“We’ll need to secure rooms there for the night,” Grant said.
“And move Bree to that location,” Avery added.
“I’m fine where I’m at,” Bree argued.
“We can’t keep you safe from across town,” Avery pointed out.
“I don’t need anyone to babysit me,” Bree said. “I have a room.”
“The perp broke into your room, likely damaging the doorframe,” Grant said. “You won’t have a way to lock up.”
Bree shrugged. “I’ll have the clerk give me another room.”
Avery’s mouth tightened. “You’ll come to the same hotel as the rest of us,” she said. “We need to stick together, not redirect focus from other threats that could catch us off guard.” She lifted her chin and stared down her nose at her twin.
“You’ll come with us, or we’ll be forced to lock you up,” Melissa stated. “Your choice.”
Bree’s lips twisted into a grimace. “You make it hard. I suppose I can move to your hotel.”
“Now that we’ve settled that, it’s late and we should get some sleep,” Grant said. He’d been studying Avery throughout the conversation in the bar and grill. Though she’d put on a good face, he could tell the day had taken its toll. Having suffered a concussion and been trapped in a coma for days, she was pushing too hard, too soon.
Grant slid his chair back from the table, stood and held out a hand to help Avery to her feet.
When she swayed, he pulled her up against his body.
He knew she didn’t want to admit to any weakness. The fact she leaned into him said a lot about her current physical condition. She was wiped out and needed rest.
“You two should go on to the hotel,” Melissa said. “I’ll go with Ms. Lans—Bree to collect her belongings and follow her back to the hotel.”
Sheriff Taylor snorted. “And I’ll follow Melissa and Bree to make sure Bree doesn’t bolt.”
Bree’s lips thinned. “I’m not going to bolt. I believe in justice, or I wouldn’t be a detective on the Omaha police force. Those victims didn’t choose to die. I’m sticking around for them. We have a killer to catch. I’ll be here until he's either behind bars or dead.”
“You believe in justice, do you?” Melissa rolled her eyes. “How just was it of you to pretend to be a trusted FBI agent?”
“If it helps me catch a killer, it’s just.” Bree rose to her feet. “I don’t need anyone to go with me to the motel. I can get there on my own.” She held up her hand as Melissa started to say something. “I don’t have much there. It won’t take long to stuff some things into my suitcase and drive across town to the hotel near the highway. Trust me to do it on my own or follow me. I don’t really give a damn as long as I get to sleep before midnight.”
Melissa unfolded her long legs and straightened. “Then let’s go.”
Grant planted a hand at the small of Avery’s back and ushered her out of the bar and grill.
The others followed close behind.
In the parking lot, Grant remained on high alert, checking all the shadows and listening for the sound of footfalls or the click of a safety being switched on a weapon.
When nothing jumped out at his senses, he curved his arm around Avery’s body, shielding her with his larger frame.
Once they reached his rental car, he opened the passenger door and held it while Avery lowered herself into the seat. She’d never admit to anything, but the tight set of her jaw indicated she was experiencing pain somewhere in her body.
Grant slid into the driver’s seat, started the engine and shifted into gear out of sheer muscle memory, his thoughts whirling.
He wanted to take Avery far away from Shadow Ridge—maybe all the way to Montana, just to keep her safe and let her heal. She shouldn’t be working a case so soon after nearly dying in a car wreck.
Then again, he’d never been able to talk her out of doing her job. Avery Hart had a stubborn streak the size of Texas. Though it infuriated him at times, it was also one of the traits that made her a good agent. One of the traits he’d admired in her from the moment they’d met back in Virginia, when they’d been teamed up on a mission.
He'd quickly learned that passion and intensity for the job transferred to the bedroom. Before he’d known it, the FBI profiler who’d sworn never to marry had proposed. Avery had surprised him by saying yes, without hesitation.
A week later, they were married and had moved into his apartment in Alexandria.
