"He's right. You should stay put." I inwardly shuddered at the idea of someone going after Dani the way they'd gone after me today. "You keep my nephew safe."

"I will. Be careful, Brynn. And come home as soon as you can."

"I will be exceptionally careful. I'll call you tomorrow." I ended the call and then went upstairs to change my clothes. I put on a pair of black slacks and a silver sweater, thankful I'd tossed something into my suitcase other than jeans. Not that the school concert would be fancy, but I wanted to honor my mother at the vigil.

* * *

At a quarter to six, Kade texted me that he was on the porch and didn't want to scare me by ringing the bell. I smiled to myself, thinking that he was already starting to know me a little too well. I hurried down the stairs to answer the door.

Kade had changed clothes, too, wearing black jeans and a dark-brown leather jacket over a black shirt. His hair was still damp, and he smelled really good, but I wasn't going to think about that. "I'm ready to go," I said.

"Good. You want to go on the bike, or…"

"I'll drive. I just got the wind out of my hair."

"I liked the wind in your hair," he said, his gaze sweeping across my face and down my body. "But this is a good look, too."

"Thanks," I said, feeling suddenly nervous. I'd slept in the man's bed the night before, but this moment felt even more intimate. I grabbed my bag from the table by the door. "We should go."

"Let's do it."

We walked out to my car, and I was happy to have Kade by my side. I felt like there were eyes on me everywhere I went.

The vigil was just getting started when we arrived. There was a sizable crowd, probably over a hundred people. Two local news stations had parked their vans in front of the school, with their spotlights on the gathering.

We walked over to a table where the principal, Joanne Hunt, was handing out candles. She smiled when she saw me.

"Ms. Landry, I'm so glad you came."

"It's much bigger than I thought it would be," I replied.

"The concert usually draws a big crowd, and your mother has been such a big part of it that everyone wanted to come early to participate in the vigil. We'd love for you to say a few words."

"Oh, I don't know," I said, flustered by that idea.

"It would mean so much to the kids to hear from Laura's daughter. Please."

"Uh, all right."