Safe from Harm (Protect & Serve #2)(44)

“You’re sure he was home?” Gabe said.

“Positive. The guys from Station Eleven got the fire put out and found his body inside. Well, part of it anyway.”

Gabe breathed a harsh curse. “You think it was Monroe? Do you think he found out Billy was supposed to come in tomorrow to give a statement?”

“If I was a betting man, that’d be what I’d put my money on,” Tom admitted. “But I’d also bet that there’s no way in hell we’ll be able to prove it.”

“Gotta be him,” Gabe agreed. “There was no way he was gonna let Billy get away with turning against the family. He’s not a ‘forgive and forget’ kind of guy.”

“How close are you now?” Tom asked.

Gabe narrowed his eyes, glancing at the small green street signs that zipped past him as he sped toward her house. “Couple more blocks,” he said, his heart racing faster the closer he got. Just then he saw the entrance to her subdivision and slowed slightly to take the turn. “Turning onto her street right now.”

He didn’t wait for his brother to respond before hanging up. He screeched to a halt outside her house and grabbed his service weapon from under the seat where he’d stowed it. He quickly checked the clip before getting out of the car and approaching the house, his Glock at the ready. When he got to her front door, he stood to one side and knocked loudly.

“Elle!” he called, his heart hammering. He pounded again on the door. “Elle, you okay?”

He was just about ready to kick open the fucking door when he heard the dead bolt turn and the door swung open to reveal Elle standing there in cutoff shorts, a T-shirt, and bare feet, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, tiny red spiral curls having slipped out to frame her face.

“Gabe?” she said, frowning. Her gaze darted over his shoulder to the other cars arriving, including Tom’s. “What the hell…?”

“You okay?” Gabe panted, the pain in his leg cutting right through him now that his adrenaline was beginning to ebb.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, pushing open the screen door and coming out onto the porch with him. “Can’t say the same about you. You look like shit.”

He attempted a grin. “Aww, honey, you say the sweetest things.”

“Elle okay?” Tom yelled.

Gabe nodded, shifting his weight off of his aching leg. “Yeah, she’s good.”

When Tom turned away to deal with the other arriving deputies, Elle pulled open the screen door and pegged Gabe with a no-nonsense look. “So,” she said, “would you like to come in? And by that I mean, ‘Get your ass inside and explain what the hell is going on.’”

“How could I refuse such a kind request?” Gabe mumbled, limping past her. “But we’ll have to wait for Tom. I only know the CliffsNotes version.”

A few minutes later, he was sitting in Elle’s kitchen with a cup of coffee, trying to keep his hand from shaking as he lifted the cup to his lips. Gabe wasn’t sure if it was the pain affecting him or his fear for Elle’s safety. Either way, he wasn’t going anywhere in the near future.

As soon as Tom joined them, looking a little drained and out of sorts himself, he filled them in on Billy Monroe, not sparing any of the gory details. Elle dropped into the chair next to Gabe’s and shook her head.

“Poor Billy,” she murmured. It was only then Gabe realized she’d been crying before they’d arrived, her eyes still a little red and puffy.

“I got this, Tom,” Gabe said, jerking his chin toward Elle. “I’m going to need to stick around for a few before I drive home anyway. I’ll keep Elle company for a little while, check the place out, make sure she’ll be fine before I leave.” He glanced at Elle, “As long as that’s okay with you.”

She blinked at him for a moment as if trying to figure out a response. Finally, she shrugged. “Uh…yeah. Sure. I guess that’s fine.”

Gabe stayed at the table while she escorted Tom to the door but started to get up when she came back into the kitchen.

She motioned for him to sit back down. “I appreciate you guys racing here to check in on me, but as you can see, I’m fine.”

“Why didn’t you answer when Tom called you?” he asked, taking another sip of his coffee. He offered her a wry grin. “Could’ve saved you the hassle of us barging in.”

“I’d turned my ringer off,” she said softly, her voice catching a little. “I was going through some pictures and didn’t exactly feel like talking to anyone.”

He frowned at her a little. “Not happy memories, I take it?”

She attempted a smile that he supposed was meant to be brave, but her chin trembled a little when she explained, “It’s the anniversary of my family’s death.”

Gabe cursed under his breath, feeling like a total ass. “I’m sorry, Elle. I didn’t know.” He drained the last of his coffee and got to his feet. “I’ll take a quick look at the perimeter on my way out.”

“Gabe!” she called after him as he limped toward her front door. “Gabe, wait!” She took a step toward him, her hand reaching out as if she might touch him, but then she let her arm fall back to her side. “Please…don’t go.”