by Crissy Smith
Annabelle laughed. “Fine, but whatever will we talk about on the hike back down?”
“You could tell me how you know the ranger. I want to look into this guy further.”
“There’s nothing to tell.” Annabelle glanced behind her. “Really, I’ve only seen him around.”
“Fine.” Melissa would get to the bottom of whatever was going on. Shit, Brookside has more secrets than the LAPD. Hopefully, those secrets were protecting everyone and not doing harm. “I really did like it here.”
Annabelle smiled. “Maybe we can come again.”
“I’d like to,” she agreed. Melissa glanced at in the direction the ranger had gone. She heard an ATV. So that’s how the ranger got up there. But why didn’t I hear him walking up? Why didn’t Annabelle?
She needed to do her research and talk to Magnus.
It was time to get Annabelle back into the safety of the bar. Melissa knew she was taking a chance of running into Trent, but she couldn’t let Annabelle walk around unprotected either.
Trent stepped out of The Den and let the front door slam behind him. He’d spotted Annabelle and Melissa on the camera, talking in the parking lot, and decided to see if they were okay.
He didn’t know why they were hanging out or how he felt about it. Annabelle was like a little sister to him, but he had a past with Melissa. He’d told Annabelle he didn’t want her to hate Melissa, but he kind of did. He wanted Annabelle on his side.
Which was childish and stupid. He was a grown-ass man. Instead of accepting how things were, Trent wanted to throw a fit. He also wanted to have her say she was sorry again, but this time open his arms and accept her apology.
Melissa wasn’t going to go away. Having her in front of the bar talking to Annabelle was proof of that. He needed to deal with this shit, now.
“So, you’ll let me know what you find out?” Annabelle was asking.
“Uh…”
“Oh, come on!” Annabelle said. “I’m dating a Coalition agent.”
“Then maybe I should tell your boyfriend.”
Annabelle laughed. “Go ahead.” They turned as Trent walked over. “Hey, Trent.”
“Hi.” He glanced between the two women. Something was going on.
Melissa was already stepping backward. “I’ll see you later, Annabelle.”
“No! Come in for a drink. It’s the least I can do for you insisting on walking me home.”
“I got some work to do,” Melissa stated. “But I’ll see you later.”
“Next Sunday, right?”
“Yeah.” Melissa turned. “Bye.”
“Melissa, wait,” Trent called.
“I’ll go get ready to open,” Annabelle said. She waved her hand, but she was grinning at him. Trent rolled his eyes. Really? Did she think he was going to sweep Melissa off her feet and get over the past? Probably. Annabelle had turned into a bit of a romantic since she’d started dating Logan.
Melissa turned back around but remained several feet from him.
“What are you looking into?” he asked.
“What?”
“I heard Annabelle ask you if you’d let her know what you find,” Trent said. “What are you looking into?”
“I… This is business of the sheriff’s department,” Melissa said.
He stalked forward. “I’m not going to ask you again.”
She straightened her shoulders and glared. “I don’t work for you, Trent. I don’t answer to you. This is an investigation.”
“If this has to do with Annabelle, it concerns me,” Trent said. Damn, he didn’t mean to sound like an asshole, but he didn’t know how to handle all the feelings inside him.
Melissa laughed. “You’ll have to stand in line to protect her.”
“I know. But no one else is out here right now.”
She turned. Like she was going to walk away from him. Or he was pushing her away. Which of course was what he was doing. By making her angry, she wouldn’t look at him with that sad, lost expression. “I only wanted to make sure Annabelle got back safely.”
“Why do you care?” he asked quietly.
“Because.” She whirled around. “Annabelle was nice. Is nice.”
“She is,” Trent agreed. He had to take a few deep breaths. It was smarter to get Melissa on his side. He’d have to remain strong. “Will you just tell me if she’s in danger? I don’t like how she keeps getting targeted by the hunters.”
She bit her bottom lip while peering around. Trent knew that move.
“There is something,” Trent pressed.
“Do you know a park ranger by the name of Garth Stevenson?”
“No. Should I?”
“I don’t know.”
“Tell me what is going on,” Trent said. “Magnus was here earlier updating us on the current investigation. He mentioned that he didn’t trust the rangers. I’m guessing he’s one of them?”
“Magnus told you? Why?”
“Because whatever is going on is happening in our backyard. Literally. And, like I said, Annabelle seems to be around during the attacks.”
“So, the sheriff thinks you guys are targets?” she asked.
“Maybe. It’s well-known that this town is full of shifters. Our place is the closest to the forest. We actually own several acres.”
“Okay, I get it.”
“So, you can tell me what’s going on and I can help, or I can give Magnus a call,” Trent said.
“You’re threatening to call my boss? That’s a low blow.”
“I’m not sorry,” Trent told her.
“I didn’t expect you to be.” She laughed. “God, you’re still an asshole.”
“I am. So tell me.”
She blew out a breath.
“I’ll buy you a beer,” Trent offered.
“Oh, really?” Melissa responded. “I thought I was supposed to stay away from you.”
“I’m asking you, not the other way around.” Although she was right. He was breaking his own rules. “Come on.”
“Fine, but if I get into trouble—”
“You won’t.” Trent motioned toward the bar. “After you.”
She sauntered forward. Trent wasn’t even a little ashamed as he watched her ass as she walked. Damn, the hiking shorts are tight.
“I know you’re checking me out,” she said without looking back.
He chuckled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Melissa yanked open the door. Trent caught it behind her before it could slam shut. The music was already playing. He followed behind, but when she paused in the doorway, he placed his hand on her lower back. It was a familiar gesture.
“In the corner,” he said. “That’s where we always sit.” Trent guided her to the table.
“You stayed!” Annabelle called. She sounded happy. Annabelle didn’t connect with other people, usually. Even though the residents of Brookside loved her, Annabelle kept herself separate. It was just hard for her to trust. But she needed more friends. However, Trent’s doubts on trusting Melissa pulled him in opposite directions.
“Two beers,” Trent called.
“You got it,” Annabelle replied.
“Here, sit.” He pulled out a chair before sitting next to her. Trent waited until Annabelle had dropped off two cold bottles to the table before leaning in to Melissa. “Talk.”
“I used to enjoy your dominant side,” she said. “Not so much anymore.”
“I’m waiting,” he said.
“I went on a hike into the state park today.”
“Okay,” he said.
“I didn’t realize I was being followed.”
Trent frowned. A park ranger followed her? That was crossing a line. He’d made sure she was safe the previous night, but it seemed to him Melissa needed a fucking keeper.
“Annabelle saw me leave my house and decided to see what I was up to.”
“Wait!” Trent lifted a hand. “Annabelle followed you?”
She held up her b
eer. “She did.”
Trent laughed. Well, he shouldn’t be surprised. He never should have doubted where Annabelle’s loyalties lay. If Annabelle thought Melissa had wronged him, then she would do whatever she could to ensure Trent wasn’t hurt again.
“I’m glad you think it’s funny.” She glared.
“It kind of is. She doesn’t mean any harm,” he said.
“I know she doesn’t.” Melissa took a long pull of her beer.
“She gets a little—”
“Nosy,” Melissa stated. “She’s nosy.”
“Yeah,” he agreed.
“But it turned out to be hard not to like her,” Melissa said.
“I know. Trust me, I know.”
“So, anyway, I ended up at one of Annabelle’s favorite spots and we were talking when we ran into one of the rangers.”
“Garth Stevenson?”
“Yes,” she replied. “It was weird him showing up where we were. He even mentioned the site wasn’t on all of the maps.”
“You were at the creek,” he guessed.
Melissa nodded. “While he was there, Annabelle was very tense. She said she didn’t like him.”
“I didn’t think she knew any of the rangers.”
“She told me she’d seen him around,” Melissa said. “I got a really bad feeling about him. He creeped me out.”
“What else?”
“I’m pretty sure he threatened us,” Melissa whispered. She lifted the bottle to take a long pull.
“He threatened you?” He fisted his hand under the table.
“Told us to be careful. That the trails were dangerous.”
“Could have just been a friendly warning.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“So, what’re you going to do?” he asked.
“I’m going to do my job,” she said. “In a day, I’ll know everything there is to know about him.”
“I can help,” he offered. With Mac running an underground network to help relocate shifters who needed a safe place, they had one of the best hackers in the world. Carter could get into any database.
“How?” Suspicion coated her tone.
“I might not be a cop anymore, but I have connections.”
“I work for one of your connections,” she reminded him.
Trent grinned.
“You want me to share, but you’re not going to give me anything?” she scoffed. “How’s that fair?”
“Because it’s not my story to share,” Trent said.
“This has to do with the bar?”
“What do you know about it?” he asked. There was no way Annabelle would tell anyone anything about what went on downstairs from the bar.
“Nothing,” she said. “It’s all real hush-hush.”
He leaned back.
“Thank you for the offer,” she told him. “I can handle it.”
“Fine.” He drained the rest of the beer.
“At least keep an eye on Annabelle when she’s here. I’ll let Logan know as well.”
“We will.”
Melissa stood. “Thanks for the beer, Trent.”
“Oh, come on,” he drawled. “Don’t be mad.”
She planted her palms on the table right in front of him. “I didn’t think you’d tell me anything. I was hoping, but I knew you wouldn’t. The only reason I told you is because I figure Magnus would, anyway. And I want you to keep an eye on Annabelle.”
He leaned forward. “Then why’re you mad?”
“I’m not mad,” she said. “Just disappointed.” Melissa walked away.
This time, he didn’t watch her go. His instincts were screaming at him to follow her and not let her out of his sight.
“You still like her,” Annabelle said, dropping into the chair Melissa had vacated.
Trent groaned.
“I can tell.”
“It’s in the past,” he responded. He was not having that conversation.
“Are you sure? The way she looks at you tells me she isn’t over you any more than you are her.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What’d you tell her?”
“You mean, did I tell her about all the women you pick up here?”
Trent set his bottle down, hard. “You didn’t.”
“What, you want me to lie to my new friend?”
“Annabelle.”
“Oh, look, Logan’s here!” She jumped up.
Trent tried to grab her, but she wiggled away and raced across the floor.
“Save me!” She threw herself at Logan. “Trent’s going to get me.”
Logan laughed then picked her up. He started to carry her back to Trent.
“What’re you doing?” she cried. “He threatened to spank me.”
Trent nearly spat out the drink he’d just taken.
Logan stumbled. “What?”
“I did not,” Trent defended. “But I think you should.”
“She’d like it too much,” Logan complained. He sat next to Logan with Annabelle in his lap. “What’d she do?”
“I can’t tell if she’s screwing with me or not,” Trent confessed.
“About?” Logan asked.
“I’m not screwing with you,” Annabelle said.
“And what did you tell her?” Trent pressed.
“Nothing,” Annabelle said. “By some unspoken rule neither one of us brought your name up.”
Trent ignored the disappointed crawling up his spine.
“You haven’t seen anyone serious since you’ve got here,” Annabelle told him. “Why is that, exactly? You know, in case my new friend asks.”
“Maybe you should stay out of it,” Logan advised.
Annabelle snorted. “Yeah right.” She glared at Trent. “Like Trent stays out of my business.”
Trent tipped his beer. “Logan’s still standing, isn’t he?”
Logan frowned. “How’d I get drawn into this?”
“Because you love me,” Annabelle replied.
“I’d love you more if you got me a beer,” Logan said.
“Fine.” Annabelle stood.
“I do love her, but she drives me crazy,” Logan whispered.
Trent chuckled. “I know what you mean.”
More patrons came in, so Annabelle became busy. On her way past to another table, she dropped off Logan’s beer and a second for Trent.
“Any progress from the hunter arrested last night?” Trent asked.
“Claims he was all alone, although Magnus and Mac smelled a second guy.”
“So, he’s already lying,” Trent stated. “Anything else?”
“Not yet,” Logan said. “I’m letting him sweat it out in lock up. Dude’s got a clean record, not even a speeding ticket. I told him he’d be going into Coalition custody and he freaked. I think I can use that.”
“I hope so.”
“I will,” Logan said. “I’m getting tired of this fucking game. Annabelle keeps getting caught in the middle and eventually her luck will run out.”
“Have you talked her into staying away from the forest?”
Logan snorted. “I tried. Mac tried. Magnus even tried.”
Trent wasn’t surprised Annabelle refused to listen. She was too set on not giving up her freedoms. Shifting and climbing her trees was the one thing Annabelle had to do every single day. Unlike the rest of them, Annabelle had a need to shift.
“I couldn’t even keep her from hiking today.”
That reminded Trent of what Melissa had said earlier. “Have you spoken to Melissa?”
“Melissa? No, why?”
“The girls ran into a ranger today. From talking to Melissa, she seemed disturbed.”
“You talked to Melissa?” Logan questioned. “After telling her to stay away from you?”
“I heard Annabelle and her talking. I was curious.”
“Who’s the ranger?” Logan asked.
“Garth Stevenson,” Trent said.
“I’ve met him a few times.”
“In tow
n?” Trent leaned closer.
Logan frowned. “At the station. We’ve had all the employees of the state park here to interview them. Magnus thinks at least one of them is involved.”
“I know. Magnus told us earlier. But what I’m asking is if you’ve seen him in town? Other than the station.”
“No.”
“You need to get Annabelle to talk to you about today. Melissa told me Annabelle was really bothered. I think she knows more than she’s telling us,” Trent said.
“Annabelle wouldn’t hold anything back from us,” Logan stated.
“I know. But I think it might not be something she’s even aware of. She’s not a cop. She doesn’t think like us. If anyone can walk her through her feelings, it’ll be you, though.”
“I can try,” Logan responded.
“Good.”
“What’re you going to do?” Logan asked.
“I’m going to have Carter look into him.”
“You know we’re doing that at our office, right?”
Trent grinned. “But we have Carter.”
“I know you do,” Logan said. “Go ahead. Let me know what you find out, please. It’s still our investigation.”
“I’m trying to help.”
“I bet.” Logan nodded toward Annabelle. “We give your group a lot of room to maneuver because of the good you do here. But that’s only going to go so far when we’re dealing with an actual case which will have to go to court. I have superiors, you know.”
“I’m not going to mess up anything for you,” Trent told him.
“Keep me informed.”
Trent rose. “I’ll talk to you later.” He patted Logan on the shoulder as he walked behind him. “I’m going to see Carter now.”
“Later,” Logan called.
Trent strolled out of the main bar into the private hallway. He kept walking until he got to the end of the hall. With a glance over his shoulder, he confirmed he was alone before he pressed his hand to the reader. They took precautions to ensure no one unauthorized could get downstairs.
The custom addition was rarely seen by anyone outside their own group. Logan hadn’t even been down there.
The click of the hidden door opening echoed in the narrow hall.
Trent pushed the entry the rest of the way open before stepping through. He then pushed the door closed behind him.
“Hey, Trent.”
