Page 6 of His Relentless Mate

For a moment, the tension between them seemed to melt away, replaced by something softer, something that reminded her of the connection they had once shared. But then Trace nodded, his professional demeanor slipping back into place. “We’ll get through this,” he said, his voice steady. “And we’ll find out who’s behind that message.”

Annika nodded, though the unease in her chest remained. She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust that they could handle whatever was coming. But the shadows of the past were closing in around them, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.

As she left Trace’s office, Annika couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder, half-expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows. The station was quiet; the hum of activity from earlier in the day had died down as the evening shift took over. But the sense of being watched, of being hunted, wouldn’t leave her.

Annika shook off the feeling as she headed back to the records room, determined to stay focused on the case. She wouldn’t let fear control her. She had faced worse threats in her career, and she had always come out on top. This would be no different.

But as she settled back into her chair, trying to concentrate on the files in front of her, her mind kept drifting back to the message on her phone and to the man who had once been her whole world. The investigation was heating up, and the closer they got to the truth, the more dangerous it would become.

Annika knew she couldn’t do this alone. She needed Trace, not just for his skills as a cop, but for the strength he gave her, the sense of safety she hadn’t realized she craved until now. And as much as she tried to deny it, she couldn’t ignore the pull she still felt toward him, the longing for the connection they had lost.

But the past was a minefield, and one wrong step could blow everything apart.

As the hours ticked by and the darkness outside deepened, Annika worked on, her determination fueled by the knowledge that she was getting closer to the truth. The threat loomed over her, a constant reminder of the danger she was in, but she refused to let it stop her.

She was here for a reason, and she would see this through to the end, no matter the cost.

And as she dug deeper into the case, Annika couldn’t shake the feeling that the answers she sought were tied to more than just the murder she was investigating. The shadows of her past were closing in, and the only way out was to press on.

But she wasn’t the same girl who had left Kodiak all those years ago. She was stronger now, more resilient. And with Trace by her side, she knew they could face whatever was coming, together.

As long as they didn’t let the past destroy them first.

Chapter Four

Trace

The next day, Trace pushed open the heavy wooden door of his family’s pub, the familiar creak echoing through the cozy, dimly lit interior. The scent of upscale tavern food, wood smoke, and aged whiskey greeted him, wrapping around him like a warm, comforting embrace. The pub had been in his family for generations—starting life as a saloon—and was a staple of Kodiak’s community life. Stepping inside always felt like coming home.

Trace had spent countless hours here as a boy, listening to the stories and gossip of the town’s residents and learning more about Kodiak’s secrets than any police report could ever reveal. It was part of the reason he had come here today. If there was information to be found about the night of the murder that had haunted this town for decades, this was the place to find it.

The pub was only half-full, the lunchtime crowd having thinned out, leaving behind a handful of regulars nursing their drinks and chatting quietly. Trace’s gaze swept the room, landing on a few familiar faces—old timers who had seen everything Kodiak had to offer and then some. If anyone knew something useful, it would be them.

But before he could approach the bar, a blur of movement caught his eye, and a moment later, his niece, Tricia, was standing in front of him, her hands on her hips and a determined look on her face.

“Uncle Trace,” she said, her tone half-accusatory, half-amused. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be out solving crimes or something?”

Trace couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. Tricia was so young, and she was something of a geek—she ran the high school’s newspaper, but she had the tenacity and curiosity of someone much older. She had always been eager to help with his work, despite his repeated protests that she should focus on her studies and leave the police work to him.

“Nah, I’m upper management now. I just sit around drinking coffee and eating donuts.”

Tricia laughed, throwing her arms around him. “You’re my favorite uncle.”

“I’m your only uncle,” he said completing the familiar refrain, ruffling her short, spiky hair affectionately. “Besides, I am solving crimes. I thought I might stop in and ask a few questions. You and I both know the pub’s regulars always have the best insights into what’s going on and what happened in the past.”

Tricia rolled her eyes but grinned. “You mean you’re here to eavesdrop on the town gossip. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. Want a burger?”

“You’ve got me all figured out, haven’t you?” Trace said with a chuckle, before his tone turned more serious. “But really, Tricia, I’m just looking for some background information. Nothing you need to worry about.”

Tricia’s expression softened slightly, but she didn’t back down. “This is about that old cold case, isn’t it?”

Trace nodded. “Carl Hansen.”

“You know I can help, right? I’m good at getting people to talk. You could use that.”

Trace sighed, knowing that once Tricia set her mind on something, she was nearly impossible to dissuade. “I appreciate the offer, but this case is complicated. I don’t want you getting involved in something that could be dangerous.”

“I can handle myself,” she insisted, her eyes narrowing with determination. “I’m not a kid anymore, Uncle Trace. I can do more than you think.”