Page 39 of Shattered By the Currents

The call went to voicemail.

Shit.

Quickly, he grabbed the Glock from his middle console and climbed from his truck. He kept the gun tucked to his chest as he jogged across the road and circled the car, his boots quiet as he moved.

He checked the handle of her door. Unlocked.

Inside, he checked the back seat, the trunk, and gave a quick scan beneath the car. Other than smoke coming from the hood, everything looked fine. Even her bag was in the passenger seat.

He straightened and scanned the woods. Wind brushed over his bare arms as he crouched and used the flashlight on his phone to study the dirt.

Prints. Small ones. Raven’s. She went toward the forest. Why?

He slipped into the woods, alert, Glock ready. The prints were faint here, but he kept them in his sight.

Where are you, Raven?

It was onlyherfootprints, so it didn’t look like anyone had taken her or followed. But why call him for help, then walk into the woods? Hell, just a month ago, they’d had a serial killer on the loose in this forest. Even though the asshole had been caught, that didn’t make the area safe for a young woman to enter at night on her own.

He slipped between the trees, silent, searching. At some point, he turned the flashlight function off. If there was a threat, he didn’t want to be shining a spotlight on his location.

He wasn’t afraid of the dark. He’d done ops with less vision.

Three more steps and he heard it—the crunch of leaves beneath feet.

He looked right, inched in that direction, curving around a tree…

Then he saw her.

Raven.

She paced the area, hands on her head, chest heaving.

One quick scan told him she was alone.

What the hell was going on?

He holstered his weapon and stepped out from behind the tree. “Raven?”

She spun, eyes wide. “Connor!” A frown creased her brow, and she glanced around like she was only just realizing where she was. “Oh God. I…I wasn’t thinking.”

“Are you okay?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m angry! I’m so damnangrythat some days I think the rage will eat me alive. I keep thinking it’ll get better. I keep thinking he’ll leave me alone!”

Connor inched forward. “He?”

“My ex. He’s like this parasite, trying to suck everything good from my life.” She met his gaze, tears pooling in her eyes. “Ihatehim. I hate him so much!”

“Come here.”

“What?”

He closed the small bit of distance between them and tugged her against his chest. At first, she was tense. Her shoulders were stiff, her arms not moving from her sides. Then she seemed to melt. To breathe him in. To just trust him to hold her.

Every part of him wired for protection lit up. He wanted to shield her. Stand between her and any and all enemies.

No part of him wanted to let her go, but when a cool breeze ran over them, Raven shuddered. He needed to get her out of the cold.