He beat her and cut her…
Did God only knows what else…
And it’s all my fault.
I never should have left her.
I never should have been so arrogant to believe I was the only one who could protect her, to insist that I knew best.
Because I was wrong.
So fucking wrong.
It’s all my fault.
After all the pain I’ve caused her, I wouldn’t blame Raven for never wanting to speak to me again. If she can’t even look me in the eye anymore, I wouldn’t be able to argue for a reason she should.
All the speeches I gave her about keeping her safe. All the promises I made, they were all lies. Ones she had to pay the price for.
“What the fuck?”
The tone of Killian’s voice draws my attention up, and I gaze through the windshield at Main Street.
I hadn’t even realized how close we were to town. I’ve been too wrapped up in watching Raven and making sure she’s still breathing to pay attention to anything outside the truck windows, but now, my focus shifts to the strange scene in front of me.
Normally at this time of day, there would be dozens of people milling around Main Street, enjoying cookies, croissants, and a cup of coffee from the bakery, trickling in and out of the various stores, or just strolling down the quiet sidewalks and sharing smiles with their neighbors.
But right now, Main Street in McBride Mountain looks like a ghost town.
Not a single car on the street.
Not a single person.
“I really don’t like this.” The ominous tone in Liam’s voice matches the feeling in my chest. “Not at all.”
Tony isn’t answering and something’s very wrong here.
We all feel it as we drive slowly down Main, past the bakery and the church, and that’s when I see it…
What the hell?
Killian must spot it at the same time, because he slams on his brakes directly in front of town square.
Liam leans forward slightly, narrowing his gaze on the walkways and grass leading to the town hall building that houses the police station. “Fuck.”
Two bodies lie on the ground, blood spreading out beneath them across the area that hosts the McBride Mountain holiday tree lighting, music concerts, wedding receptions, and is typically so filled with joy and merriment.
Killian throws the truck in park and turns back to me. “Stay here.”
Liam opens his door and steps out, gun in hand, and Killian joins him with his own weapon held tightly in his own.
They both offer me hard looks before they cautiously approach the bodies lying in town square. I continue to scan downtown, searching the streets visible from where we’re parked for any sign of anyone who might be able to shed some light on what the fuck is going on…
But it’s still empty.
A literal ghost town given the looks of the two men on the ground just a few feet away.
Liam bends down over one of the bodies, then says something to Killian, who nods and goes and checks the second, before they both jog back over to the truck.
