Chapter 6 #2
Dawson had no doubt there was truth in that last statement.
Since solving his brother’s murder case and falling in love with Megan, Jax had become…
lighter. Hopeful about the future. It was nice to see.
And while Dawson would never admit it out loud, he was relieved to see his old friend.
They’d been buddies since elementary school, and there was no one who knew him better.
He took a sip of the coffee and let the caffeine jolt his tired brain into action. “How much did Liam tell you?”
Liam was the only one who would’ve called Jax.
His colleague was quiet, but nothing escaped his notice.
Dawson had sensed Liam understood the complicated undercurrents running between Dawson and Peyton.
He probably hadn’t intended for Jax to return from his vacation, but had called to get his opinion.
Something Dawson would deal with later. Liam had meant well, but he should’ve just asked Dawson directly.
“He gave me the basics.” Jax mirrored Dawson’s posture, leaning on the railing. “I’d hoped the attack on Peyton at the train depot was a one-off or some kind of mistake, but this second assault leaves no question. She’s being targeted.”
“Actually, the intruder was after the baby. Although it’s unclear why.
” Dawson turned the cup in his hands. “The birth certificate doesn’t list a father.
Maybe he’s involved somehow. Whoever is behind this was smart enough to figure out which hotel Peyton was staying at and in which room.
Most criminals wouldn’t go to all that trouble.
And most won’t dare to touch a law enforcement officer.
They don’t want that kind of heat. This feels personal. ”
“I agree. There’s no sign of Lilia yet.”
Dawson’s stomach tightened. He didn’t want to imagine the worst, but with every passing hour, it became a higher probability that they wouldn’t find Peyton’s cousin alive. “Did Liam find the homeless guy Peyton mentioned at the hospital?”
“We did a sweep but didn’t find him. Most of the people staying at the depot probably scattered at the sound of police sirens.
” Jax adjusted his cowboy hat on his head.
“After we finish up here, we’re doing another search of the area around the train depot.
And I’m going with Liam to interview Lilia’s mom.
Hopefully, we’ll have more answers in a few hours. ”
Dawson prayed he was right.
“In the meantime, we should move Peyton and Grace to another hotel,” Jax continued. “Put them under a pseudonym. We can’t spare any officers to stand guard, but I’ll have patrols make frequent drive-bys.”
The Knoxville Police Department was small and their resources limited. It was the reason Dawson had offered to have Peyton stay on his ranch. “She and Grace may come to stay with my family. I’ll let you know.”
Jax’s gaze narrowed. “You don’t need me to tell you that’s a bad idea.”
Dawson stared across the parking lot, letting his gaze lift to the highway and then the sky. It was painted with hues of the sunrise. Jax's concern settled over him like a wet blanket — heavy and harder to shrug off than he wanted. “I have to do this. She doesn't have anyone else.”
“That's not your responsibility anymore.” Jax's voice was gentle now, almost sad. “She made that choice when she left.”
The words stung because they were true.
“I’m worried about you. Losing Peyton nearly destroyed you last time.”
Dawson was touched by his friend’s concern.
And it wasn’t unwarranted. But he’d also had a lot of time to think last night.
“Walking away like she did…there’s no coming back from that.
Our marriage is done. I could never fully trust her again.
But Peyton also apologized last night at the hospital for the way things ended between us.
” It was hard to explain unless someone had been through it.
The loss of a child. It changed you in ways that couldn’t be put into words.
“We were both grieving and not ourselves. And…I don’t know.
She reached for help, and yes, I could turn her away.
Or I could use this as an opportunity to say goodbye the right way and finally close this chapter of my life. ”
“Do you think you can do that? Say goodbye the right way?”
“I think it’s worth a try. We had fifteen years together, most of it good.” Dawson twisted the coffee cup in his hand. “It took a lot of work to pick up the pieces after she left, and I’ve rebuilt a life I’m proud of, but even I have to admit that a part of me is stuck.”
He’d tried dating here and there, but never seriously. Dawson had made excuses for it, but Peyton’s sudden reappearance in his life made the real reason impossible to ignore. He hadn’t let her go. Not fully. But he needed to, and now was the chance.
From the expression on Jax’s face, he doubted the wisdom of this plan and was trying to figure out the best way to say so. Dawson didn’t need to hear it.
“I know what I’m doing.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Besides, this is the best solution for everyone. We need every available officer looking for Lilia and the attackers. Now, more than ever.”
Jax blew out a breath. “Well…can’t say I didn’t try.”
Dawson chuckled and clapped him on the shoulder. “A for effort.”
“Yeah, but an F for results.”
They both laughed at that. Jax left to help with the search for evidence.
A few moments later, Peyton appeared, her hair mussed from the pillow, Grace in her arms. The baby wriggled and fussed.
She was a sweet little thing, but in the last few hours, she’d only slept in thirty-minute bursts.
It was difficult to know if she was colicky, or the uproar in her life had unsettled her.
Either way, she was wearing Peyton down.
The dark circles had abated somewhat, but Peyton still looked like a stiff wind could blow her over.
Dawson stepped forward, handing over his half-filled cup and reaching for Grace. “I’ll take the baby. You drink that.”
Peyton didn’t argue. She took a long sip of the coffee and sighed. “Oh, that’s good.” She breathed in the crisp morning air, and a faint smile lifted her lips as she tipped her face toward the sky. Birds twittered from a nearby pine tree.
Dawson's breath caught. She was beautiful like this.
Hair mussed, face soft in the morning light, that small smile playing at her lips.
The last five years had added a faint scar along her jawline and loosened some waves in her hair.
There were also intangible differences. A quiet steadiness that had never existed before, a stillness… almost…a peace?
He tore his gaze away and busied himself with adjusting Grace’s blanket.
It was pink with stars dancing across it.
The baby whimpered from behind her pacifier, so he swayed rhythmically, hoping it would keep her content.
An idea formed. He pulled the keys from his pocket and undid the clip holding Grace’s pacifier to her shirt.
“What are you doing?” Peyton asked.
“Giving us an advantage. Here…hold Grace for a second.” He passed the baby back to her before removing the GPS tracker on his key ring.
He attached it to Grace using the pacifier clip, tucking it between the layers of her clothing so it wasn’t visible to the naked eye.
“There. If, in the unlikely event, someone grabs Grace, we’ll be able to track her on my phone. ”
“That’s brilliant.” Peyton smiled up at him.
“It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing.” Dawson took Grace back so Peyton could drink her coffee while he filled her in on the little they knew.
Peyton asked a few questions, but then fell into silence, fiddling with the carton sleeve on the coffee cup. “How did it come to this? Lilia has stumbled into trouble, but never anything this serious.”
Dawson had no answer for that.
She sighed. “I’ve been thinking about your offer. To stay on the ranch.”
“And?”
“It’s generous of you to help, but are you sure you want to do this? Will your family be okay with me being there?” She let her gaze drift over the grounds. “I wouldn’t blame any of you if you hated me. I hurt you, Dawson, and I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry…for a lot of things.”
A sadness swept over him, along with compassion for the pain trembling in her voice. “No one in my family hates you. And I don’t either. But if you’re uncomfortable staying at the ranch, Jax said Knoxville PD can set you up in a hotel under a fake name. The choice is yours.”
She bit her lip, and then her gaze dropped to the baby in his arms. Her shoulders dropped, as if the tension in her muscles had finally eased. She nodded. “Okay. I’ll go pack our stuff.”
The knot of worry in his stomach loosened. “Sounds good.”
Peyton turned toward the sliding door and then stopped. She glanced over her shoulder. “Dawson, you should know, I’ve thought about calling you hundreds of times. I didn’t because…well, it seemed unfair after what I did. But if you’re ever ready to talk, I’d like to.”
The words landed somewhere deep in his chest. There was a lot he wanted to say too—questions he'd never gotten answers to, hurt he'd never fully voiced. But now wasn't the time. “Let's focus on finding Lilia and protecting Grace. After that, we’ll see.”
She nodded and slipped inside the hotel, leaving the faint scent of jasmine in her wake.
Dawson lifted his gaze to the sky. Okay, God, I’m not sure where you’re leading me, but I’m trusting You.