Page 164 of Peaks and Promises

“What are you going to do?”

“Find him.”

Grabbing my shirt, she pulled me in and pressed her lips to mine. “Be careful.”

“I will. Promise.”

I doubted I’d be lucky enough to get in through the back door, but I had to try. The porch steps squeaked when I stepped on them, but either Sam was too distracted by Mayhem or the sound didn’t carry. I tried the door, and to my amazement, the knob turned.

Drawing my gun, I eased the door open and looked around quickly. No one was there, so I slipped inside.

I glanced into the small bathroom on the left. Empty. A nook on the right had a stacked washer and dryer, and beyond that, a bedroom. The door was ajar, so I peeked in. The unmade bed was just a mattress sitting on the floor, and clothes were strewn around. The closet door was broken, so I didn’t have to go in to see that no one was there.

Stepping carefully, I glanced at the kitchen as I walked through. A few dirty dishes were stacked in the sink and a box of cereal lay on its side, spilling its contents onto the counter.

The living room had a single recliner facing a TV mounted to the wall and a folding table littered with beer cans and food wrappers sat next to it. There was another bedroom on the far end, but I’d have to get past the front window to check inside it.

Crouching low, I hurried past the door and beneath the window. Voices carried from outside, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Adrenaline made my senses sharp as I straightened and approached the door. If Nate and Axel were in the house, they were in that bedroom. There was literally nowhere else to go.

With a quick intake of breath, I turned the knob.

And my phone buzzed.

Shit. It was probably Summer, warning me to get out. But I couldn’t leave without checking the last room.

Ready for anything, I peeked inside.

Nothing. Just some fishing poles propped up in a corner, a beat-up cooler, and an unrolled sleeping bag.

The front door opened, and the voices grew. When my phone buzzed again, I slipped into the room and shut the door behind me.

This was not good.

The window was my only chance. It wasn’t big—and I was not small—but I’d have to make it work.

A crash came from the other room. Mayhem was searching the place.

“You assholes!” Sam yelled.

I sent Summer a quick text—hide—and went for the window.

Something on the floor just beneath the window caught my eye. Crouching, I picked it up. A gray Lego brick.

Nate. It had to be his. He always had random Lego pieces in his pockets.

He’d been there.

I shoved it in my pocket, re-holstered my gun, and opened the window.

Voices rang out from every direction—they were spreading out to search the property—but no one was on that side of the house. Still, if I got out without being seen, it would be a damn miracle.

Climbing out was awkward as hell, but I fit through—barely. The drop was far enough that I had to roll when I landed, and the shrubs did their best to scratch the crap out of me. Heavy footsteps headed my direction, and I got up and crept backward to the corner of the house, ducking behind a larger bush.

I held my breath, waiting, while one of the club members walked by.

Casting a glance over my shoulder, I looked for Summer. She’d moved from her spot. I hurried to the porch and checked underneath. Spiderwebs clung to the corners, and while there was plenty of space, she hadn’t used it for cover.