Page 29 of Guarded from Havoc

They should be here. Not for me, but for him.

How long have we been missing, after all? Even if his company is in Texas?—

Fudge.

They’re in Texas. And even if I’m right about being in the northeast, it’s not a quick trip. Especially if we weren’t taken directly here after those men attacked us at Erik’s cabin.

While I scan our surroundings, I run through the timeline in my head. I must have gotten to Erik’s cabin around eight-thirty last night—or at least, I think it was last night—and the men broke in maybe fifteen minutes later. If they took us from thecabin around nine, and it’s what, maybe eight AM now… that’s nearly twelve hours.

Surely that’s long enough for his friends to get here. Right?

Unless his tracker isn’t working. Unless they did something to it. What if the people who took us knew Erik had a tracker somewhere and they messed with it? Or maybe there’s some kind of jammer here and Erik’s signal doesn’t work?

Isthere something that can block GPS signals? Crap. I don’t know. There must be.

The longer I stand here, waiting, the more my fears spiral out of control. Even though Erik’s within view, not thirty feet away, I’ve never felt more alone.

I want Erik back. Right beside me. Holding my hand. Reassuring me with his words and presence that somehow, everything will be okay.

Maybe it’s because of the danger we’re in, but I’ve never felt this immediate connection with someone before.

My vision blurs, turning Erik into a wash of blue and gray and bronze. The need to have him beside me is so intense, I almost beg for him to come back. Tell him I don’t care about the fence, that we’ll take our chances in the woods, anything if he’ll just come back to me.

Stop.

Stop panicking.

Let him focus.

Let him?—

Erik turns and lopes back towards me with a smile on his face. As he gets closer, I can see the satisfaction in his eyes. Even a hint of pride.

“It’s done,” he says. Taking my hand, he gently tugs me to his side. “I shorted the circuit. We should be able to climb right over.”

The storm of panic inside me settles. “It is?”

“It is.” He leads me to the fence, drops my hand, and touches it with his.

Nothing happens.

None of the horrible scenarios I imagined.

Erik’s still okay.

A lump lodges in my throat. My lungs squeeze.“Erik.”

“I told you,” he replies. “I want those cookies, Tate. And I want to enjoy that meal with you.”

I’d bake him a million cookies, if I could. Make a thousand sandwiches. I’m so glad to have him back and safe, I’d agree to just about anything.

“Come on,” he urges. “We’re not done yet. We need to get over the fence and find a way out of here. Or barring that, a good place to hide until my team arrives.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask how he can be so sure. But it’s not the time. Not yet. Not until we’re over this horrible fence.

I eyeball the wire fence, trying to figure out the best way to climb over it. But before I can even come up with a plan, Erik puts his hands around my waist and lifts me halfway up, standing right behind me to steady me. “I’ve got you,” he says. “I won’t let you fall. I’ll be right behind you the entire time.”

And just like he’s done since we woke up here, he delivers on his promise. He guides me to the top of the fence, hoists himself over and drops to the other side, then lifts me down easily. It’s all done in a matter of seconds, and before I realize what’s happening, I’m back on my feet on the other side of the fence.

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