“I think she’s inside. Someone was skulking around though.”Blake told him about the trespasser. “It could have been innocent, but my gut says it wasn’t.”
“My gut is speaking the same language. I don’t like it.”
“She’s a little miffed I called you.” Blake beckoned for Drew to follow him to the house. They went up the steps to the door, and he let Drew go ahead of him into the house. Paradise would be thrilled to see her brother.
They found her curled up on the sofa sleeping. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her color hadn’t improved much. Her head probably hurt. Blake put his finger to his lips and gestured for Drew to leave the living room, but Paradise opened her eyes and spotted them.
She sat up. “Drew, you’re here.”
Drew went to her and settled beside her. He put his arm around her, and she tipped her head to rest it on his shoulder. “I didn’t let any grass grow under my feet. How are you feeling?”
“Fine. My headache finally let up. I’m just a little groggy from the pain med.” She lifted her head. “You didn’t have to change your plans, but I’m glad you came.”
“I only moved them up a few days. We need to figure out what’s going on. I’m glad Blake called me.”
Her gaze locked with Blake’s. “I am too. Someone doesn’t want you here, which means that’s exactly where you should be. I think you know more than you think you do, and all the deaths are going to tie together.”
“Maybe. One thing I’ve learned is never assume anything. We’ll take it one step at a time and figure this out.”
She sent an appealing glance Blake’s way. “Can we go home now? I just want my own bed. I’m hoping I’ll wake up tomorrow and feel totally fine.”
“That’s a little too optimistic with a concussion,” Blake said.“But you might be at 50 percent.” The plan had been for her to stay here for a few days, but after the discovery of an intruder, he’d made the instant decision to get her out of here. Maybe there was no place she’d be truly safe, but at the park at least a lot of people would be around.
He left them and went out the back door to thank Hez and gather the boys. Once the fish were cleaned, he’d help his mom with dinner and maybe they could have a normal evening. He’d almost forgotten what one of those felt like.
Chapter 5
Paradise grimaced at the smear of fish guts on Blake’s arm. “I’ll ride with my brother.” She’d gone most of her life without a sibling, and yet it felt so natural to refer to Drew as her brother. There was so much she didn’t know about him, but the relationship had settled more firmly into place when she woke and saw him. A little more red shot through his tawny hair than hers, but their amber eyes were alike. Others would be able to guess at their relationship.
Blake corralled his brothers. “I’ll meet you at the park. Abby, you want to join us for dinner?”
“Maybe next time. I need to get Quinn.”
Quinn was her ten-years-old-going-on-twenty daughter.
Abby smiled at Drew. “Nice to finally meet you, Drew. Take good care of my bestie.” She hugged Paradise before heading for her car.
Blake and Paradise thanked Hez again for his hospitality and told him to pass their gratitude along to Savannah. Paradise walked with Drew toward his pickup while Blake steered his brothers toward his truck. Drew kept glancing around with a laser focus. The breeze stirred his short light brown hair.
“Are you watching for someone?” she asked when they reached his truck.
“There was an intruder in the woods. I want to get you out of here before something happens.” He opened the door and helped her up into the four-wheel drive.
She shivered and glanced toward the woods around the Webster property. The heavy foliage blocked the view, and she didn’t see much. “That’s why Blake agreed when I wanted to go home,” she said when he climbed under the wheel.
“Except we’re not going home. We both agreed the park is safer. There’s room for all of us, and I’ll be able to help protect you.”
The reality that they were all putting themselves at risk for her made her shift in her seat, but she held her tongue. Wouldn’t she do the same if he or Blake were the target? Of course she would.
He fastened his seat belt and started the truck. “I see your expression, Sis, and I know how hard this is for you.”
She bit her lower lip. “I want you to consider you might be the target now that you’re here, Drew. The warnings have been that you’d be in danger if you came here. You might be in more danger than me.”
“I agree he doesn’t want me here, but I think he doesn’t want either of us to uncover anything about your parents’ murders, and he knows our joint efforts will be more powerful.”
“How will we go about figuring out who your father is? When we first met, you said you thought your dad’s murder was connected to my parents’ murders. I didn’t believe it then, but I do now.”
“We’re on the cusp of some big discovery, Sis. This guy will likely get more dangerous. I want you to close the veterinary clinic for now and always have me or Blake with you.”
