Page 115 of Unleashed

Walker’s brows lift. “Lindsey? The woman working in my department thought someone was trying to kill her?”

Maren nods. “That’s what she said. But then Trevor got shot, and the gunman was killed, and the police showed up, and everything was such a clusterfuck I didn’t even think to ask what she was talking about.”

Walker leans forward, the intensity of his blue gaze resting on Maren. “Did you guys see her when you were at the hospital? She had a pretty nasty cut on her eyebrow and it probably needed stitches.”

Maren shakes her head. “No. I thought maybe they were just able to get her in and out.” Her focus bounces between her friends. “Has anyone heard from her?”

Ruth and Brooke both shake their heads, the color draining from their faces.

“What if there was more than one person involved and they found her when we were all distracted?” Maren climbs off my lap, the movement jostling my leg enough to make me wince. “Where’s my phone?” She runs through the house, searching for her cell. “We need to call her. Make sure she’s okay.”

She locates the device on the kitchen counter and quickly taps the screen, switching it to speaker. We all wait as she paces across the great room, chewing on the tip of one finger as the line rings.

It goes to voicemail, the robotic voice of the generic greeting seeming overly loud in the silence.

“Someone should probably go to her apartment.” She turns to Walker. “You should go. You work with her all day and probably know her better than anyone.”

Walker gives Maren a single nod as he stands from his seat and turns for the door.

The alarm on my driveway signals the arrival of a vehicle before he can take a single step, and the tension in the room heightens instantly.

Walker turns to everyone. “Stay here. I’ll go handle whatever it is.”

“No fucking way are you doing it alone.” Tucker’s at his side in two long strides.

“Go fucking sit back down.” Walker stretches one arm out, pointing at Ruth. “She needs your stupid ass, and so does Birdie.”

Something uncomfortable and heavy settles in my chest at his words. The insinuation behind them. That since Walker is the only one of us who doesn’t have someone, he automatically should take all the risk.

That’s not fucking fair, but since I’m physically unable to kick his ass, all I can do is wave Toby and Titus after him and hope that if any shit goes down, it gets close enough to me I can take someone out with a crutch.

The foursome reaches my door before the bell even rings, the lock clicking softly as they open it up. I lean as far forward as I can, craning my neck to get a look at who’s here as low voices carry in. After a minute, the group files back into the room. This time with an addition.

Lindsey is with them, and she looks like shit. Her eyes are red. Her skin is mottled and flushed. The slice through her brow is held together with a butterfly bandage, and blood has crusted the fine blonde hairs around it. Her arms hug her middle, shoulders slouched, with no sign of the bright, smiley woman I hired in sight.

“Oh, thank God.” Maren runs to her, grabbing the blonde in an uncharacteristically tight embrace. “We were worried you were dead.”

Lindsey’s chin wobbles, but she doesn’t return Maren’s hug. “I kind of wish I was.”

Maren leans back, looking Lindsey over. “Why? What’s going on?”

Lindsey’s blue eyes move around the room, glistening with unshed tears as she takes us all in. “I came here to tell you I’m sorry and that I’m leaving.”

Brooke stands, moving closer. “Why would you leave?”

“Because hopefully if I leave, you guys will all be safe.” Her hands go to her face and she wipes at her eyes. “I didn’t mean to drag you into this. I thought I could…” She drops both arms, taking a deep breath. “I thought I could figure everything out before they found me.”

“Before they found you?” Maren sounds like she’s starting to get frustrated. “Who is they, and what are you trying to figure out?” Her voice pitches when Lindsey continues to hesitate. “Oh my God, just spit it out. Please. I promise we can handle whatever it is.”

Lindsey’s eyes move to Walker, hanging on where he stands for a minute before dropping to the floor. “I didn’t want to lie to you, but I had to. If you knew the truth, you would be in danger too.”

Now Ruth steps up, using her best mom voice as she asks, “What exactly did you lie about?”

Lindsey manages to stand a little straighter, giving Ruth her attention. “Everything.”

Ruth shakes her head, crossing both arms over her chest. “That’s not good enough, Lindsey. We need something specific.”

Again, her eyes drift to Walker before moving back to where Ruth stands. “Well, for starters, my name isn’t Lindsey.”