat yourself up later. Focus now.”

Apple’s words were harsh, but right. There would be time later to freak out for now, he needed to concentrate on finding Rowan.

“What do we do?”

Squat shrugged. “She has no money or credit cards. Where would someone who has no money sleep?”

“An alley or park.”

“Where is the nearest park?” Griz asked as he tapped on his phone screen.

Shine glanced over and saw Griz was searching for parks in the map application.

“I’ll look for close shelters,” Apple said.

“We should go back to her office, see if she went there,” Sharp added.

“Thank you, guys. I thought you would give up.”

Griz grunted. “Heck no. We’d never give up.”

Jay pulled out his phone. “Nichole just texted. She andDanika are going to drop by her office and her old place. They’re looking in the area where your house is.”

“Tell them thank you. That I really appreciate it.”

Jay lifted his chin. “I will. We’ll find her.”

Shine didn’t know what to do, but having his buddies help him look would make all the difference. As the night grew longer, he was resigning himself to the fact they might not find her before morning. It might take more time to locate her than he wanted, but he would find her.

Chapter 39

Rowan wrappedher arms tighter around her waist as the cold started to get to her. She needed to find a place to sleep. Deep inside, she knew the park wasn't safe. She should go home. But home wasn't safe. That's where Charles had found her the first time.

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