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I don’t agree. It’s been nearly ten years since Cove has seen us, really seen us.

And even then, she didn’t recognize us.

Not that I blame her, we’ve all changed a lot over the years. We’re not the same teenage boys we were back then.

Cove sure as hell isn’t the mousy young girl with a shy smile, hopeful eyes, and a laugh that could turn you into liquid gold.

Her past made her grow into someone who looks over her shoulder, never trusting anyone but her best friend, and never relying on anyone but herself.

I blame myself. We should have checked on her sooner to see how life was treating her.

But our own lives became consumed by the family business. Hell, most of those years we were overseas living with our granddad. It wasn't until we came back to Stonehead Creek that we realized she was in a relationship with a waste of space who had been beating her behind closed doors.

I should have had someone watching her while we were gone. If I did, maybe things would have turned out differently.

It’s a regret I’m forced to live with.

We have it covered now, and when the time is right, we’ll get revenge for our girl. Give her the closure she needs to move on, while also giving us the chance to prove to her, show her we’re the ones she’s meant to be with. The ones who can keep her safe.

I leave my brothers to deal with the body and make my way into the forest. I know these woods better than most, so it doesn’t take long for me to reach Cove’s place.

When I step into her backyard, I frown.

Something isn’t right. Cove isn’t here. I can feel it. There’s no electric pull like there is every time I’m around her.

Walking up the porch steps, I try the door handle. It’s unlocked. Huh, maybe she is home after all.

Pushing it open, I pause, listening for any sign of life.

The only thing that greets me is the loud meow from the little ball of black fur.

Grinning, I bend down and pick up the black fuzzy cat.

“Hi, princess,” I coo, chuckling as she rubs her head against my beard. “Where's your mommy?”

Worry creeps in. I don’t care if Cove sees me, I need to see with my own two eyes that she’s safe.

Room by room I check for her, but she’s not here.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I check the tracking app. I installed the same one on her phone under a ghost app.

My brow furrows when I see the little blue dot pinpointing to her location. Huh. It says she’s still in the woods.

Fuck. She must have gotten lost.

“Gotta go, pretty girl.” I give the cat a kiss on the head before placing her down on the ground. “I need to go bring your mommy home.”

I’m out of the house and rushing back into the woods in seconds.

It only takes me fifteen minutes to find the location. “What the fuck,” I mutter, looking around when the app says I’m here, where she should be.

But she’s not. All that surrounds me are trees. She’s. Not. Here.

I press the alert button that is supposed to send out a beeping sound to help locate her phone.

The beeping is faint, but it’s nearby. I follow the sound right to the phone, lying on the ground.

“Fuck!” I curse, bending down to snatch the phone off the damp grass. “Cove, where the hell are you?”