Page 41 of Give Me Peace

“Just wondering how it looks. If anyone’s taking care of it,” I answer.

“I went with Liz a few weeks before she passed. She wanted a chance to say goodbye. We can always go visit, Say,” he offers, his pinky finding mine again.

“That’s okay. I have no plans to step foot in Pike’s Bay ever again.” My voice is steady and certain, brokering no room for debate.

“Then Krew and I will fly a drone in and you can see it from a screen in the office. I’ll even pay the florist extra to deliver flowers as often as you want,” Kash says matter of factly. My chest warms, his sweet sincerity making my eyes burn.

“We can hire someone to come out every six months to do routine maintenance. Make sure it’s clean and whatnot,” Havok adds with a dismissive wave of his hand, playing down the offer like it’s no big deal. But it is. Everything they’ve done since the day Lochlan and Roan found me has been for the betterment of my wellbeing. They’re selfless, and I know, without a doubt, they’d protect me by any means necessary. I have no idea how things would’ve gone had I chosen to go to the safe house, but I’m grateful I’m here instead.

Kash twines his fingers with my other hand, giving it a squeeze. I’d do the same with Havok but he’s stuck with my injured side and the brace won’t allow it. He keeps our pinkies connected, though. I’m so relaxed, it takes no time at all to drift off. Content as can be, the three of us nap, paying no mind to the sun or anything else.

Chapter Twenty-One

Lochlan

Saylor, Kade, and Kash came in from the beach a few hours ago. They were sweaty and exhausted from the heat, her cheeks and nose tinged with pink, making it clear she hadn’t reapplied the sunblock I sent with them. I could’ve kicked both my brother’s asses for not thinking to remind her. But damn she looked beautiful coming through the door, her face flushed and the setting sun framing her silhouette. Her eyes were bright and clear, despite how tired she was, and it soothed that thing inside that’s desperate to bring Saylor back to life.

With everything else going on today, I didn’t kick up a fuss about her wanting to turn in early. Of course, I want her to rest, but I’ve gotten used to watching her eat. It helps to see with my own eyes that she’s getting stronger every day, but Kash made sure to take some dinner and pain medicine to her room. We haven’t seen him since. I’ve been on pins and needles all afternoon waiting for Denvers to call us back. We haven’t gotten so much as a text. They guys—minus Kash, who’s likely snuggled up to Saylor—and I are all standing around the kitchen eating our dinners in silence.

We’re too lost inside our own heads, thinking of every worst-case scenario imaginable to even enjoy the spaghetti Bolognese Krew made. Each bite goes in my mouth and down my throat without me really tasting it. I pull the fridge open to grab something to drink, pausing when I close the door back and notice a new list beside the other Kash made. This one’s in his handwriting as well, so it must be something they worked on at the beach.

“What’s this?” I nod to the list while looking at Kade. He swallows the food in his mouth and then replies with, “Something the therapist suggested. Things she wants to do but didn’t know if she’d ever get to.” A harsh burning sensation has me rubbing at my chest as I read over each item. Simple shit like eat pizza and ice cream. And she thought, had likely accepted, that she wouldn’t get to do those things again. Because Saylor didn’t know if she’d ever leave that place, and if she did, she didn’t count on being alive. It makes me want to rage and beat my fist into a fucking wall. She deserves everything written on this piece of paper, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to make every last one a reality. So, I whip my phone out and get to work.

“What are you doing?” Ro slides up next to me, watching over my shoulder as I scroll through laptops, looking for something that’s user friendly but not a cheap piece of shit.

“If Saylor wants to get her GED, then she’s going to need a computer,” I answer distractedly.

“That one.” Krew points, putting a halt to my scrolling. I add it to the cart without question, knowing he’d be the best choice to pick out anything tech related. I start a new search for GED study materials, adding everything I come across that’s highly rated.

“I’m not sure if Saylor thought about it or not, but she can also choose to get her high school diploma if she prefers to go that route. It can be done completely online. Maybe we should print some information out about both options and then she can decide,” Krew adds.

“Good idea,” Kade mumbles around a mouth full of noodles. I nod in agreement, wanting to give her as many choices as possible.

“She needs a phone,” Ro remarks, pulling his own from his pocket. “I’ll add her to our plan and get her the same thing we’ve got. Grab a case, too.” I type in the make and model of the phone she’ll have but pause when the results pull up pages and pages of designs. Everything from plain to girly and glittery. Shit, I have no idea what to get.

“Go with that one.” Kade points his fork at a light blue case that has a watercolor image of the beach on the back of it. Perfect. I hit the checkout button, double checking that no one else can think of anything else to add, then swipe to pay. Two-day shipping has always worked fine for me, but that feels way too long. I want it delivered immediately. I need to do this for her, to fix the things I can because there’s so much I have no control over. But this? This I can do. I’m just about to pocket my phone when it starts to ring, Denvers name flashing across the screen.

“Give me just a sec,” I answer, nodding to the guys to head to the lower level. It’s too quiet up here to talk freely. We descend the stairs as quietly as possible, gathering in the media room to hear whatever update he has for us. With the door closed, I place the phone on speaker. “Alright, we’re good now.”

“Jesus, Calloway. I’m not sure where to start,” Denvers exhales, sounding like his day has been a helluva lot more stressful than ours. I clench my jaw, knowing the next words from his mouth aren’t going to be anything good. “Locals followed the coordinates and found a body. Young woman—estimated to be in her early twenties. Petite, blonde-hair, blue eyes.” I slump against the wall, feeling every ounce of blood drain from my extremities, leaving me lightheaded and nauseous. There’s no fucking way the victim’s description is a coincidence.

“Time of death?” Ro croaks. My head jerks up, scrutinizing the way his hands are balled into fists at his sides and the sickly pallor of his skin. And then it hits me. He’s wondering if she’s been dead this entire time, or if she died because we didn’t see the postcard sooner. What a fucked up game that would be, leaving someone’s life in our hands, a looming countdown we’re unaware of.

“Five to seven days. Hard to say for sure. Some…outside elements…have assisted with decomposition.” Ro deflates, but that anger of his still remains. “We might have a positive ID based on a missing person’s report that matches the victim’s description, but they aren’t releasing anything until next of kin has been notified and confirms.”

“What the fuck is this? Substitution killing or a warning?” Kade tugs at his hair, pacing back and forth between the theater seating.

“It’s hard to guess at the thoughts of a madman, but I think it’s safe to say it’s either him fantasizing about doing the same to Saylor, or it’s a warning to get her to come out of hiding. That’s a lot of guilt to carry, knowing someone’s out there killing innocent women because they don’t have what they really want. Sadly, it’s rather effective,” Denvers explains, but he really doesn’t need to. We’re well aware of what he’s saying, but it’s different being on this end. I drop my head as bile creeps up my throat.

“Have they determined cause of death?” Krew asks. I wince, not really sure I want to hear it.

“Nothing definitive, but upon first glance it appears she was raped and beaten. Her body was found bare, and they haven’t come across a stitch of clothing within the search vicinity.” I’m going to be sick. The guys swear, someone punches the wall, but it’s all muffled from the panic fogging my brain. Everything Denvers just relayed hits me like a goddamn freight train.

I see Saylor’s blue eyes in place of this woman’s.

Saylor’s long blonde hair.

Saylor’s lifeless body, abused and violated, then discarded like a piece of trash.