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“Eric. H-He died.”
Fuck. I curse repeatedly in my head. The unforgiving thorns of compassion burrow deep with her words. She’s going to need a lot more than a warm shower to wake up from this nightmare, but priority number one is persuading her to get out of the rain before she ends up in a hospital bed.
“I’m so sorry, baby.” The raspy, inadequate words float between us. “We need to get you dry.”
“I don’t want to go,” she chokes out between sobs. “This is the last place I saw him alive.”
Her pain eviscerates me.
“We can come back after the rain. We’ll come back a thousand times,” I vow. “Come on, Evie.”
She glances at me, tear-soaked cheeks disguised by the falling rain. “I don’t think I can.”
As the angry storm whips around us, she no longer has a choice. I can’t do anything to help Eric, but I can do something to help her. The color of her skin and uncontrollable shaking convince me she’s in danger of hypothermia.
“Where’s Ghost?” Maybe changing her attention to someone else she loves will help break through.
“She’s near. I have her leash.” The sodden piece of material hangs limp angled behind her.
Law crouches down to peer beneath the car. “She’s hiding. Let me get her to my truck.”
Evie relinquishes the leash without a fight. As Law loads Ghost up, I free my cell and punch Nathan’s contact info.
“What do you need?”
“Change of plans. We got her. She’s been sitting in the rain for over an hour. Get over to my place. We need blankets and warm fluids. And I need Cami.” I break through the constriction in my throat. “Her brother died.”
“Ah, damn. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Can you ask Cami if she’ll help? If it’s too painful…” I let the statement trail. Cami lost her brother a long time ago. Knowing she pushed past her pain to become the woman she is today fills me with hope. Maybe she can support Evie through the same.
“She’ll help,” Law states firmly upon his return, knowing the woman he’s loved since they were kids like his own right hand.
“Any medic skills might be needed as well,” I speak back into the phone.
“We’ll be ready,” Nathan responds in an even tone.
“Be there as soon as I can.” My throat nearly closes on the last word as the mountain before us reveals the treacherous climb. Evie’s going to need people to rally, and I’m thankful I have a group ready to take up the task. Good people. The best. The kind that will love and support her through it all.
Running back through the downpour reveals her in the same position. Her vacant stare hardens my determination to help. I won’t stop until she’s back to the Evie I’ve come to love.
That realization blasts through the brick wall I’ve constructed around my heart.
Brushing those thoughts aside, I situate one arm behind her back and the other beneath her knees, lifting her securely into my arms.
Rather than fight, she cries and buries her face in my hood.
“It hurts,” she whimpers through the tears.
“I know, baby.”
“E-Everything hurts so bad.”
“I’ve got you,” I vow. Law has the passenger door to my Jeep open before we’re close. I deposit her safely inside. “Hang on, Evie.”
“Meet you back at the house,” Law says.
“Thank you,” I manage to say, grateful for my friend though my attention is elsewhere.
