Unafraid (Amber Ridge #1)

Chapter 33

CHAPTER 33

J esse watched the rise and fall of Aspen’s chest. Felt the warmth of her breath against his skin.

It was early. He should still be sleeping, particularly after how long it had taken him to finally drift off last night.

But he wasn’t. Because every time he closed his eyes, he saw the same thing. Aspen beneath Dylan on the floor. The gun in Dylan’s fingers. And even when he managed to shove that memory aside, just for a second, the same thought hit him in the chest—it wasn’t over.

His arm tightened around her waist.

It should be over. It was supposed to be over. Kill Dylan and the danger dies with him, then they could finally start their lives together.

But that’s not how it had played out.

He traced the bruise on her cheek with his gaze, feeling the rage rise in his chest all over again.

The ringing of his phone pulled him out of his thoughts. He reached for it, noticing it was his mother. The ringing didn’t even stir Aspen. God, she must have been exhausted.

Even though he didn’t want to, he slipped out from under her. After pulling on some pants, he waited until he was in the living room before answering.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Honey, I’m sorry to call so early, but I was just speaking to Clara. Becket told her that Aspen was kidnapped last night?”

Nothing stayed quiet in his family for long. “It’s true. But she’s here and she’s safe.”

The exaggerated sigh sounded from over the phone. “I’m so relieved! Is she okay?”

“She has a black eye and will probably wake up with a headache.” So physically, yeah, she was mostly okay. Mentally and emotionally? He’d have to wait and see.

“Oh my gosh. What can I do?”

“Nothing, Mom. She just needs rest.”

“What about you? Are you okay?”

No . The answer screamed in his head. “I’m glad I have Aspen back.” It wasn’t really an answer to her question. “Is Clara okay after she passed out yesterday?” With everything going on, it had completely slipped his mind. He should have checked in on his sister as soon as he’d woken.

“She’s been pushing herself too hard,” his mother said, concern in her voice. “Her daily runs, her acupuncture business, her new house. It’s too much with her chronic fatigue.”

Shit. He needed to check in on her more. When this was all over, he would. “I’ll call her today.”

“I’m sure she’d like that. And I’m going to drop a meal off to you.”

“No.” The word came out faster than he meant for it to. But he didn’t want her or Clara close until they found Dylan’s accomplice. They’d get a description of this person from Karen, then he wouldn’t feel so blind. “Sorry, I just…would it be okay to give Aspen some time?”

“Oh, of course, honey.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“I love you, darling.”

“I love you too.” He hung up and turned—only to freeze at the sight of Aspen in the bedroom doorway. The blond locks of her hair tumbled over her shoulders, and she wore his shirt. Sexy didn’t even begin to describe her.

But then he focused on that black eye again, and the murderous rage returned.

“You should be in bed,” he said quietly.

“ You’re not.”

He crossed the space between them and cupped her unbruised cheek. “How do you feel?”

“Like I was kidnapped by my crazy ex last night.”

The growl ripped from his chest.

She cringed. “Sorry. I’m okay.”

“I hate what happened.”

“Me too.” She reached up and touched her fingertip to the line between his brows. “You’re still worried. About the person who drugged me?”

She read him too well. “Are you sure you don’t think it was your mother?”

“That would make it easier. But I don’t think so. I sipped the coffee, then spoke to my mother, which is when I started feeling disorientated.”

“I’ll bring her in for questioning. Get a description of this woman she says she saw with Dylan. I’ll also talk to Mrs. Gerald and ask her if anyone had contact with the coffee before you.” A muscle clenched in his jaw. “Someone else in this town helped him.” It was like he had to say it out loud because he still couldn’t believe it.

Fear flashed over her face. Then she blinked and visibly tried to conceal her emotions.

“Hey.” He lowered his head. “I’m not leaving you unprotected, okay?”

“I know. It’s just a really unnerving feeling knowing that someone helped him. Someone we probably know, because everyone there last night was local. And someone who wants to harm me for reasons I can’t begin to guess.”

It wasn’t just unnerving…it was sickening. “When we catch them, they’re going to wish they’d never involved themselves.”

She nodded quickly.

He hated that she’d already gone through so much yesterday, yet danger still lurked in this town.

He lowered his mouth to hers, trying to give her in one kiss the calm and safety and love he knew she needed.

Aspen sat on the back porch, legs tucked under her, hot cocoa in hand. It was raining. Figured. Couldn’t have a gloomy day without rain.

Becket was inside while Jesse had run down to the station. He’d tried to be discreet about why he needed to go in the day after she’d been kidnapped, but she’d seen right through him…he was questioning her mother.

Her fingers tightened around the mug.

She already knew her mother had been living with Dylan. Jesse had told her that the car he’d used to kidnap her had been rented in her name. Was there more?

Her black eye flashed in Aspen’s head. There probably was.

It hurt. Even when she was certain she expected nothing from her mother, the deceit still felt like a kick in the stomach.

She sighed.

So far, Becket hadn’t come out to check on her, but she knew he’d been watching from the window. In a lot of ways, he reminded her of Jesse. He was protective. And kind. And when things got serious, so did he. But he was also different. He used humor to lighten the mood a lot more.

She startled at the ringing of her phone.

Jesus, she was jumpy.

She lifted the cell, immediately sucking in a sharp breath.

Her mother.

Was she done at the station? A part of her didn’t want to answer the call. She wanted to let it ring out, then block the number. Cut all ties so the woman didn’t have the opportunity to hurt her ever again.

But the other part of her needed to know the extent of her relationship with Dylan.

“Mom.”

“Aspen, I just got out of the sheriff’s office. They told me what happened. Are you okay?”

She frowned. Did her mother really care? “I’m fine. What did you tell them?”

“What?”

“They were asking about your involvement with Dylan, right? What did you tell them?”

There was a small pause before she spoke. “That he paid for me to come here. He paid for the Airbnb. He paid for my food, the rental car. Everything.”

Aspen closed her eyes, breathing through the hurt, almost not wanting to ask the next question. “And what did he get in return?”

“He got to put everything in my name. I also promised I’d help him get close to you. Encourage you to return to him.”

Everything in her name to conceal his movements, and using her mother to give Aspen a little nudge. She massaged her brow, not sure whether to laugh, cry or scream. Maybe all three.

“He kidnapped me, Mom.”

“I know, but—”

“He would have killed me.” She didn’t have confirmation, but deep down she knew it was true.

Another pause. “He wouldn’t—”

“He would . Did you know he almost killed his ex a few years ago? She ended up in a coma. Almost died before she disappeared . No one’s known where she’s been ever since. She could be hiding, or she could be dead.”

Her mother gasped.

“I was next,” Aspen added. “And you made it easy for him.”

There was another small pause. Was her mother finally understanding? “I didn’t…I wouldn’t have thought—”

“But that’s the thing—you never think about anyone but yourself.”

“He seemed like an okay guy. Kind, even.”

“It doesn’t matter how he seemed! I told you he wasn’t a good guy. I even told you what he did to me. But you didn’t believe me!”

“I’m sorry. I…I gave Jesse all the information I had. I even described the girl I saw Dylan with.”

It wasn’t enough. “Are you going to get help?”

“Help?”

“For your mental health, Mom. Are you going to get help?”

“No, I—”

“Then I can’t have a relationship with you. Because you’ll keep hurting me without even realizing that’s what you’re doing.”

“Aspen—”

“Goodbye, Mom.”

She hung up and leaned her head back against the seat. When a tear fell, she scrubbed it away, almost angry at herself for being upset. Her mother didn’t deserve her tears.

“Hey.”

She jumped at the sound of Becket’s voice, and her eyes flashed open. He lowered to the seat beside her, concern in his normally humorous eyes.

She straightened. “Hey.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“I don’t know why I still let her actions bother me. My mother has been the same for my entire life. She’s never been what I needed, and yet, I always expect her to be more.”

“Because she’s your mom and you love her.”

“I love the idea of her.”

Becket shook his head. “You love the good in her. And there is good. It just doesn’t come out very often.”

“How do you know? You’ve never met her.”

“You wouldn’t hang on to hope so hard if there was never any reason to.”

She swallowed. He was right. Her mother had her good moments, and in those moments, she gave Aspen a glimpse into who she could be. And Aspen hung on to those moments even when she shouldn’t.

“She’s sick, even if she won’t acknowledge it. I wish she would get help.”

“When family’s sick, it creates a helplessness that can be debilitating. I felt that with Clara.”

She swallowed and nodded. She’d never have expected to have such a deep conversation with Becket, since he’d never shown her this side before.

“Thank you. I needed someone to validate that I’m not crazy. And give me some wisdom.”

He chuckled. “I can be pretty wise when I want to be. But don’t tell anyone. I’ve become quite accustomed to people thinking I’m just a pretty face.”

She laughed, and God it felt good.