I slid my phone into my pocket and palmed my keys. “You know I have far more ammunition on you.”
She looked to Everly for help. “He’s right, dammit.”
Ev pressed her lips into a firm line to keep from laughing. “Better wave the white flag now.”
“Listen to her, little sister.” I moved through the space and acted on instinct, dropping a kiss to the top of Everly’s head. “Call if you start feeling worse. Your pain meds are on the counter.”
Her eyes widened a fraction. “O-okay. Thanks.”
I nodded and ignored the mischievous grin on Hadley’s face, heading for the door. As I drove to the station, I swore I could still feel the silk of Everly’s hair and smell the hint of jasmine that always seemed to float around her. I was screwed. And not in a good way.
As I passed the hardware store, a familiar truck caught my eye, and I hung a quick right. I parked a few spaces down from the older vehicle, turned off my engine, and stayed seated, waiting. It didn’t take long for him to appear. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that Ian was alone. Maybe without Allen whispering in his ear, I’d finally get the truth.
I slid out of my SUV and started towards him. Ian caught sight of me in seconds and scowled. “I’m starting to think you’re stalking me.”
“Was just driving by and saw your truck. It saves me from having to drive out to the ranch later this morning.”
He balanced a bag in one arm. “What now?”
“Where were you between nine and ten last night?”
Ian stiffened. “You’ve got no right to ask me that. I don’t buy into your authority. I don’t answer to—”
I held up a hand. “Save me the spiel. I’ve heard it all before. Just tell me where you were, and I’ll leave you alone.”
“No.”
“I’ll take that to mean you don’t have an alibi.”
“It means I don’t tell pigs shit.”
I dialed in to everything about Ian at that moment. His fingers wrapped tightly around his keys. The set of his jaw. Anything that might give me any sort of clue when I relayed the next bit of information. “Someone attempted to abduct your sister last night.”
His eyes shifted to the right, his hold on the keys tightening. “What are you talking about?”
“Someone tried to grab her outside the vet’s office a little after nine.”
A muscle in Ian’s jaw ticked. “That’s what happens when women go out on their own, unprotected. Maybe a little scare will finally show Everly her place.”
“You think it’s your job to give her that scare?”
Ian’s eyes narrowed on me. “I do whatever I want, whenever I want. I only report to God and my family.”
“Somehow, I don’t think God would be too pleased with some of the things you’ve done, Ian.”
He set his bag on the hood of his truck. “What did Evie tell you? Whatever it was, she lies. Invents all sorts of stories.”
There was a slight edge of panic to his tone. That simple fact had ice sliding through my veins. “Everly hasn’t told me anything. But why don’t you share what would have you running scared, all of a sudden?”
“I’m not scared of anything. Not her. Not you. No one. Fuck off, pig.” He grabbed his bag and jumped into his truck, the tires squealing as he pulled away.
Everly had something on Ian. And the fact that she was back scared him. I just needed her to trust me enough to tell me what it was.
26
Everly
“I’m not going to lie. I’m relieved to have you back, and not just because it means you’re feeling better.”