I cleared my throat. “Willow has told you as much as she can. Why don’t we call an end to the interview?”

Chapter Seventeen

Willow

“I think that’s a good idea.” My voice shook with emotion. I needed to end this conversation and try to get in touch with Tom. Perhaps he’d drawn me into his bullshit, but he deserved a heads-up that someone was coming after him—if he didn’t already know.

I stood and paced to the window, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. I found his number and called it. No answer, same as this morning.

“Call me back as soon as you get this,” I said. “You’re in danger.” Then I hung up, silently cursing the position my self-centered brother had put me in. “Please find him,” I said, turning to Detective Lee, who’d remained seated. “He’s not an angel, but he doesn’t deserve to die.”

She nodded briskly. “We’ll try, but we don’t have a lot to go on.”

I pressed my lips together. “I’m sorry I wasn’t more help.”

“We’ll work with what we’ve got. If you think of anything else, let me know.” She slid a business card onto the table. “Until we get new information, you’re our priority. We’ll send crime scene techs to your apartment to collect evidence—provided there’s still something to find.” She paused. “You should have called us last night.”

“I know.” Then something occurred to me, and I gasped. “Oh my God. Sage!”

Her forehead wrinkled. “Excuse me?”

“My roommate,” I explained. “She was there last night. Is it possible they’d have gone after her?”

The detective considered this. “Given your theory that Tom owes them money, it’s unlikely, but not impossible.”

“I’ll get her,” a gruff male voice barked. Kade. He stood. “Where will she be?”

I rattled off the address, then impulsively hurried over and hugged him. He stiffened against me, and I backed away, feeling awkward. “Thank you. Sage is very important to me.”

Kade nodded. “We’ll keep her safe. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He started toward the exit.

“Kade,” Ronan called after him.

He turned. “Yeah?”

“Let us know when you have her.”

“I will.” He lifted a hand as he left.

I sent Sage a quick message, letting her know that someone would be coming to get her and that I’d explain everything when she arrived.

Detective Lee’s phone rang, and she stepped outside the office to answer it.

“Are you okay?” Ronan asked as he came to my side and touched my shoulder. A jolt ran through me at the contact, and I resisted the urge to lean into his body and let him support me. I was the furthest thing from okay, but I’d been raised by Frank Lennox, and I wouldn’t wilt under pressure.

I lifted my chin. “I’m managing, but I’ll be better once I know Sage is protected.”

“Good.” He moved away and went to his desk, where he and Zeke spoke in hushed voices.