Page 57 of Mine to Protect

I glanced to Cas, whose forehead seemed to have a permanent worry line stretched across it.

“It means we both better hope Sadie is as crazy as we think, or those notes could be our death sentence.”

* * *

“You sure youdon’t want to come to Denver with me?” Sarah asked as she tugged on her coat by the door. “I’m sure my friend wouldn’t mind another person crashing on her couch.”

Gripping the doorknob, I shook my head before twisting it and swinging the door open, allowing a blast of cold night air to sweep inside. “I’ll be fine. I wish you’d let one of the guys go with you to pack your stuff.”

She waved a hand between us, dismissing my worry. “Nah, I’ll be fine. Just watch yourself, okay? It’d suck to come back to town and find out you’re missing too.”

“Thanks?”

“Be safe,” she yelled over her shoulder as she hurried to her car. She climbed in, started the engine and drove off into the night.

“She’ll be fine,” Cas said at my back. “Something tells me she’s one of those people who could survive anything.”

I nodded in agreement. After the door shut, I locked each deadbolt three times and leaned my head against the warm wood. The last hour was more draining than the earlier cleaning extravaganza. No one knew what to think of Sarah also getting a note. John had stormed out when we accused Sadie writing the notes, not the serial abductor. He swore on his life that he hadn’t mentioned it, considering that would be discussing an active investigation, which he’d never do.

I believed him.

Which left us where?

Here. Confused, dead ends all over the place, and a hot, brooding male as my new roommate until we figured it out.

That last part wasn’t so bad.

“We’ll figure it out,” Cas said from several feet behind me.

Turning, I leaned against the door and tried to press the back of my head against it, but my ponytail stopped me. With an annoyed sigh, I pulled the hair tie out, raked my fingers through my long hair to ease the ache in my scalp, and leaned my head back with a thump.

“It's been days since you and Chandler arrived. Two missing women here, plus all those in Tennessee, and we’re no closer to catching this guy. I feel anxious, like we’re just waiting for him to take someone else. And after tonight, I’m afraid it might be one of my friends.” Opening my eyes, I found his gaze focused on the door right above my shoulder. “What?”

His head shook like he was trying to rid himself of a thought. “I’m taking a shower. Keep the doors locked—”

“Duh.”

His eyes narrowed. “Stay armed.” He turned to face Benny. “Auf Wache,” Cas commanded and pointed to the door. Benny trotted to the front door, sat his furry backside on the floor and stared forward.

I gaped at him. “How did—”

“Guy in my unit, remember? We need to figure out dinner. I’m fucking starving.”

“I have a near-lifetime supply of ramen noodles in the pantry.”

He gave an uncharacteristic nose crinkle in disgust. “Had my fill of that shit in the marines. Anything else?”

My hair swished across my upper back as I shook my head.

“Fine, we’re going out. You want to shower first, then?”

“Is that a hint?”

A feral smile climbed up his cheeks, sending my heart racing. “That’s an ‘I’d prefer you to be clean when I eat you for dessert later.’”

“Oh.” Heat filled my cheeks, threatening to leave actual burns. “Um, that sounds… good.”

Cas’s deep rumbling laugh filled the cabin, making Benny turn to see what was going on. “You’re so fucking innocent. I can’t wait to ruin that. Go shower before I strip your clothes off right now to see how far down that blush of yours goes.”

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