Page 143 of Stay for Me

“You in the mindset to catch me up?” Gray prompted. “If not, give the phone to Denver.”

I dropped my chin, finding the Hallow Ranch owner staring at me as if he’d never seen me before. “I’m good,” I repeated, chest heaving.

“Then catch me up so we can find your girl, yeah?”

One hour later.

ChaseenteredKings’officein the barn loft, badge and gun on his hip, a shadow of dread dragging behind him. Beau shifted beside me, folding his arms over his chest as Mason, who was on the other side of him, muttered a warning.

The Sheriff’s eyes met mine. “I should’ve fuckin’ killed him when I had the chance,” he said darkly.

The tension in the room shifted. This was the first time he’d spoken like that in front of us, but I wasn’t surprised, not after everything Diana had told me about their friendship when she was laying in my arms the night before last.

How quickly things could change.

“Red Snake is on it,” Kings told him from his spot behind his desk, his cowboy hat sitting on top.

Chase looked at me. “Her house is a damn mess.”

“Where’s her phone?” I asked.

His eyes flicked over to Beau as he pulled out Diana’s cell, handing it to me. Before I could focus on that, I turned to Beau, jerking my head to Chase. “It’s done,” I declared.

Beau’s jaw jumped as he peeled his eyes from the Sheriff. “His actions put Abbie in danger.”

“And you handled it,” I shot back, stabbing my finger into his chest. “Known you a long time, Beau, and I know you care for Diana.”

“I do.”

“We all do,” the twins muttered from the other side of the loft.

Holding Beau’s eyes, I gave him the truth. “Chase is Diana’s best friend. For that alone, he has my protection and my respect. My woman cares for him, which means this anger—this resentment—ends here and now.”

Beau’s throat worked. “Almost lost Abbie because of him.”

“No,” I shot back, shaking my head. “The second you told me she was at your cabin, I was there. Shot that fucker for you, for her, and for this ranch. You owe me, Beau, and I’m cashing in the fuckin’ favor.” I removed my finger from his chest and pointed at Chase. “Shit’s done. Over. Abbie is here. Drop this shit so I can get my woman back. You get me?”

“I get you,” he replied.

Just then, my phone started to ring. “Mags,” I answered, stepping away.

“Chopper is nearly there,” Ash, one of Gray’s men, said. “Two minutes out.”

“Right,” I muttered. “We got a location?”

Chase had given Red Snake Lucas’ information so Jake could track his phone. Chase also contacted Diana’s hometown police station. He and I were both in agreement that he would be trying to take her back home to fulfill the twisted, fucked up fantasy he couldn’t seem to let go of. The Hayden Sheriff Department had been over at Diana’s house all morning, taking photos and searching the house. About half an hour after my mental breakdown, Chase called back, delivering another blow.

Lucas had been squatting in her house, sleeping in her attic.

That was final shred of motivation I needed.

I would be killing him.

Brutally.

Slowly.

Painfully.

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