Colters' Lady (Colters' Legacy #2)(11)

Carl picked up a clipboard and flipped through the pages. “We have two women accounted for so far. One is a Jane Doe. Older. Bag lady found dead in an alley. Caught in crossfire. Other is a hooker named Star.”

Relief crushed him. “Okay, thanks, Carl.”

Seth turned to walk away, and Carl called out to him. “Hey, what are you doing out here anyway?”

Seth ignored him and kept on going. He flashed his badge at the group of officers who had cordoned off the street and then ducked under the tape to get back into his truck.

He punched Michael’s number and hoped to hell his brother was having better luck than he was.

Michael ignored the angry horns as he slowed to a stop to look down the intersection. Sirens in the distance told him something big was going down. Probably a downtown pile-up. He shuddered as he accelerated toward the next block. He hated the city. Hated traffic. Hated people. Most people anyway. Animals were much better company.

He found a place to park curbside and got out, pulling his jacket up around his ears. He’d never see anything from the truck in this weather, and he could get into the nooks and crannies on foot.

His phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket.

“Any luck?” Seth demanded.

“No. I just got out to search on foot. Rain makes it hard to see shit.”

“Be careful. Fucking drug dealers had a turf war. It’s going to make finding Lily even harder with everything in chaos.”

“I’ll holler if I find her,” Michael said before punching the end button.

He frowned as he turned down another side street and shivered as rain slid down his neck. It was crazy that he was turning downtown Denver over looking for a woman he’d spent all of a few minutes with. Even more insane that his heart was about to pound out of his chest over the thought of not finding her.

After an hour, he was clenching his teeth in frustration. He strode through an alley that cut between two of the main streets and almost missed her.

He caught movement from the corner of his eye and stopped in midstride, his gaze drawn to the small woman huddled against the side of a dumpster, her head down to her knees.

Adrenaline spiked in his veins. The hairs prickled at his nape in sudden awareness. It was her. It had to be her. She wore a worn, knit cap but her rain-slicked hair peeked from the edges.

She’d made herself into the smallest ball she could manage, and it had almost worked. He would have walked right by her, and many others probably already had, never seeing her and if they did, they didn’t care.

“Lily?”

She reacted violently to her name. Her head came up, and wide, frightened eyes met his. Automatically she surged up as if to flee.

“Lily, it’s me, Michael. Seth’s brother. Remember? I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to help you.”

Slowly she slid back down the wall, one hand going to the cracked pavement. The other arm she held tight against her chest in a gesture that screamed self-protection.

“Why are you here?”

He crouched down so he could look her in the eye. “I want you to come back with me, Lily. Seth is worried. I’m worried. You don’t need to be out here. It’s cold and raining. You’re going to make yourself sick.”

She stared at him, her eyes cloudy with confusion. “I’m used to it.”

“But you don’t have to be.”

“It was only for one night,” she whispered.

“It doesn’t have to be.”

She cocked her head, unease sliding across her face. He ran his fingers gently over her cheekbone. Whether she meant to or not, she nuzzled into his palm and closed her eyes.

The gesture told him a lot. He also knew the moment she realized her slip. She stiffened and drew away, but not before he saw the longing in her gaze.

In a lot of ways she reminded him of the animals he loved so much. Wary. But starved for love and affection. Both needed an extremely gentle hand.

He tried a different tack. “Lily, honey, it’s cold and wet out here. Seth is running all over downtown freezing his ass off, and he’s worried sick about you. Come with me so we can all get out of the weather. I’ll make some hot chocolate and we’ll get you into some dry clothes. My hot chocolate is better than Seth’s anyway.”

She frowned and shifted slightly then grimaced. His brow furrowed as he stared at her in question.

“Are you all right? Are you hurt?”

She shook her head. “No. No, I’m fine.”

He held out his hand to her, hoping she’d take it, that she’d agree to come with him. He hadn’t exaggerated the fact that it was damn cold.

Instead of slipping her hand into his, she pushed herself upward with the hand on the ground but kept the other arm tight against her chest. Her posture was awkward, and his frown deepened as she staggered to her feet.

For a moment she stood, hand resting against the wall of the alleyway, and she leaned, head bowed as if catching her breath.

He waited, not wanting to press her, but he held his breath as he watched to see if she’d agree to come with him.

She took a step away from the wall and nearly fell.

Michael lunged forward and caught her before her knees completely gave out. She felt light and infinitely fragile against his chest. She shuddered and quaked, and her breaths came in rapid bursts.

For a long moment he simply held her, enjoying the sensation of her curled into his arms. And he wanted her to feel safe, so he made no sudden movements. Just let her grow accustomed to having him so close.