Page 124 of Show Me

“Opened the gate.” I turn and brace the end of the level on the ground, tipped out on its edge. “Let the pigs out.”

Jake’s expression tightens. Not surprised, but not casual either. “Forced?”

“Latch wasn’t broken,” I say. “Just lifted. The cameras didn’t catch anything.” My jaw twitches. “They did it when the electricity went off.”

Dominic exhales under his breath. “That’s not someone messing around.”

“No. It’s not.”

“Everything okay?” Travis lifts the bill of his hat, adjusts the brim, and shoves it back down on his head.

“Yeah. Everything’s good.” There couldn’t be less true words spoken into the universe. The entire situation is fucked up.

Jake shifts his weight, glancing out toward the lot before looking back at me as Travis wanders to the other side of the structure. “Anything else?”

“Feed on the ground.” My attention returns to Jake and Dominic. “Not hers. Tracks near the fence, then they disappear.”

Jake’s jaw sets. “Covered?”

“Yeah. Scuffed or something dragged across them to remove any distinct imprints.”

Silence stretches, the kind that fills in everything neither of us says out loud.

Dominic leans against an exposed beam. “She okay?”

“She’s fine.” The answer comes fast. Too fast.

Jake catches it. “She scared?”

I arch an eyebrow but don’t answer. That’s answer enough. Of course she’s scared. And the pigs are her babies. My fingers dig into the plastic. If something happened to them, she’d be devastated.

Dominic pushes off the beam, stepping closer. “You staying with her?”

Heat creeps along my skin as I look away. Fuck. That looks obvious. I catch Dominic’s gaze. “When it makes sense.”

Jake huffs a breath. “That’s not what this is anymore.”

“I’m making sure she’s not alone.” I drop the level on the makeshift table beside me. It goes down with a clank, causing one of the guys close to us to turn and then shift his attention away just as quickly.

“That’s not the same thing as keeping distance.” Dominic’s jaw is tight. “Ruby is one of the best people I know. I’d hate to see anything happen to her.”

“We’re friends. She’s safe with me.” He doesn’t have to say the words for me to catch his drift, and he’s not just talking about a stalker. He’s talking about me fucking with her. The guy who doesn’t do serious because when things get real, people leave.

Jake’s mouth twitches. “Be careful. Ruby is strong and feisty….” His expression shifts as humor gives way to a frown. “But she’s also vulnerable.”

I don’t respond because he’s not wrong.

Dominic watches me. “You sure you’re not getting pulled into something?”

“I’m good.” That couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m already in it, and I don’t know how to get out of it.

“I’ll swing by her place later,” he adds. “Take a look myself. Cameras go down again, let me know.”

“I will.”

Dominic crosses his arms. “And you?”

I glance at him. “What about me?”