Page 52 of Twilight Tactics

She sighed. “No.”

“So you’re good with that?”

“I guess so. For now. Why don’t you stay with Ollie while David and I ride the area and see if we can find a prepper or a mob guy.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yeah.”

He nodded, and Piper and David left. Then he snatched his phone from his pocket and clenched it.

“Who do you need to call but don’t want to?” Elena asked, her voice soft. She leaned forward, close enough that he could smell that vanilla scent again, see the faint dusting of freckles across her nose.

He ran a hand over his chin while Maya motioned him into a chair. He sat, and she started cleaning the wound on his head. “I’m trying to decide whether to call in reinforcements,” he said.

Elena pulled in a breath and let it out slowly. “I think I’m going to have to leave.”

He blinked. “What?”

“No way,” Maya said.

Sully frowned at her. “Why would you say that?”

“If someone’s after me, that puts Ollie—and everyone else on the ranch—in danger by association. I don’t know why they are, but two attacks in one day—I can’t shake the idea that this is about me.”

Elena crossed her arms. Heand Maya could argue with her until they were blue in the face, but that wouldn’t change her mind. “Seriously, Sully. I have to do this.” She rubbed her eyes, feeling the grit of exhaustion beneath her lids. Her head throbbed with a dull ache that had been with her since the crash. Sully didn’t look like he felt much better.

And that was because of her.

He washurtbecause of her. “I’m going to pack up a few things and go.”

“That’s stupid.”

“Sully—”

Maya’s soft rebuke didn’t lessen Elena’s ire at his flat statement. Heat flared in her chest and she swallowed hard. “Oh really? Stupid that I want to make sure people I care about stay safe?” She fought to keep her voice level, to maintain control when she wanted to unravel.

“Stupid to set yourself up as a sacrifice of some kind. Let me work on this. I’ve got contacts. David just brought in ten more people to help keep the perimeter monitored. I’m going to call Claire and fill her in.”

“She’ll tell you to take Ollie and go somewhere else, won’t she?”

He sighed. “Possibly.”

Elena’s gaze bounced between him and a frowning Maya,taking in the concern etched on both their faces. The weight of their worry was a heavy burden. “And I can’t let that happen. It seems to me every time you move her, you compromise her safety. And maybe if I’m not here, they—whoevertheyare—will stop coming after me on the ranch, ensuring Ollie and everyone else doesn’t become collateral damage during whatever might go down.”

Sully sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. “Okay, how about this. Let’s wait for Piper and David to get back. See if they have any news—or someone who can answer questions—and then make a decision.”

Elena stared at him, the desire to stay overpowering her need to leave.

Maya took her hand. “Please, Elena.”

Groaning, Elena dropped her chin to her chest. Was she being selfish or being smart and listening to good advice? Or both? She lifted her eyes to Sully’s. “Fine. Okay, I can do that.”

He blew out a low breath, the relief in his eyes twisting something inside her chest. “Good. Thank you. Now, let’s talk strategy when it comes to defending this place. David has his plan, but I need a plan for Ollie and what to do if the perimeter is breached.”

Maya nodded. “I can help with that.”

They worked until none of them could keep their eyes open and called it a night. Elena could only pray they would get some sleep before something else happened.