Page 45 of Devil’s Snare

She gave me an odd look. Was it too personal?

“I like the outdoors and to go camping and hiking. Swimming. There’s something about being out in nature.”

It made me think of my walks with Cin and the rides on his bike. “I know what you mean.”

We shared a nice conversation, but I noticed she stayed away from anything personal. No details about family, pets, work, friends, possible children, etc. Mostly, she talked about the fall and leaves changing, wanting to take photography classes, and the cooler weather.

I didn’t hold it against her. She would probably open up a lot more once she knew me better. Right now, I was a stranger.

I wondered what trauma made her hide herself from the world. It made me sad. She was beautiful and seemed kind. Softspoken. Reserved.

“So, what about you? Plans for this weekend?”

I shrugged. “Not sure yet. I think I want to take some shots of the changing foliage and maybe a walk through the woods.”

“My idea of a perfect Saturday.”

“Right?”

I looked down at my purse as my phone began vibrating. The screen showed an unknown number, and I declined it, since it was probably a spam call. It vibrated again. I ignored it.

When I looked up, I noticed Penny staring out of the window behind me. She wasn’t moving, clenching her hands in her lap. “Penny?”

“Just breathe,” she whispered to herself.

I didn’t understand her reaction until I saw Det. Castor and the NCIS agent step inside the coffee shop. They didn’t walk toward the register. Instead, they seemed to be looking for someone.

Me.

I sighed as they approached our table. “Hello.”

“Ms. Carmichael,” Det. Castor greeted me.

Nate Barnes sat to my right. “We have some information you might like to hear.”

“In public?”

Det. Castor shook his head. “No. Could you come downtown?”

Right now? “I’m in the middle of my latte and visiting with a friend. Can it wait?”

“Afraid not,” Det. Castor apologized. “It’s urgent.”

Well, shit.

Penny awkwardly stood, nearly knocking over her chair. She clenched her cup so hard I thought it might burst in her hand and scald her. “I’ll talk to you later, Gwen.”

She rushed out the door. I didn’t blame her for wanting to escape. I felt like running away too.

“Come on,” Nate Barnes urged as he stood.

I almost got up when the bell above the door dinged, and all of us turned to see who stepped inside the coffee shop next. My heart wanted it to be Cin. Or Ethan.

It wasn’t my brother or the other man who had become so prevalent in my life. The big guy who stood there, imposing, filling the doorway with his broad shoulders, turned his menacing stare in our direction. He wore a cut like Cin’s—a member of the Grave Prowlers MC.

As he approached us, I saw both men beside me stiffen.

When the biker got close enough to the table, I read his patches. President. Gravedigger.