Page 81 of Baited

“Do you have to do that? You’re making me nervous.” Nate nodded at Ethan’s fists.

The corner of Ethan’s mouth hitched up, and then dropped just as quickly. Ethan’s habit had always made Nate squeamish.

“You know I can’t help it.” The effort to keep his voice even strained his throat. The sun beat through the windshield, counteracting the blast from the vents. It was so damn bright and sunny out, yet darkness hung its shroud in the air like an invisible black gas.

Nate ran his hand over his hair. “All right, now my senses are piqued. You’ve always been good at trusting your gut.”

His stomach lurched on Nate’s affirmation. He was right. The restaurant came into view and Ethan shot forward, his palms gripped the scorching dashboard. He scanned the parking lot. The hairs at the back of his neck shifted.

“Fuck,” he breathed. “Her rental car isn’t here.”

Nate slammed the car into park and Ethan whipped his seat belt off. His feet hit the pavement at a dead run. His heart slammed against his rib cage, drowning out the rushing of blood through his ears. His hand closed over the steel door handle, its heat branding him. He tore the door open and stalked inside. Cool air washed over his body, and his eyes struggled to adjust to the fluorescent lights.

“Ethan.” Jenny weaved through the tables, a pitcher of water in her hand, her dark, slim eyebrows snapped low over her eyes. “Is everything okay? Riley hasn’t come back.”

His fingers closed around her elbow, pulling her close with more force than he’d intended. “When did you talk to her last?”

Her chin trembled and worry creased the skin beneath her eyes. “I wasn’t expecting her today, but she came in and then left after I mentioned Brian had been asking about her. That was about an hour ago. I haven’t heard from her since. I sent her a text about fifteen minutes ago. You haven’t talked to her?”

Her eyes flicked over his and a spear drove through his solar-plexus.

“I saw her at Brian’s about a half hour ago. She left before I did to come to the restaurant. If you hear from her, call me.”He dug a card out of his pocket and shoved it into her hand. He charged across the parking lot and slid into the passenger’s seat.

Nate gripped the steering wheel, his brow furrowed. “She’s not there?”

“No.” Ethan slammed the door and clicked his seat belt into place. “We need to get to her house.” Fear trickled down his back like icy water.

Nate peeled out of the parking lot and onto the road. The back tire caught the curb, careening them forward. “She could have gone anywhere.”

Ethan shook his head. “She wouldn’t have gone anywhere without telling me.”

“I know, but shit happens. Hell, she was just at Brian’s without you knowing. What if she forgot her phone? Is there anywhere else she could have gone?”

Air expanded in his chest. She wouldn’t have just upped and gone somewhere. There was nowhere else…except his house. She’d brought a bag over the other day. It was possible she could have left something she needed for work there. And, by a stretch of the imagination, she could have left her phone by mistake. It was a long shot, but they needed to look everywhere.

“She could have gone to my house.”

Nate slapped his shoulder. “See, that’s a possibility. We’ll check out her house and then go to yours.” He took a quick right, pulled down their street and Riley’s house came into view.

Ethan’s pulse vibrated in his throat and fear bit hard into his stomach muscles. He never should have left her alone…if something happened to her, it would be his fault. The muscles in his face clenched.

Nate took a sharp left and Ethan’s shoulder connected with the passenger side door. Her rental car was gone. Nate swerved the truck to the curb and shifted it into park. He leapt out of the seat and pounded across the pavement and over the perfectlymanicured grass. Nate charged up the steps behind him. His footsteps shook the old wooden porch as he advanced on the front door.

He closed his hand over the handle and froze. Ice water rushed through his veins.

The door was open.

“What the hell?” Nate breathed behind him.

Ethan eased the door open the rest of the way and slid his Glock out from the small of his back. Nate drew his weapon too and squeezed into the open doorway. Ethan hovered his fingers on the warm wood as he slowly closed it, careful not to latch it fully so as not to make a sound. The gentle hum of the air conditioner greeted him and made the hot sweat go cold and turn to ice on his skin.

His eyes fell to the small wooden table next to the door. Riley’s purse sat there, the strap tangled around it as if she’d dropped it quickly. He swallowed and opened it. Her phone lay tucked inside, as did her wallet.

The house was quiet. He moved away from the door and balanced his weight on the balls of his feet.

Nate jerked his head toward the bedrooms, indicating he’d inspect there first.

Ethan nodded and moved carefully over the old hardwoods. His gun nestled securely in his palm, his arms outstretched, and his peripherals taking in every inch around him.

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