Page 128 of His Wounded Heart

She’s right about that.

It’s Dex.

I don’t put it on speakerphone.

“It’s Junior,” he says. “He’s talking to a hitman who’s already in Jasper Creek. He’s pissed off because the guy is squeezing him for more money because he has to take out a kid. Fucking A, Simon, that’s how he put it, take out a kid. What kind of animal talks like that?”

There’s disgust, sorrow, and rage in Dex’s voice.

“Did you get any idea whether the hitman knows where we’re at?”

“He said he has an idea on how to find out. You better call everyone Trenda knows and make sure they’re on the lookout. My guess is that he’s going to look for a soft target to find out information.”

“Fuck!”

“What? What is it?” Trenda is at my elbow asking.

“Anything else, Dex?”

“That’s it. Take care.”

The phone goes dead. I look up at Trenda.

“Where are all of your sisters? The ones here in Jasper Creek?”

“Not Evie, cause she’s downstairs, right?”

“Yeah, not her.”

“I’m pretty sure that Zoe and Maddie are at Evie’s house and Chloe and Zarek are at their house. Are they in trouble?”

“I’m not sure, but I don’t want to take any chances. I’ll call Zarek, you get Maddie or Zoe on the phone. When you get them, put it on speaker.”

Zarek answered on the first ring. “Yeah?”

“We’ve got a problem. It’s possible a hitman will be coming to you and Chloe to find out where Trenda and Bella are.”

“Jesus, I’m at the firehouse. Chloe’s alone and you have Slayer. Gotta go.” Zarek hung up.

I turn to Trenda. Her fingers are trembling as she’s going through her contacts.

“Zoe didn’t answer,” she said. “It’s possible she has her phone on do not disturb. I heard what you said to Zarek.”

“It’s okay, Aiden said his house is a fortress. I’m going to go get Aiden so he can explain to them how to arm the house. Just keep calling the girls.”

I brush a kiss on top of her hair, then race out of the room and down the stairs. Aiden must have heard me because his bedroom door is open. He’s holding his cargo pants and a gun.

“What?”

“Come upstairs.”

“Okay.”

He follows me back upstairs.

Trenda is smiling.

“Put it on speaker,” I say. She does.