Page 109 of Secrets in the Deep

He slammed the truck to a stop outside Polly’s house, took his Glock from the middle console, and raced up the steps.

He banged on the wood.

Open the door, Emi. Show me you’re safe.

A couple of seconds passed. Then a couple more.

He knocked again. “Emi? You there?”

A thump against the door, followed by a cry, had him flinching.

Without hesitation, he took off his jacket, wrapped it around his elbow and punched through the window beside the door. Glass shattered.

He reached inside and flicked the lock.

He’d barely stepped in before he saw her.

Emily. On her stomach. On the floor. Unmoving.

He dropped to her side, sweeping his gaze around the room, clocking that the space was empty before looking back to Emily. “Emi, can you hear me? Where are you hurt?”

“I…I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine.” When she rolled to her back, he growled. There was already a bump on her forehead and a small cut on her neck. “Where are they?”

“I don’t know. They shoved me and ran. I think they came in through a spare bedroom at the end of the hall.”

His gaze whipped up to the half-open bedroom door.

Footsteps sounded at the front of the house, yanking his attention back to the door. He lifted his Glock just as Joel stepped inside, closely followed by Polly. She gasped before kneeling beside Emily.

Joel’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the house, his own Glock already in hand.

“Stay with her,” Ryan growled, pushing to his feet. He raced to the end of the hall to see the bedroom window was open.

He jumped out and scanned the yard.

Empty. Worse, the fencing was low enough that the asshole could have entered through any of the neighboring yards.

Son of a bitch.

He was just turning back when he saw a small object on the ground beneath the window. He bent to pick up a hairpin.

This was what they’d used to pick the window lock. Did that make the assailant a woman?

He climbed back through the window. Before returning to Emily, he did one quick sweep of the house.

No intruders.

In the living room, Emily was on the couch, a small ice pack to her head, while Polly cleaned her neck.

“Ward should be here any second,” Joel said quietly. “Find anything?”

“Just this.” He held up the pin.

He frowned. “This was a woman?”

“Not sure.” He crossed the room and knelt in front of Emily. “Are the cut and the bruise your only injuries?”