“Live the adventure,” Cyn encouraged her, picking up her bag to leave. “If you don’t answer, you’ll never know if you’re missing out on something good.” With that, Cyn headed for the door, waving goodbye over her shoulder.
Shelby answered the call. “Hello?”
“Thank God. Finally.” Relief and something desperate filled his voice.
“Max?”
“Yeah. You need to get over here. Chase... Something’s wrong. He lost his shit, and now he’s hunkered down in one of the sheds, acting like there’s an imminent attack coming or something.”
Her heart nearly pounded right out of her chest. “Where is Eliza?” Panic sent a bolt of adrenaline through her.
“She’s with me. I was able to get her out. She’s fine.”
She breathed a huge sigh of relief. “Okay. Good. What’s he doing?”
“Shouting orders. Hiding... I don’t fucking know.” Max sounded frantic to help but also helpless.
“Stop swearing around Eliza and put me on speaker so Chase can hear me.”
She ran into the office and grabbed her purse, digging out her keys as she walked back out into the main part of the building. Thank God, her last appointment canceled and she could leave early.
“Chase, man, Shelby’s on the phone.”
“Get down! They’re coming! They’re all around us.” Panic made Chase sound desperate.
“There’s no one here. You’re safe. We are all safe,” Max tried to reassure his brother.
“Chase, baby, it’s me. Shelby. Please, honey, you need to calm down and listen to Max. You’re safe. You are at the ranch. Eliza is there with you. She needs you, Chase. I need you.”
“Where are you?” Hesitation, longing, and an unspoken plea filled that question.
“I’m on my way to you right now. I will be there soon. Do you see where you are now?”
The quiet unnerved her.
“Chase, baby, you need to talk to me. You need to tell me what you need.”
“You.”
She barely heard the whisper, and his plea broke her heart.
“I’m coming to you right now.” She put action to words and rushed out of the building.
“I’m sorry,” Chase said, his voice a bit stronger.
“It’s okay,” Max assured him. “If I hadn’t dropped the tool and set you off . . .”
So that’s what happened. Something triggered a flashback, and Chase got lost in the past.
“Come out of there, man.” Max spoke softly without any judgment. “Let me help you get past this barricade you built.”
“Just give me a minute.” Chase’s breathing was loud and labored.
Max must have gone into the shed to get Chase.
It broke her heart to hear the weariness in Chase’s voice.
“Chase, are you okay now?” The long pause made her hold her breath.