Page 114 of Cautious Love

I nod. “I’m glad I could come and finally meet the family for real,” I rasp.

And for the first time in my life, I let myself feel like I belong somewhere.

Chapter 28

Ledger

Luketoldmeheand Will made contact at a bar, and things were okay. But he looked tired. He’s doing what Kensington asks him to do. They need to think I’m disappointed with Will’s performance as an officer and plan on bringing charges against him forstealingfrom the evidence lock-up because it reinforces his story, so I can’t contact him.

But concern for the entire operation is starting to turn into full-blown worry. I knew it wasn’t the best idea tofire him.But the other part of me didn’t see another choice. No progress was being made. More arrests and safety issues with drugs, DUIs, and suspicious people doing out of the ordinary things. Something had to be done, so we did it.

But was the cost too high?

Pulling into my driveway, I open the garage and find Shiloh’s old jeep already parked. I’m surprised she’s home, and simultaneously mad she didn’t call me when she left work.

I head inside, hitting the button to close the garage door behind me. I don’t think the house is being watched, but in case it is, it’s better if they don’t know when she’s here.

I hang my hat on the hook, put my boots in their place, and trudge into the kitchen to find Shiloh with … a puppy.

“Hey, you’re home,” she says with a smile on her face.

My chest warms, and my shoulders lighten.

“Yeah, why didn’t you call me when you left work?” I ask her.

She shrugs. “I forgot. Sorry.”

“I see, and who is this?” I ask her, looking at the little mutt gnawing on her finger.

“I haven’t named him yet,” she says and pets his head.

The puppy looks up at her as if she holds the whole world.

I know how he feels.

He looks a little rough, might have skipped a few meals, or many, with the way his ribs stick out.

“And why do you have this dog?” I ask her.

She looks up at me, and the dog leaps into her arms, playfully batting at her hair. “I found him,” she says quickly.

I take a deep breath. “And how did you find him?” I can feel it coming, which is why she’s being so vague.

“I was driving home, and I took the long way, you know, to see if anyone was following me, and I went down one of the gravel side streets and —”

“Shiloh, I don’t want you going down those streets. There are too many places you could be surprised. Stay on the main roads where there’s people.”

She purses her lips and lifts her brow.

I sigh heavily. “Please continue…”

“Thank you,” she says as ifshe’sthe one exasperated.

“I was driving down one of the gravel roads and he just came out. I thought there was more, so I stopped and looked around the woods back there, but I only found him. But I'm worried I left his brothers and sisters out there, so maybe we should—”

I hold up a finger and pull my phone out of my pocket to dial animal control. “Hey Tom, it’s Ledger. I was notified about apuppy being found on…” I trail off and look at Shiloh, waiting for a road.

“500 West, 100 North,” she says.