Storm (Linear Tactical #10) - Janie Crouch Page 0,33

report and insurance, but she was barely listening. She immediately began making a pot of coffee, mostly to give her hands something to do. To stop them from shaking.

“The fire inspector thinks the blaze was deliberate.” Tanner nodded in thanks as she handed him a cup when it was ready. He opened his mouth to say something, then shut it again. He looked like he was in pain.

“Just tell me,” she whispered. “It’s Jared, right? He made bail?”

“Yes.” Tanner’s voice was just as low. “Three days ago.”

Sick terror slammed into her like a sledgehammer. She thought she might actually vomit. The urge to go grab the kids, pack them into the car, and run as fast and as far as she could was almost more than she could quell.

It took every bit of focus to merely keep breathing.

“Three days ago?” she finally choked out. “I thought the Denver Police were going to tell me immediately if he made bail?”

Her heart was racing so fast she thought it might bruise itself against her ribs. What was she going to do?

Jared was out.

“I know.” Tanner’s handsome face, so much like Noah’s, was full of remorse. “They should’ve told you right away. It was some sort of communication breakdown, but it was wrong and I’m very sorry.”

A communication breakdown?

She struggled not to laugh hysterically. The air seemed to be getting thinner and thinner in the room.

“But there is a little bit of good news,” Tanner continued. “Jared is on an ankle tracker. I’ve got the Denver County bonding office sending me the log for everywhere Jared has been since the moment he got out. I’ve also got one of my men looking into seeing if we can get direct access to the live data so we know where he is at all times.”

Marilyn gripped the counter until her knuckles turned white. Would that be enough to stop Jared?

Breathe. Focus. Stay in control.

Easier said than done.

“I thought you said Jared wouldn’t get out on bail given what he did,” Bree said softly to Tanner.

Tanner grimaced. “Yeah, I’ll be honest, I was shocked to hear it. Evidently he got himself one of the most expensive and well-connected lawyers in the state.”

“Jared has a lot of powerful friends. His fraternity brothers.” She hated those bastards almost as much as she hated Jared.

“Is Oscar Stobbart one of those?” Tanner asked.

“Yes.” She could barely force the word out. How many times had Oscar stood, silently approving, when Jared had corrected her for something in front of him? Egging him on, making it worse. Enabling and encouraging Jared in his cruelty.

And he had watched. He had stood by Jared and watched as—

She could feel the past sucking her under. Fear threatened to swallow her whole. She couldn’t let that happen now. She had to figure out what to do.

Jared was out—ankle tracker or not—and was with the people who haunted her nightmares. She tightened her grip on the countertop trying, and failing, to tamp down the panic bubbling up inside of her.

And then, through the glass of the kitchen door window she saw Noah, his steady green eyes on hers.

He knew. Tanner must’ve called.

Noah gave her a nod that communicated so much. It told her he was here. Ready.

Noah.

Her mind latched on to him like a lifeline and his presence kept the fear from eating her alive.

He didn’t move through the door, just kept their gazes centered on each other, breathing. His steady breaths helped regulate hers for a few moments. Then he tapped on the door.

Tanner saw him and walked over to open it. “I asked Noah to come by just for added security until we have a true grip on what’s going on. Is that okay?”

She nodded, not breaking eye contact with Noah. “I’ll feel better if he’s here.”

He moved closer but didn’t touch her. He was always so careful not to touch her if he wasn’t sure she really wanted it.

“You can do this,” he whispered so low only she could hear.

“Doesn’t look like I have any choice.” She rubbed a hand across her eyes, then raised her volume so Bree and Tanner could hear. “I should probably leave. Take the kids and get farther away.”

“No,” Noah said. “He’s not going to get to you.”

He said it with such complete assurance it was almost impossible not to believe him. Impossible not to recognize the warrior lying under the thinnest veneer of civilization.

She eased herself closer to him. Having Noah here was already helping. Then a thought