Page 158 of Cautious Love

WhenIgetbackinto my vehicle, I radio into the station and resume my patrol.

Once I’ve made five circles of town and multiple county roads, I park myself at TJ’s and relax for a minute. I check my phone, hoping Shiloh texted me, but of course, there’s nothing there. A text from my mom, but I’ll deal with that later.

Tomorrow is a big day, and I can only hope I’ve thought of everything. I’ve done everything I can from my end of things. Lawrence will have his team ready to go. But I worry for my people because I have no doubt that the Kensingtons will not go down easily, and maybe that’s what I’m more afraid of than anything. This family can’t be allowed to take anymore from this town.

“Dispatch to sheriff.”

My phone rings and I don’t recognize the number, so I send it to voicemail.

“Sheriff Hayes, do you read?”

“We got a call about a possible domestic disturbance,” Sidney says.

“10-4, location.”

“962 Eleanor Drive, apartment D.”

My heart drops into my stomach, my blood runs cold, and I’m already pushing the accelerator before my brain has the chance to keep up.That’s Shiloh’s address.

“10-4 ETA in five minutes.”

“Message received,” Sidney says.

I hardly register her voice as I struggle to make my brain stop thinking about the what if’s and focus on what I might be running into.

With lights and sirens blaring, I speed down the road to Shiloh, and a few blocks before I reach her street, I see a woman running.

I’d know that hair anywhere.

Skidding to a stop, Shiloh pulls up short, standing in front of the headlights barefoot in her PJs.

I throw the door open and run around the hood. “Shiloh!” My voice breaks, and so does my heart, as I take her in, blood running down her lip, and a nasty cut on her arm.

“Who did this to you?” I ask, voice on the edge of hysteria.

I wasn’t there. I wasn’t there.

A sob bursts from her lips, and she throws herself into my arms.

I hug her tightly, while her heart beats so fast I swear I can feel it through my vest.

“I got the call for your apartment. What happened?” I ask her.

She leans her head back to look up at me. Quiet tears fall down her face as she inhales quickly, trying to catch her breath.

“Tell me right now, Shiloh. What happened?” I say forcing myself not to yell.

“Two men broke into my apartment. I think I shot one of them in the arm. I fought them as hard as I could. I think … I think he sent someone for me. I don’t know,” she says between breaths.

I knew this was a bad idea. I should never have let her leave. I should have picked her up, thrown her over my shoulder and told her where she was going to stay.

“Come on, get in the truck.”

She winces stepping on something with her bare feet, so I pick her up and set her in the truck.

I get in and radio the station, telling them I didn’t answer the address, but I found the tenant of the apartment.

“Sending units to the location,” Sidney says.