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“What the hell is going on?” George asked.
I turned from them just as Sierra slumped into a chair and pressed her face in her hands, a strangled sob slipping out between her fingers. I knelt before her, my hands resting on her knees in comforting, soft touch.
“Look at me, baby.”
“I’m so sorry…”
“Was that her mother?” George pressed.
“Of course it was,” I muttered, sliding my hands up and down Sierra’s thighs. She peeked at me through her fingers, her eyes glazed with tears. “What happened?”
“I was at the grocery store,” she whispered, choking on the words. “I-I was getting ice cream when she came up behind me and confronted me. We wanted me to go with her, but I told her no. I don’t think I’ve told her no before.”
Something like pride warmed my chest.
“She tried to grab my arm but I ran. I left… I left a cartful of groceries just sitting in the middle of the aisle, Pete. I feel so bad.”
“Don’t,” I whispered. My voice was so uncharacteristically calm and soft. I was sure George and Grant had never heard me talk to anyone like this. “None of this is your fault.”
“Of course it’s my fault!” she whimpered, shaking her head and letting her hands drop to her lap.
I took her hands in mine and squeezed.
“Look at me, Sierra,” I breathed, knitting my fingers in hers. “Look at me. It’s going to be all right. You don’t need to be scared. I have your back, always.”
“Does she know your pregnant?”
I turned to Grant, who had a phone pressed to his ear as he looked down at us. His expression was hard and deathly serious.
“I don’t think so. Do I look pregnant yet?’
“No, baby,” I whispered. “She wouldn’t have been able to tell.”
The door opened and I just almost jumped to my feet, ready to defend Sierra if her mother came back again, this time with backup, but Wes walked in, looking a little winded.
“She’s gone, got her license plate.”
Grant turned to Wes, ushering him out of the room to gather the plate info.
“Who is he on the phone with?” Sierra asked.
I rolled my lower lip between my teeth before answering, “Grant has some connections that could help us. Help keep you and the baby protected.”
“I think the two of you should come up to the ranch,” George said, eyeing us both. “She knows where you live now, Pete.”
“She wouldn’t try… try to physically take me…” Sierra began to say, but trailed off, her eyes meeting mine. I knew she didn’t believe that, even if she wanted to.
Sierra had been honest about her situation with her family, but after meeting her mother I had a much better idea of what Sierra was actually going through now.
This was depraved.
“I’m going to get you something to eat, and then we’re going to leave, all right?”
“I want to go home. I want to go upstairs—”
“We can’t do that right now,” I said firmly, my heart breaking at the look on her face. “George is right. We should go up to the ranch for a while.”
“I don’t want to get anyone else wrapped up in this mess!”
