“Wait, he was throwing up? Is his concussion worse?” A sobbing sound choked off her words and she could feel herself losing control.
“Wren, stop. Grant is okay.” Cait’s voice was firm. “He went in for a meeting and overdid it and the headache made him sick. But he’s no worse than he was before. And I don’t know exactly what’s going on yet. They were on their way to my mom’s and I’m waiting for somebody to come and relieve me. And Steve’s going to bring you home, or he can stay with you on the bus and we’ll give him a ride back to his car later. Whatever you’re comfortable with. All I know is Grant and Gavin don’t want any of us alone.”
Ben.
The back of Wren’s neck prickled. They knew something. And she couldn’t think of any other reason why Grant would send a stranger to pick her up at work. He was afraid for her and he couldn’t get to her himself, so he’d sent another firefighter.
“Wren?”
“I’m here.”
“Just let Steve bring you home and the guys will tell us everything, okay? It was more important to get somebody to you than to get all the details. But everything will be okay.”
“I’ll let you drive if it helps you feel safer,” Steve said, holding up a set of keys.
She shook her head and, after assuring Cait she was okay and would be home soon, hung up the phone. “I don’t think I’m up to driving.”
After explaining to Mr. and Mrs. Belostotsky there was an emergency, she got her coat and followed Steve out to a small SUV. He held the door for her, and she was aware of the way he looked around while she climbed in, as if watching for somebody.
She thought maybe Cait knew more than she was telling her, and when Steve climbed in, she looked at him. “Did they tell you what’s going on?”
He shrugged as he pulled onto the street. “I know your boyfriend’s on a crew with my LT’s husband, they want you home and I’m supposed to keep my eyes open for anybody who looks like a problem.”
“I’m sorry you have to do this,” she said quietly, not sure what else to say.
“Don’t worry about it.” He flashed a quick grin. “Never hurts to have guys owe me a favor. You look a little shook, so go ahead and find a radio station you like and just try to relax, okay?”
That was easier said than done, since there was no doubt in Wren’s mind at this point that Ben was somehow the trigger that had them sending a stranger to get her home safe.
The panic was like acid reflux, rising in her throat and trying to choke her, but she listened to the radio and concentrated on her breathing. She was okay. Grant was okay.
But when Steve pulled up in front of Patty’s house, she could feel herself getting emotional again. “Thank you so much. I can’t... Do you want money for gas? I can—”
He held up his hand. “Don’t worry about it. Like I said, someday I might need a favor and I’ll know who to reach out to.”
Gavin walked out to the street as she climbed out of the car, and his smile looked forced. “Hey, Wren. Sorry for the drama, but Steve was the fastest way to get eyes on you.”
“Why do you need eyes on me? What does that even mean?” In her gut, she knew the answer, but she wanted to hear it. “Where is Grant?”
“He’s inside. And yes, he’s fine.”
“Cait said he threw up,” she said as they walked up the sidewalk.
“Yeah, in my truck, the jerk. He got his blood pressure up enough to make the headache so bad he threw up from the pain. But he’s better now.”
Gavin opened the door for her and she didn’t stop until she saw Grant in the living room. He looked pale, but he stood as she walked in and she went straight into his arms. Stroking her hair with one hand, he held her tightly with his other arm until she mostly stopped shaking.
“What’s happening?” she whispered.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you myself. I forgot my damn phone and by the time Gavin was done with his, I was sick and then you were with Steve and there was no sense in doing this over the phone.”
“Doing what? Cait said you were sick.” She pulled back and cupped his cheek in her hand, as if she could feel a fever.
He turned his head to kiss her palm. “It was the pain, but I took a couple of painkillers and Patty gave me some crackers, so I’m feeling better. I promise. Let’s go in the kitchen and we can all talk.”
After threading his fingers through hers, he led her to where the others were waiting. Patty and Carter. Gavin and Cait. They’d been talking in low voices, but a hush fell over them and they all looked at Grant, waiting.
“Okay, so Gav and I had a meeting with Cobb today. There’s a possibility—hell, I guess a probability, actually—that the fire was personal. That it was deliberately set to get to me.” He paused and Wren’s stomach lurched as she realized what he was saying. And when he turned his head to look at her, she knew it was about to get worse. “The cops down in Virginia can’t locate Ben Mitchell. He blew off a meeting with his parole officer. He’s gone and nobody knows where he is.”
