Across the Vanishing Sky (Starlight Grove, #1)(49)

For her, it was as simple as that. Whatever I needed, she’d try to give.

As they headed in, Dex met me on the walkway. His gaze skimmed over my face as if checking for injury. His fingers twitched at his sides, making me wonder if he wanted to reach out and touch me but was stopping himself.

“Will you be okay with them for a little while?” he asked. “I need to check on a few things.”

“I’ve been on my own for a long time, Dex. I’ll be fine.” I said the words for myself as much as him. I needed to remember just how strong I was. That I could stand on my own two feet.

Shadows swirled through his dark-hazel irises. “Just because you’ve been on your own before doesn’t mean you have to be now. I’ll be back, Hellion.”

Each word felt like a carefully placed blow—the gentlest yet most brutal cut. But his vow to be back was the hardest to take. Because sometimes, people didn’t return, and you were left to live with the ghosts of their promises.





21





DEX





It killed me to walk away from her. Maybe because everything in me screamed she was in trouble. Maybe because it was clear she was too damn used to people bailing on her—whether by choice or not.

Each step I took toward my cabin hurt, like muscle ripping away from bone with each stride. But I forced myself to do it anyway. Just like I forced myself not to look back. Because if I did, I’d go to her. Nothing could stop me.

Unlocking my front door, I stepped inside and pulled out my phone. Half a dozen text threads flashed on the screen, and I had to take a second and breathe. Closing my eyes, I went through a list of priorities in my mind.

Running the recording through sound-recognition software. Getting Nova’s phone number plugged into my backdoor triangulation software no phone company wanted me to have. Cameras and an alarm system for Brae—something I was sure she’d fight me on. Talking to my brothers.

Sometimes, my brain felt like a computer overloaded with too many files, and I had to do a hard reboot, choosing only the most important things to focus on. With one last deep breath, I opened my eyes and instantly went for my texts as I strode into my makeshift office. I opened a new message to Blaze and started typing.

Me



How do you feel about a free alarm installation at Creekside Cabins, including cameras?





Three dots appeared and then disappeared, then appeared again.

Blaze



Little Dude, working for The Man has really changed you.





Me



It’s a safety precaution. I’m not trying to spy on whatever crystal light show you put on here when the cabins aren’t in use.





Blaze



Maybe I’m entertaining female company. Someone would pay big money to put that on the interstellar highway.





My whole face screwed up.

Me



There’s a kink for everyone, but I’m not putting cameras INSIDE the cabins, just outside.





Blaze



Oh. Why didn’t you say so? Run with it, Little Dude. Then maybe I’ll catch those jerks who like to have keggers back there but don’t invite me.





I just shook my head and eased into the desk chair.

Me



I’ll get you justice.





Blaze just sent a power to the people raised-fist emoji in response that definitely was not intended for righteous indignation about being left out of a party.

Pulling up the recording I’d taken of the call, I air-dropped the video to my desktop and uploaded it to the sound-identification software. It might not give me more than my ear had, but it was worth a shot.

One thing was clear: Someone was messing with Brae. In a way that meant they got joy out of causing pain. And I knew just what sort of dark roads that could lead you down.

As the software got to work, my phone let out another ding.

My brothers’ chat flashed on the screen, and I realized I’d missed more than a few texts from them.

Wylder



Let us know how Brae’s doing once you get her home.





Maverick



Brae’s a badass, and I have no doubt she’s totally fine. A hot badass. D, want to take my place on the ranch? I’ll move into your cabin. I can play bodyguard.





I scowled at the screen.

Kol



Someone tell me what the hell is going on.





Maverick



You meet the little badass yet? You’ll like her. She cut Miller down in three blows, then kicked him to the curb. Thing of beauty.





Kol



Why the hell were you having a run-in with Miller?





Wylder



I think Dex should explain.





My fingers flew across the screen.

Me



Mav, don’t call Brae hot, or I’ll make your phone say, “I have a defective sphincter” every time you get a text.