Page 42 of Ink and Ashes
“Thanks, Finn.”
He tips his chin, then says his goodbyes to everyone to head home, as promised. I finish my beer, then without another word to anyone, I grab my jacket and follow his lead, leaving the bar.
I pull my keys from my pocket, unlocking my truck and sidling into the driver’s seat.
The cab is quiet on my drive home. I don’t even bother turning on the radio, because I know it won’t help to drown out the thoughts racing through my mind.
Impulsively, instead of turning right onto the street that leads to my house, I continue straight in the direction of The Scarlet. I need to talk to Holland—apologize for being such an ass andtake a minute to really hear her out. If not for her, then for myself, because I can’t keep letting these questions distract me.
I slow my speed as I pull into the lot of the red-roofed house, but her car isn’t in the lot.
It’s nearing ten p.m., so I have no idea where she could be. Panic surges through me at the thought she might be in danger. I don’t know why that’s the first thing that comes to mind, but after the note she got this morning, I can’t help but wonder if whoever’s behind these fires decided to come after her.
Holland isn’t my responsibility. She’s strong, and she knows what she’s doing. But I won’t be able to sleep without knowing she’s safe, so without thinking twice, I reverse out of the lot and turn back in the direction I just came, toward Grove Gazette.
Five minutes later, I pull up out front, only her car isn’t here either and all the lights are off inside. Jaw clenched tight, I give in to my worry and send her a text.
ME
Where are you?
My knee bounces as I wait for her response. I don’t breathe, blink, or move for the entire six minutes it takes for her to read my message. The moment she does, I release a shaky breath. And when her text comes through another minute later, my shoulders fall in relief.
RHODES
Your sister’s. Why are you texting me?
I ponder the question for a minute, trying to come up with a good excuse. After how I treated her this morning, I’m shocked she responded at all, honestly.
It’s nothing, don’t worry about it. Have a good night, Rhodes.
I expect a snarky response back, but that’s not what I get.
Whatever you say, Lieutenant Killjoy.
I huff an anxious laugh as I drop my phone into the cup holder, leaning back against the headrest.
“Get it together, Caldwell,” I mutter to myself as I shift my truck into gear again. But as I do, I spot a dark figure lurking around the side of the building.
My eyes narrow, but just as fast as I saw them, they disappear. I park again, then hop out of my truck, rushing over to where I saw it.
“Hello? Is someone out there?” I call out, but there’s no response. The street is illuminated by my headlights, so I glance around, hoping to see whatever—orwhoever—it was, but there’s nothing.
Great. Now I’m seeing things too.
Browsfurrowed, I hop back into my truck and this time, I really do head home.
But the feeling that something weird is going on never leaves.
CHAPTER 15
Holland
“Your brother is an ass,” I tell Cass when she opens her front door.
She laughs, taking the two bottles of wine from my hands. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
She moves aside so I can enter, then I head toward her couch, leaving my shoes at the front door. “Is Liv on her way?”
