Page 74 of In Hiding

The twinkle in Magnus’s eye suggested he was up to mischief as he chuckled and shook out his hair. “There is an upside to that idea. You’d be a heck of a lot closer to Andersen House, should you be needed.”

Staying hidden from Sarah hadn’t sat well with him. Knowing she was so close but agreeing to not see her felt all kinds of wrong, even though he understood the reasons. If, like Damien feared, Ryan had tracked him to Wills Crossing, Erik would sooner die than lead that prick straight to Sarah. Still, it made the separation harder.

“Can you assure me your town cop will leave me alone if I move into this Sanctuary?”

Dropping onto a chair, Magnus shrugged. “Wilson is protective of the Crossing. First, he has Jake appear. Now you. He doesn’t want trouble.”

Erik groaned. “He won’t like Ryan, then. That boy was born to be trouble. You should warn your Sergeant not to get too close if he comes to town.”

Magnus’s eyes narrowed as his face grew solemn. “He hasn’t even made parole yet.”

“Give him time.”

“He won’t get to her. We’ve promised you that.”

Erik studied the former soldier for a long moment. Having men like Magnus and Damien on his side gave him some confidence Sarah would be protected. Knowing Jake had also served in the military gave comfort, but none of them knew Ryan Mitchell like he did. Hell would freeze over before he stood back and let others do the job he failed to do six years ago.

He’d suspected Ryan was capable of brutality the first time he lay eyes on him. He had a look in his eye that screamed violence, but what Ryan did to his sister had changed Erik forever. Seeing her lying in a pool of blood, her insides on the outside, her stepson bleeding out from a blow to the head... had driven him mad. He should’ve killed Ryan then and there, but was too busy saving the lives of those he cared about. Truth was, he should have made sure Mitchell never laid a hand on her in the first place.

He’d let her down once.

He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

If he got the chance again, Ryan Mitchell wouldn’t live to see another sunrise.

“Erik?”

He blinked and snapped out of his thoughts to find Magnus looking at him curiously. “Sorry. What he did to my sister is unforgivable.”

And unforgettable.

Magnus stood and crossed the room. He set a hand on Erik’s shoulder and nodded. “I understand.”

He stood, shrugged off the contact. “You couldn’t.” Turning, Erik stalked across to the other side of the office and stood at the windows to watch what remained of the visible world disappear under more snow.

A few moments later, Magnus appeared at his side without a sound, startling him. “There’s probably some things you should know about me.”

Erik turned his head, looking back to where he left Magnus and the space the former soldier had covered in stealth. Beside him, Magnus chuckled.

“It’s time for morning tea, Erik. Shut up shop for half an hour, we’re taking a drive.”

Intrigued, Erik didn’t argue. He hung a back in 30 min sign, locked up the showroom and followed Magnus out to his SUV. Climbing into the vehicle, he didn’t bother asking where they were going. That was less important to him than whatever tale the man had to tell. The engine hummed as the car moved forward through the snow.

“Before we were married, my wife was hunted by her ex-father-in-law. The hound he sent after her kidnapped her and tortured her.” He spoke in a low, menacing voice though Erik heard the guilt. “I failed to keep her safe and she suffered for it. I wanted to kill him. I promise you, I wanted to gut him like a fish.”

The car slowed at an intersection, then turned east. They drove through town, across a bridge under which a raging river flowed, until the houses fell away and the bush took over. The road veered north and began to climb into the hills. Erik felt the temperature drop.

“Why didn’t you?”

Magnus sneered. “Because I was once a hound, myself. I tortured people. It doesn’t matter why, but I hurt those I loved. The man you’re about to meet, Hollywood? I shot him in the chest. I had every intention of killing him. I understand,” he tapped his temple, “the mind of a killer because I was once a killer, Erik. You’re not that man.” Magnus glanced over at him. “Not even close.”

“You didn’t see what he did to my sister.”

“You think something snapped in you that day?” He shook his head then conceded with a shrug. “Maybe, but Erik, seeing what he did to your sister could never prepare you for the consequences of taking another life.”

The road wound to the left, then to the right. Magnus slowed to navigate the thickening layer of snow on the road.

“It was barbaric.”

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