Page 4 of Code Trauma

Andy ignored him. Like most younger brothers, Jacob could be annoying—even if his intentions were good. Andy dialed Penny’s number and grimaced when it went to voice mail.

He tried Holly’s. Also voice mail. They’d both be working and probably had their phones on Do Not Disturb. Or they were just ignoring him.

“No answer?” Jacob asked.

“No.” He shook his head. “Holly’s being threatened, and she didn’t reach out.”

Jacob huffed. “Why would she? You basically told her to stay out of your life. I’m sure she took that to mean you were staying out of hers, too.”

Andy winced. He loved her, and he’d pushed her away. But he’d pushed her awaybecause... because he was a coward. He’dpushedher away before she couldwalkaway. His therapist had nailed it when he’d stated that fact three sessions ago. Andy had been wrestling with it since then, trying to find the courage to face Holly and beg her forgiveness. “Jacob, I just...”

“What? You think because what’s-her-face walked out on you because you showed emotion in front of her that Holly’s going to do the same thing?”

Andy froze. Stared at Jacob and swallowed. Even his brother had figured that out? “No. Of course not,” he lied.

Jacob raised a brow, obviously seeing right through him.

Andy groaned.

“You need to go to her,” Jacob said. “Or you’re for real going to lose her. If you haven’t already.”

He let that sink in. Someone had threatened Holly. As a detective, he’d seen all kinds of things he wished he could wipe from his mind, the latest being the death of his partner. He rolled to his feet and paced to the window to look out. He wasn’t able to help his partner as the man lay dying on the asphalt outside the nightclub. What if he lost Holly, too?

He’d asked Holly for space, and she was giving it to him—and he was almost mad that she hadn’t stormed his apartment and demanded he let her be with him.

Addimmature bratto idiot and coward. But, she needed him. Maybe. Regardless, it was time to stop thinking about himself and focus on Holly. If she’d even let him at this point.

“I’m going to her.”

“Good. I’ll help you pack.”

“I got it.” He packed an overnight bag and headed for his truck.

“You want me to come?” Jacob called from the doorway.

“No. You have a shift tonight. I’ll figure out what’s going on and text you.” Jacob worked for the local fire department.

“You better.” His brother stepped back and shut the door.

Once in the driver’s seat, Andy tried calling Holly again.

Still nothing. He backed out of his driveway, his adrenaline pumping.

He’d known Holly since fifth grade—and had vowed to himself that he was going to marry her the day he’d saved her from the playground bully. And then, just a few short weeks later, he and Jacob had been shipped to another foster home.

But he’d never forgotten Holly.

Reconnecting with her a year ago via social media had been an amazing thing, and he only wished he’d done it sooner. They’d dated and made the distance between them a minor inconvenience.

And then his partner, Chris, had died. Killed by a drunk with a gun. They’d responded to the scene of a bar fight because they’d been one street over. When they’d arrived, Chris had rushed through the door and taken a bullet to the head.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why hadn’t he waited?

But he hadn’t. His partner of six years had led the way into the building with Andy pulling up the rear.

Now, Andy sped down the highway toward Asheville, located about an hour away from his home in Spruce Pine. He was thankful for the flashing light on his dash, which made it possible for him to cross the Asheville city limit in just under forty-five minutes.

Now to find Holly.

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