“Has anyone been by the cabin? Other than Courtney and me?”

Every brother frowns, and Abram stands from his chair. “Why?”

I shake my head. “It’s just a thought. Anyone have a flashlight?”

The youngest brother moves from his seat and pulls open a closet, coming up with a heavy-duty flashlight, and I head for the back door.

“Byron, Carver, stay here. Donovan with me.” Abram hands out the orders like the brothers are their own military unit.

I get the sudden sense that Zoey’s oldest brother would get along with mine. Or Roderick might murder him. It’s a fine line when you have two personalities so similar.

The two Gunners follow me out into the yard. Damp ground gives slightly under my feet, and I silently curse the evening rains we’ve been getting. The water washes away helpful scents that might normally have clung.

When we come upon the wreckage of the tree house, I fight the urge to sprint back to the cabin to make sure Zoey is still breathing.

What was once a sturdy structure is now a crumpled mess. What’s left of the frame lays on its side, but mainly, the ground is covered in broken pieces of wood. The little house exploded on impact. And Zoey was trapped inside.

Despite the rain, her scent lingers. But not the enticing sweetness of maple. What I pick up transports me back to that night on the back road, when she thought she was dreaming. I shine the light over the boards, settling on a section with red stains.

Her blood.

I can’t fully stifle the growl crawling out of my throat, but I’m at least able to mute it to something more human-sounding.

“What are you looking for?” the youngest brother, Donovan, asks, coming up beside me, his eyes blank, even as his fists clench.

I suck in a few deep breaths, pulling on my sanity and moving the light in search of a few particular pieces of wood.

“A few weeks back, when Zoey told me she was climbing up in the tree house, I was worried it wasn’t stable.”

“Big fucking help, your worries,” Abram scoffs.

I round on him, the growl coming again. He flinches, but doesn’t back away, scowling at me.

“Seems I need to remind you this happened on your watch.”

He bares his teeth and opens his mouth, but Donovan cuts him off.

“Why are we out here now? You thought it was unstable. It was. End of story.”

“No. Not the end.” I rein in my anger. “Because I was worried, I checked it over. The whole structure. Even climbed up in it and tested it myself. The beams were solid. Nothing should’ve knocked it down without a hell of an effort. Definitely not your sister just stepping in it.”