“I love you, Reed Ownstead,” I whispered against his lips.
“I love you.” I felt the words rumble through his chest, penetrating me, embedding in my very being. I never believed anything more in my whole life.
Reed pulled away to peer down at me, to examine my tear-soaked face. He wiped the tears away again as I tried to catch my breath. “Come on, sweetheart, let’s take care of you.”
I gave him a watery smile, nodding.
“Come on.” He kissed my forehead before taking my hand and leading me to the trailer.
Just as we passed the truck, my eyes drifting to my boots to watch where I stepped in the dark, Reed stopped abruptly.
His body went rigid, startling me.
“What?” I demanded.
I glanced up at him. His face was like stone, and he was looking straight ahead at our fifth wheel. I followed his gaze.
The door was left open.
28
reed
My entire body went on alert, the hairs on my arms even standing at attention.
“Lina, stay behind me,” I hissed, stepping in front of her and pulling her flush against my back.
“Did someone break in?” she whispered. She was so close, I could feel her breath against my neck.
“Stay close.”
I instinctively reached for the .38 at my waist before realizing it was in my bag in the trailer.
Hopefully, it was still in my bag …
“Shit,” I cursed under my breath. “Let me go in first and make sure it’s safe.”
She gripped the back of my shirt, her nails digging into my skin. “Fuck that. You’re not leaving me out here. I’m coming with you.”
I gave a nod, scanning the campsite around the fifth wheel. She was right. The threat could be out here, waiting for us. Waiting forher.
“We’re going in slowly, then. Stay with me.”
Lina didn’t reply, her hand only becoming a viselike grip on my shirt.
I held my breath, walking as lightly as I could on my boots as we inched closer to the open door. We took the three steps quietly, peeking inside.
The trailer was cast in the shadows. Everything appeared undisturbed. My ears pricked up, straining to listen for movement, but all I heard was silence.
We entered together. My duffel bag was still zipped up beside the booth seats. In two strides, I was in front of it, pulling out my revolver and cocking it.
I led with the gun, steadying my arm as we walked through the dark, stepping wide into the doorway of the bathroom and then around to Lina’s bed. We both froze. The wardrobes on either side of the bed hung open, Lina’s clothes and gear strewn across the bed as if someone was searching for something. Fury boiled in my gut. To see her things touched, searched, and discarded … I ground my teeth. My fingers gripped the handle.
I warned him.
“What the fuck?” Lina asked, now releasing her grip and stepping out from behind me.
We both scanned the area, searching for something we were missing in the dark. Lina flipped the switch, bathing the room in yellow light.
