Bryce set his phone on the desk and stared at the blank screen. Two hours had passed with no word from Alexis. She hadn’t shown up at the station to report the bastard yet, and anxiety had him wound up so tight his muscles ached. His knee bounced incessantly beneath his desk, and he popped a piece of peppermint gum into his mouth, clenching it between his teeth.

He’d called her half an hour ago and gotten her voicemail. She was doing exactly what he’d suggested: getting Macey involved, building the bond with her sister. And he trusted Macey with his life. She could handle whatever that bastard threw at them, but damn it, not knowing where Alexis was made him crazy.

He’d almost told her he loved her several times that morning, and now he was cursing himself for not forcing the words from his lips. She’d had a hard life. Wasn’t used to people caring about her. She didn’t understand how profoundly her actions could affect the people who loved her. If she changed her mind and went after Eric on her own…

Shit. Why hadn’t he told her?

His computer chimed with an e-mail, and he clicked it open—the autopsy report on the female they’d retrieved from the river. He scanned the document and squinted at the body temperature. That couldn’t be right. Bryce rubbed his eyes and looked again. Thirty-eight degrees.

He scrolled down to the examiner’s comments. Evidence of freezing after death.

What the hell? He pulled up the other case. Nothing new since Macey suggested an animal attack. Had she even seen the autopsy? Or was something else going on that she was trying to cover up?

A sour sensation crept from his stomach up the back of his throat. Had Macey gotten involved in something sinister? No way she’d voluntarily participate in something like this, but if she were being forced…and he’d sent Alexis to her for help.

He mashed the button on his phone to dial Macey’s number.

“Bryce? Is everything okay?” Her voice was raspy, and the sound of rustling sheets filled the silence.

His heart sank. “Were you asleep?”

“It’s not even ten a.m. What’s wrong?”

He swallowed the thickness from his throat as icy tendrils of dread wound their way up his spine to grip his neck. “So you haven’t seen Alexis today?”

“No. What happened?”

“Nothing. I’m sorry I woke you.” He pressed end and slammed his phone onto the desk. How could he have been so stupid? Alexis never had any intention of asking her sister for help. She was stubborn and overly confident, and he’d let love blind him to her faults. He should have known.

Assholes like Eric couldn’t be reasoned with. Bryce had been on his fair share of domestic abuse calls, and these guys never quit.

He dialed Alexis’s number. Straight to voicemail. A quick search of the database gave him Eric’s address, and he grabbed his jacket and stormed out of the station.

His mind reeled on the drive to Pearl River. What exactly was he going to do when he got there? He had no warrant. No legal reason for busting in and beating the shit of the dude. Alexis went there of her own free will, so as a cop, his hands were tied.

But as a man…

He yanked his badge from his belt and tossed it on the passenger seat. If he’d have been thinking straight, he’d have stopped by his house to grab his personal firearm, but he didn’t plan on needing to use it. He was simply there to talk. Right.

Pulling into the grass on the side of the road in front of Eric’s house, he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Alexis’s car sat behind a Mustang in the driveway, and Bryce closed his eyes, gritting his teeth until pain shot through his jaw.

He wasn’t breaking any laws. Yet. He’d knock on the door and ask for Alexis. If the bastard wouldn’t let him talk to her, then…he’d cross that bridge when he got to it. Prying his fingers from their death-grip on the wheel, he opened the door and slid out of the car.

Sunlight glinted off his badge lying on the seat, and he slammed the door. If he did cross any bridges today, the emblem wouldn’t shine so brightly as his boss confiscated it. His career would end. He squared his shoulders toward the house and marched to the door. He’d choose Alexis over his job any day.

Ignoring the doorbell, he pounded his fist against the wood. A muffled shout sounded from somewhere inside, and a tiny red light blinked beside the camera on the bell. The sound of something hitting the floor resonated from the other side of the door, and Bryce’s heart rate kicked up.

He clenched his hands into fists, ready to defend himself if the asshole tried to catch him off guard, and he took a step back as the lock disengaged. Alexis’s face appeared by the jamb, and his breath caught in his throat.

She glanced over her shoulder before stepping through the doorway and shutting it. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Like hell I shouldn’t. I told you not to try to talk to him.” He took her hand. “C’mon. We’re going home.”

She pulled from his grasp. “This is my home, Bryce, and you don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“No, Alexis, this isn’t…you don’t have to stay here. We’ll get the restraining order, and if he tries anything else, I’ll throw his ass in jail. I will take care of you.”

“I don’t need you to take care of me.” She crossed her arms and lowered her gaze to the ground. “I don’t want you to.”

“What?” He blew out a breath. “What are trying to say?”

The muscles in her throat worked as she swallowed and lifted her gaze to his. “I’m saying I want to stay here. With Eric.” Her lip curled as she said his name. “This is where I belong, and I’m sorry for leading you on. I…” She cut her gaze to the side before making eye contact again. “I was using you until the heat blew over. He forgives me now, so you should go.”

As she held his gaze a moment longer, a tiny shard of doubt wriggled into his mind before he slammed the door on it. After everything they’d shared last night and this morning, there was no way. “C’mon, darlin’. You don’t mean that.”

“I do.”

She didn’t. The rapid blinking, cutting her gaze to the left, holding eye contact longer than was natural when she did look at him…they were all classic signs of lying. And the way her brow knit as she glanced over her shoulder at the window, she couldn’t hide the fear in her eyes if she tried.

The red light on the doorbell camera blinked, indicating Eric was watching every move she made. Bryce stepped toward her, lowering his voice and resting his hand on her elbow. “Did he threaten you? Is he making you say this?”

“No, Bryce.” Her gaze hardened, and she whispered, “Look, we had sex, okay? It doesn’t mean I want to move in with you. Just…go home and forget about me.”

“That’s enough, babe. Time to come inside.” Eric’s massive frame darkened the doorway.

Alexis’s shoulders tensed.

Bryce clenched his fists. “Please, Alexis. Come home with me. I love you.”

She locked eyes with him, and a thousand emotions played across her features. As she opened her mouth to respond, her lower lip trembled. “I could never love a man like you. Go home, Bryce.”

Eric grabbed her arm, but she yanked from his grasp and stomped inside. He turned to Bryce. “Whatever you thought you had with my girl is over. I don’t want to see your pig face again.”

He didn’t move as Eric slammed the door. Not a word of truth had spilled from Alexis’s lips, but what else could he do? Bust the door down and drag her away? If she wouldn’t listen to him, he’d call in backup.

Turning on his heel, he ground his teeth and strode to his SUV. This was far from over.

Alexis leaned against the kitchen counter, careful to keep her back toward the wall. Eric hadn’t let her out of his sight since she’d knocked on the door, and she needed to stash Bryce’s gun somewhere she could get to it later.

A fissure tore through her chest as pressure built in the back of her eyes. Bryce had said the words, and they’d nearly crumbled her. Fate had bound her heart to his, and hearing him confirm it had her wolf howling with joy.

And then she hurt him.

Lying to Bryce had been the hardest thing she’d ever done, but she’d had to do it to keep him safe. If he thought he didn’t have a chance with her, surely he’d give up long enough for her take care of Eric. Then, with the threat extinguished, she could crawl back to Bryce on her hands and knees and beg for forgiveness.

What else could she do? The man held her heart in his hands, and Eric would tear Bryce’s throat out if he knew.

“Don’t look so sad, babe.” Eric adjusted his crotch and sauntered toward her. “He’s a human.”

She blinked back her tears and nodded. “You’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking running to him. I was stupid.”

“Damn right you were.” He slid a hand up her shoulder, and she recoiled.

Clutching her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he forced her gaze to his. “I think I need to fuck you ‘til you forget him.” He grabbed the back of her neck with his other hand. “What do you say?”

She shrugged out of his hold and paced toward the couch. “I’m on my period.”

Following, he leaned toward her and sniffed the air. “I don’t smell blood on you.”

“I wear tampons, dumbass. Of course you don’t.”

His lip curled in disgust. “Nasty bitch.”

“Wow, Eric.” She hung her backpack over her shoulder. “If you’re trying woo me, you might want to watch your language.”

He shuffled around to block the front door. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“To the bathroom to change my tampon.”

“Hold on.” He jerked the bag from her shoulder and opened it. “What you got in here?” He stuck his hand in the bag and rummaged around.

She rolled her eyes and unzipped a side pocket before yanking out a handful of feminine hygiene products.

He wrinkled his nose and shoved the bag toward her. “Make it fast.”

She shook her head. What kind of alpha male was afraid of a little period blood?

Padding down the hall, she slowed her stride as she passed the room. The stench of bleach assaulted her senses as she peered inside the pristine area. All the musical instruments hung seemingly untouched on the wall, and the tile floor shone like it had been freshly polished.

Her stomach turned. How many people had he killed in that room?

Ducking into the bathroom, she turned the lock on the knob and pulled the gun from her waistband. She shoved it into her backpack and covered it with clothes before opening a tampon and tossing the wrapper in the trash. She flushed the rest of it to hide the evidence—she wasn’t due to start her period for another two weeks—and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

The bruise Eric had given her had thankfully faded right before Bryce arrived. She’d taken the beating like the “dutiful girlfriend” Eric expected her to be, but she was biding her time. All she needed was a little evidence to show the council, and she’d be justified in what she planned to do.

With the gun hidden in the bottom of her backpack, she crept into the living room to find Eric lounging on the couch with a beer in his hand.

He grinned and unzipped his pants. “Come on over here, darlin’.”

Her skin crawled hearing Bryce’s name for her spilling from that meathead’s lips. “Don’t call me that.”

“Since I can’t fuck you for a while, why don’t you come suck me off to show me your appreciation for taking you back.”

The Eggos she’d had for breakfast threatened to make a reappearance as she set her bag against the wall and crossed her arms. “I’m not in the mood.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You will be. You’ll learn to love me again.”

Looking at him now, with a beer in one hand, the other hand in his pants, she couldn’t recall an ounce of positive emotion that she’d ever felt for the man. He had a muscular body, strong jaw, and symmetrical features. All the things a woman was supposed to find attractive in a man. But the hatred and idiocy that spilled from his mouth overshadowed any amount of physical appeal he possessed. “I never loved you, dickhead.”

He laughed. “I like it when you’re feisty.”

A chime sounded from a speaker in the hall half a second before his phone buzzed. The back door opened and slammed shut, and a male called, “I got one, boss. Better make it quick, though. The chloroform is wearing off.”

“All right.” Eric stood and zipped his pants. “Let’s get to work then.”

Bryce parked on the curb in front of Macey’s house and chewed the inside of his cheek. His stomach had tied into a knot on the drive over, and his heart flipflopped between aching for Alexis and burning in rage for the man who was holding her captive. She may not have wanted her sister involved, but she’d left him no choice.

He strode to the front door and pressed the bell. Laughter resonated from inside, and light footsteps sounded on the floor. He let out a breath. At least he hadn’t woken her.

The door opened a crack, and Macey peeked through the slit. “Hey, Bryce. This isn’t the best time.” She wore her police uniform, though the shirt was untucked and the top four buttons hadn’t been fastened.

“It’s important. It’s about Alexis.”

Macey sighed and opened the door. “What did she do this time?”

He tilted his head as he stepped through the threshold. “Why are you wearing your uniform? Did you pick up an extra shift?”

Her husband, Luke, padded in from the hallway, wearing unbuttoned jeans and no shirt, and examining a pair of handcuffs. His light-brown hair hung loose, nearly brushing his shoulders. “You’re sure you’ve got the key for these, babe? I’d hate to have to break them when we’re done.”

Heat crept up Bryce’s neck as he cut his gaze between Macey and Luke. This was a sight he could not unsee.

Macey plastered on a fake smile. “We’ve got company, dear.”

Luke lifted his gaze. “Oh, hey, Bryce.” He glanced at the cuffs in his hand. “This…” He looked at Macey apologetically. “Isn’t what it looks like?”

She laughed. “It’s exactly what it looks like. Come sit and tell me what my sister has gotten herself into.” She buttoned her shirt and led the way to the living room.

“I’ll leave you two to it. Good to see you, Bryce.” Luke nodded and shuffled down the hall.

Bryce followed her and sank onto the sofa, trying to ignore the images of the scene he’d interrupted that his brain kept projecting behind his eyes. She wasn’t kidding when she’d said this wasn’t the best time, but what he had to say was too important to wait. “Alexis went to her abusive ex-boyfriend’s house, and he’s holding her there against her will.”

Macey lifted an eyebrow. “Abusive? How do you know?”

He hesitated. Breaking the trust of the woman he loved wasn’t the best way to start out a relationship, but damn it, she needed help. “Hear me out.” He told her about finding Alexis in the hospital and how she had been staying with him on and off for the past week. “He’s been stalking us. He left a stack of photos on the doorstep this morning. Alexis told me she was coming to you for help, but she went to him instead. She lied to me.”

She folded her hands in her lap, and her eye twitched as if she fought to keep her expression neutral. “Wow. You must really like her. It’s not like you to miss a lie.”

He scrubbed a hand down his face. Did she even care that her sister was with an abuser? “Mace, I’m in love with her.”

“Oh, Bryce.” She shook her head, sympathy softening her eyes. “I warned you not to do this. She’s not the settling down type.”

His chest tightened. “She is. She was. We talked about it last night. She said she was starting work with Luke on Wednesday and that his sister offered her a room in her apartment. She was making plans to stick around until her jackass ex left that package on my doorstep.” He shifted toward her. “Her first instinct was to go talk to the dude. Try to get him to stop. But I convinced her not to.”

He stared at his hands in his lap. He thought he’d convinced her not to.

Macey put her hand on his. “What do you want me to do?”

“Talk to her. See if you can get the truth out of her. Get her to let you file a report.” He raked a hand through his hair. “He’s hurt her, Mace, and when I tried to get her to leave with me, she refused. If she won’t press charges, I don’t…” He could go back, beat the shit out of the guy, and drag Alexis away. But then he wouldn’t be any better than Eric. He huffed. “I don’t know what else to do.”

“Do you know his name?”

“Eric Anderson. Dude’s got a record but no outstanding warrants.”

“Anderson?” Luke’s brow puckered as he sauntered into the room. “Is he from Biloxi?”

Bryce’s heart rate kicked up. If he couldn’t convince Macey to do something, maybe he could appeal to Luke’s protective nature. “Yeah. You know him?”

“I know his old man.” Luke exchanged an unreadable look with Macey and strolled into the kitchen.

Macey sighed. “Let it go, Bryce. If she wants to be with Eric, there’s nothing you can do about it.”

He clenched his fists. “He’s an abuser.”

“But she won’t press charges, and she refused to leave.”

“No, I couldn’t get her to, but I—”

“She can take care of herself.” Her voice turned firm. “You need to let her go.” She stood and shuffled to the front door, casting a glance toward the kitchen as he followed her. She whispered, “Seriously, Bryce, don’t get involved.”

“I already am.” He’d been involved since the second he stepped into her hospital room, and he wouldn’t give up now when she needed him the most.

Opening the door, she stepped onto the porch and motioned for him to follow. “You’re not. Her business doesn’t concern you, so please stay out of it.”

“The hell it doesn’t. Mace, what’s going on? You’ve changed.”

She flinched as if he’d slapped her. “What do you mean? Nothing’s changed.”

“You have. You’re missing evidence, blowing off cases, looking for the easy answers rather than digging for the facts.”

She crossed her arms. “We’re not partners anymore. You don’t know how I handle cases.”

He stiffened. “That body they pulled out of the river had an internal temperature seven degrees lower than the water they found it in, yet you’re calling it animal attack.”

She cut her gaze into the house. “Bryce…”

“It’s not since I got promoted. Ever since you met Luke, you’ve been different. You’re hanging out with all these people with magical powers. Psychics and witches that I wouldn’t have even believed existed if I hadn’t seen them work their tricks with my own eyes. Are you in some kind of cult? Is that why Alexis doesn’t stick around? Because of what you’re involved in?”

She dropped her arms to her sides and tilted her head. “You know me better than that.”

“Do I?” He wasn’t sure about anything anymore.

“I’m not in a cult.” She narrowed her eyes. “I’m married to the man of my dreams who happens to have some friends with abilities similar to mine. I finally belong somewhere, and you’re accusing me of nefarious acts?”

He opened his mouth, but the words got stuck in his throat. What the hell was he doing? Arguing with Macey wouldn’t help Alexis, and priority number one was getting her out of that abuser’s house. “I’m sorry, Mace…”

“Go home, Bryce, and leave Alexis alone. She’s not worth it.” She marched inside and slammed the door, leaving him alone on the porch.

He’d always held Macey in high regard, but if she didn’t give a damn about her own flesh and blood…maybe he didn’t know her as well as he’d thought he did.