Page 93 of Players and Pages
"Note, book, there," was all I could muster and pointed with one shaking finger. He’d been in the store without them noticing.
Or was working with someone else.
Why did it feel like every time I felt good and safe, he ruined it?
Taryn guided me to the stool behind the counter before she went to inspect what I was muttering about.
There was an audible gasp when she found it, then she was hissing into her phone as well.
"Matthias is going to go over the cameras and see who did this and Holt is sending one of his ranch hands to watch over us. Ash called the sheriff," she told me.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, trying to find my voice. It felt like every time I stepped foot into the store I was causing chaos. "I think I just overreacted. They don't have to go to all that trouble for me.”
My voice sounded strange and hollow even to me.
"Nonsense. If they keep this up I'm calling the grannies next. They will kick anyone's ass and no one would suspect them," she smiled at me with a wicked gleam in her eye. She definitely meant every word.
"I would feel better if they were here," I agreed, finally able to crack a smile.
She pulled me into an awkward hug and it took me a moment to really accept it. It helped a little, but wasn’t enough.
Reassurance flooded through the bond and I winced, knowing damn well the guys wouldn’t be far behind.
"Thank you. I didn't just get lucky finding my guys, but with you and Bea, too," I told her as she let me go. "Oh and the grannies."
We shared a smile but the tension was still thick in the air. This wasn’t okay and I knew deep down it wasn’t anoverreaction. He was finding any way he could to remind me that I wasn’t truly safe.
"You need to call your guys. I don't want them hearing anything secondhand. I'm sure they’ll rush over, but Bea and I have your back, too. Plus, tell them that my guys are also on it,” she said.
"I will once my hands stop shaking." I really just didn’t want to ruin their day already. It was stupid, I knew, but I hated always having to disrupt their lives for mine.
"Here, we'll call them together," she said, holding my phone up to my face to unlock it before hitting Jackson's name on my call list. Before she even hit dial it was ringing, his face popping up on the video call.
"Hey, sweets. All okay?" he asked, already looking concerned.
When I couldn’t find the words, Taryn stepped in, turning the phone to her face.
"Hi, Jackson," she started with a quick, but strained smile. "Dani is fine. But we just found a note in a book that spooked her. I’ve already called my guys. Matthias is combing the camera feed and Holt is sending a guy to sit with us. Ash called the sheriff as well."
"We’re coming over now," he started, but my hand shot out, snatching the phone.
"No," I said firmly. "You finish up camp. It was just a note, he wasn’t here today, I’m sure. It’s just me being silly. Don't leave the kids. I'm fine. Really."
"I've got her. We’re going to pack book boxes at the counter while we wait for the Sheriff," Taryn told him, but my pack wasn’t having it. I could hear them walking, keys already jingling in someone’s hand.
"We are still coming over. I want to see you with my own eyes," Griff cut in.
“You’re more important. They’ll understand,” Cy agreed.
“We’re pack,” Jackson reminded me. “It’s our fault this is even a thing right now and we aren’t going to just leave you to deal with the fallout.”
I sighed. "Fine. Just make it fast and get back to the kids."
"Deal," he said before he hung up.
"There was never a chance to talk them out of coming, was there?" I asked my best friend.
"Never," she shot me a knowing smile. “That’s how packs are.”
