Fractured Sky (Tattered & Torn #5)(69)

Ramsey struggled to get his breathing under control. “I hope you’re enjoying your last weeks of freedom because you’ll be locked up before you know it.”

The humor fled Kenny’s face. “A lot can change in a few weeks. You’d best remember that.”

He checked Ramsey’s shoulder as he stormed past. I tightened my grip on Ramsey’s arm. “He’s a lot of talk. That’s all.”

Ramsey looked down at me, a muscle in his cheek ticking wildly. “Unless he’s the one who attacked you the other night.”

The thought had my stomach cramping. There was no denying the cruelty that lived in Kenny Chambers. Maybe he’d seen me at the restaurant and followed me to my truck, determined to get payback however he could. “That doesn’t fit with the letter.”

“The two might not be linked.”

It made sense. Maybe the letter was Ian playing with me, and the physical attack was Kenny. My head swam. The thought that more than one person might have it out for me made me feel twitchy.

Ramsey wrapped an arm around my shoulders and guided me into the post office. “Let’s get your mail. I’ll text Hayes when we’re back at your truck and let him know what happened.”

I nodded, pulling my keys from my pocket and opening my mailbox. I held my breath as I scanned the envelopes. Bill, junk mail, bill. No blocky lettering with no return address. Maybe one last letter was all I would get. Perhaps the change in handwriting and tone was simply an old man in failing health.

We stepped outside and started back to the truck. Heat burned the back of my neck, itchiness skating across my skin. I scanned the space around me, and my steps faltered as I saw Ian staring at me from across the street. So much rage billowed out of him it almost physically hurt to witness it.

Clearly, Hayes’ conversation with Ian had done nothing but piss the man off more. That anger reminded me so much of his father’s that a shudder ran through me.

“I’ve got you,” Ramsey said quietly.

It was all I needed, the simple knowledge that I didn’t have to fight my battles alone. And for the first time, it didn’t grate to have someone at my back because I knew I would do the same for Ramsey. We were a team and far stronger together.

I took his hand and squeezed. “Thank you.” I wanted to say more, to utter those three little words that said everything, but I held myself back. Instead, I picked up my pace. I wanted to be home with Ramsey in the little haven that now felt like mine, too—because he’d gifted that to me.

I beeped the locks on my truck, pausing as I approached the driver’s side door. A pale-yellow piece of paper fluttered in the breeze beneath my windshield wiper. My stomach twisted as I plucked it free.

Jagged letters streaked across the page, each one full of fury.

Whores pay. Are you ready to learn the price?





34





RAMSEY





I paced behind Shiloh’s chair as Hayes studied the letter. I’d tried sitting but couldn’t manage it. Everything in me begged me to move. More than that, it clawed at me to end any threat to Shiloh.

“I can’t tell straight off if this is the same handwriting as the other letter or different. It’s clearly hastily done, and that changes the slant to the lettering.” Hayes looked up from the paper. “Did you see anyone near your vehicle?”

Shiloh shook her head. “Not near my truck, but we had a run-in with Kenny Chambers at the post office, and Ian was staring at me from across the street after I left.”

Hayes’ jaw tightened. “Define run-in.”

Shiloh repeated the encounter for Hayes, each word only intensifying the pulse of rage thrumming through me. Just saying your woman got what she deserved. She should’ve spread her legs for someone else. But maybe she already is. His words echoed in my head on an endless loop, and each pass had me clenching my fists tighter.

“It’s time for a restraining order. I’ll write up an emergency order of protection now. Hopefully, with your and Ramsey’s testimony, a judge will make that permanent,” Hayes said.

Shiloh glanced over her shoulder at me and then at her brother. “Are you sure that’s necessary? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want him anywhere near me, but this seems extreme. He’s a bitter, angry man, who will be in jail soon.”

Hayes leaned forward in his seat. “It’s necessary. We have no idea how long a trial will take. If he breaks a restraining order while out on bail, he’ll go right into lockup.”

She was silent for a moment, so Hayes pushed on. “Right now, my best suspects in your attack are Kenny and Ian. With this incident today, I lean more towards Kenny, but I think it makes sense to get restraining orders on both. It might even be enough to get Ian’s bail revoked.” He dipped his head to meet Shiloh’s gaze. “We need to take every precaution we have right now.”

She worried the inside of her cheek for a few moments before lifting her gaze to Hayes’. “Okay.”

Hayes reached over and squeezed her hand. “Thank you for not fighting me on this.”

“I’m not trying to make things harder for you.”

“I know that. I really do. And I know it’s hard for you to bring more attention to yourself.”

Shiloh stared down at her hands. “I’m sure someone will write an article about this.”