Page 43 of Flare
She barely remembered the short walk to her car.
As she went to start her engine, her mind whirled with terrifying possibilities.
What if he’s still here, watching from those trees over there? What if he follows me to Maggie’s place?
What if hurts someone?
Her vision tunneled, narrowing to the steering wheel in front of her as her fingers locked around it.
Something squeezed her chest. She panted, suddenly desperate for air.
I have to get out of here!But her body refused to move, frozen in place by the weight of the panic pressing down on her body like a stone.
The sound of tires on gravel jolted her from her spiraling thoughts. She looked up just as Maggie’s Jeep came barrelingup the drive, followed closely by a large white pickup with Grizzly Creek Ranch decals on the doors that Emily recognized as Dane’s.
Relief washed over her in a dizzying wave as Maggie scrambled out of the Jeep and sprinted over, her face twisted with barely contained panic.
Emily opened her car door and almost fell out. Her legs legitimately felt like Jell-O.
“Oh my God, Emily! Are you okay?” Maggie demanded, pulling Emily into a hug.“I was so worried when you didn’t show up at the house!” She looked around.“Is he still here?”
“I’m so sorry. I got in the car and then… I couldn’t move. Couldn’t do anything. Oh, God, I’m such a freaking mess… sorry.” Emily buried her face in Maggie’s shoulder, trying to get a grip on her shredded composure.“I got home from work and found that he’d torn everything apart.”
“I can’t believe that jerk would dare set foot on our land!” Maggie stroked her back.
Elle Swanson emerged from Dane’s pickup, her expression grim. Dane followed, scanning the surrounding trees with narrowed eyes.
“Are you sure it was him?” Elle asked.
Emily nodded.“He—he left me a rose.”
Elle’s lips thinned. She and Dane traded a long look, then Dane strode to the cabin, his heavily muscled frame tense with alertness.
“Wait here,” he instructed, disappearing inside.
Emily, Maggie, and Elle stood in silence for what felt like hours but was probably only five minutes before Dane reappeared in the doorway.
“All clear,” he announced, looking as grim as his mother.“And I smell a bear shifter, but not anyone I know. And you’re gonna want to see this, Mom.”
The four of them entered the cabin. Maggie’s arm wrapped comfortingly around Emily’s waist.
Emily felt a fresh wave of shame and violation seeing the destruction through their eyes. This washerfault. If she hadn’t come here, Andrew wouldn’t have destroyed this place.
Elle’s expression hardened as she surveyed the damage, while Maggie muttered a string of curses under her breath.
“Yeah, it was Andrew, all right,” she announced.“This whole place stinks of him, but he’s been gone two, maybe three hours. What do you think, Dad?”
“Sounds about right,” Dane replied.“His scent isn’t fresh. But he sure was angry while he was here.”
This happened hours ago. Andrew’s probably long gone.Emily felt a bit of relief lacing through the sick feeling.
“Did he take anything?” Elle asked.“Or was he just sending you a message?”
“He found the USB drive I made a few days ago to give to the police. My laptop is gone, too.” Emily wrapped her arms around herself.“That rose on my pillow… it’s Andrew’s way of letting me know he can get to me whenever he wants. I-I should leave.”
Elle’s eyes narrowed.“That’s a terrible idea. You should stay put,” she stated firmly.“Didn’t I promise we’d protect you?”
The sound of another vehicle approaching had them all turning toward the door. Maggie released Emily and strode to the living room window.
