Chapter 26
twenty-six
Tessa
“Where are you taking him? What’s going on?” I’m sitting on the bench outside of the front door trying to get an answer as agent after agent walk in and out of the house.
Killian is in the back of a car, handcuffed, and God only knows what the hell is going on. I’m so confused and…I’m trying to keep it together, but this is absolutely terrifying.
Finally, one answers me. “Ma’am, we need you to stay calm. I’ll see if someone can come speak to you, but I need you to stay seated.”
I rub my wrists where the metal handcuffs were just a few minutes ago.
They brought us both outside and started questioning me over and over.
Asking if I knew these random people I’d never heard of.
Finally, a female agent came over, and I explained who I was.
I must’ve said the right things because I was suddenly no longer being detained, but I’m forced to stay out here while they search the house.
I watch as box after box gets carried out and placed in the back of SUVs.
None of this makes any sense.
I don’t understand what is going on. Is this all over Travis?
Did something happen to him and now Killian is caught in the crosshairs?
Is there more to this? I try to think about all the paperwork we found, the signatures that didn’t match, but that seems a little minor for a freaking FBI investigation.
Why would they give a shit about a horse breeder whose sales fell through?
My mind grasps for any kind of conclusion I can find that will explain this, but I can’t.
I have no information. I can’t form any kind of plan. This is going to be a PR disaster. All the hard work we’ve done over the last few weeks is going to disappear the moment any kind of story breaks about Killian.
Killian.
My chest grows tight as I remember his face, him telling me it’ll be okay, trying to shield me as they entered the house. The way he pushed me behind him, and then when we were both on the floor, his face, the ultimate devastation I saw in his eyes, broke my heart.
He doesn’t deserve this.
None of it. He’s done nothing wrong. I’ve been with him every day, and I would’ve seen something.
An agent heads toward me, and as I look at his face, recognition dawns on me.
I know him. He was here—at the rodeo.
He talked to me, told me he was interested in buying a few horses, and I even brought him to Killian.
Drake. That’s his name.
What the fuck? He’s an FBI agent.
The man stops in front of me, giving me an awkward smile. “Hello, Ms. Rivers. I’m Special Agent Drake Halsey. We met at the rodeo.”
“Yes, I remember. I don’t remember you saying you were an FBI agent, though.”
“No, I wouldn’t have.”
“Can someone please explain what the hell is going on?”
He sits beside me and hands me a glass of water. “We have an arrest warrant for Killian and a search warrant for the residence. He will be brought in on the arrest warrant, and once we finish executing the search warrant, you’ll be able to go back inside.”
“What about Killian? What is he being arrested for?”
He gives me a kind look. “I’m sorry, but he’s an adult and I can’t tell you any information. However, at this time, we do not believe you’re involved and you are not being detained.”
That answers nothing.
I’m back in the house, standing here, feeling lost and confused. Killian’s gone. They took him—somewhere. I was only told that he’s being held and has to see the judge on Monday.
Two fucking days from now.
Two days where he’s going to be God knows where while I have no information.
The house is wrecked. Things were moved, left strewn around, and I sink into the couch and put my face in my hands.
I have to do something.
I have to get help, but, of course, I don’t have my car.
On the counter are Killian’s keys. I grab them and rush out. I need to find Everett or Miles or Lachlan. They’ll know who to call, a lawyer or someone.
On the ride, I make a phone call I’m not sure I should.
“Hey!” Meredith answers.
“Mer,” I say her name and my resolve crumbles. I cry. Tears pour from my eyes and thankfully I’ve reached the center of town so I can pull over.
“Tessa? What’s wrong? Why are you crying? Did he react badly?”
I sob, full-on shaking sobs. My chest heaves as the last few hours crash through me. Wave after wave of the fear, sorrow, terror and pain of watching the car drive off with Killian takes me under.
Each breath is painful, and I hear Meredith through the phone, but I can’t answer. “Oh my God, what is wrong? Where are you? Tessa! Jake—help!”
Then Jake is on the line. “Tessa, I need you to take a deep breath.”
I try but it’s impossible. As I inhale, I almost choke on it.
“No, Tessa, listen to my voice. Make a fist and rub your chest in circles. Can you do that?”
I can’t answer verbally, but I nod, even though he can’t see it.
I do as he says, making deep circles against my chest. I can feel my body starting to respond, and my breaths must even out a bit because his voice is low and soothing.
“Good. Keep doing that. Slowly. When you can, take a deep breath in and hold it for three.” My hand continues the motion, and then I inhale deeply and count.
One.
Two.
Three.
“Good, now let it out for three.”
I exhale.
One.
Two.
Three.
“Again,” he says. We do that four more times. “Tessa, can you tell me where you are?”
“I’m i-in Ember F-Falls. The FBI came and took Killian. I don’t kn-now what’s happening.” I choke out, stuttering on certain words.
“The FBI?” Meredith this time. “Are you okay?”
“They stormed the house,” I explain and then feel the panic rise again. I do another round of deep breathing. “I don’t know why. They wouldn’t tell me anything. They took him.”
“Where, Tessa?” Jake asks.
I’ve always prided myself on being calm in the face of crisis. Right now, I’m not able to call on that. Tears keep falling, and I know I need to get it together. Me sitting here sobbing on the side of Main Street isn’t going to help Killian.
I wipe my nose and let out a cleansing breath.
“All the agent would tell me is that he’ll be taken to the county police station where he’ll stay until Monday. I’m guessing they’ll take him somewhere else after that. I heard another agent say something about federal charges and seeing a judge? Maybe.”
Meredith gasps, and Jake consoles her softly and then speaks to me. “Okay, we’re coming there. Are you staying at Killian’s?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you now?”
“I’m going to find his friends. They’re like family to him, and they’ll maybe know what to do.”
“All right, Tessa. Stay in Ember Falls—we’ll be there as soon as we can.”
The call disconnects, and I wipe my tears away and exit the car.
I’m praying Everett is here or at least one of the group. If not, Hazel is the best shot I have.
I pull the door open to Prose & Perk. The bell chimes, and Hazel pops out from the back.
“Tessa! Hey!” Then she sees me. Her big blue eyes widen and she flips up the countertop. “What happened? Are you okay?”
I shake my head and spill out all the information I have. She rubs my back as I tell her everything I remember. “I need Everett or someone. I need help. I have to help him.”
“Of course. I’m texting the guys now, and we’ll get this figured out.”
Hazel’s phone rings and she answers, explaining a brief summary of what I told them and instructs whoever is on the other end to get here and get the others.
“They’re on their way.”
I let out a shaky breath and remind myself that part of the reason I’m here is to help. I was sent to fix any issues with Ivy Thorn, and now I need to do that. I can cry and feel all the feelings later. Right now, Killian needs me to do my job as well.
“I need to call my boss,” I explain. “We have to manage this from a PR stance as well. Killian doesn’t need any of this, and I don’t think for one minute that he’s involved in any of it anyway.
I spent weeks pouring over paperwork, creating lists and trying to find whatever Travis was up to.
I know Killian. I know that sounds nuts since we only just met but… ”
Hazel lifts her hand. “It doesn’t sound crazy. It sounds like love. You do know Killian, and I know him too. He’s not a criminal, at least, there would need to be some pretty damning evidence to get me to believe it.”
I head outside and call Brynlee, describing the events. I feel as though I’m going to have to tell this story a hundred more times, and I’m hoping by then I won’t relive it as I recite it.
It’s horrible and I’ve never been more scared in my life.
She instructs me to keep the information as guarded as possible. She’s going to work on her end to get in touch with a lawyer her husband uses. I’m to sit tight and stay close to the phone.
I push open the door, and Hazel leads me to a table. She hands me a cup of tea and takes my hand. “Are you okay? That had to be scary.”
“It was. Now it just all feels so…surreal. I don’t know what’s going on, and I’m worried about him on so many levels.”
“I’m sure. I am too.”
My eyes meet hers. “I don’t want to lose him,” I confess softly. “I know that sounds selfish and stupid, but I’m worried. I watched them cuff him, and I just had to lie there. He kept his eyes on mine, as though he was trying to tell me to stay calm and it’s okay.”
“I bet he was,” she says, squeezing my hand. “Killian, whether he knows it or not, loves you—or at least has really strong feelings for you. I’ve never seen him as torn up as he was at the bar when he said he lost you.”
I jerk back at her mentioning he loves me. It’s too soon. He doesn’t love me. He can’t.
“He didn’t lose me.”
She smiles at that. “No, but he was worried he did. I’m going to assume you guys had a fight?”
I scoff. “I wish. We learned some information that neither of us was prepared for.”
One of her dark brown brows rise. “Really?”
“It’s not important.”
The door chimes and in come Miles, Penelope, and Everett. They each see me and rush over, all talking at once.
Hazel stands. “Easy, she’s been through hell too.”
“He’s going through worse,” I say as I get to my feet. “I need all of your help to squash any rumors of the arrest.”
“If it was spreading, one of us would’ve already heard,” Everett says. “Where’s Lachlan?”
“He’s on his way,” Miles says and then turns to me. “Did Killian say anything? Do you think he had a clue this was coming?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so. We were talking after we both had pretty interesting mornings…”
My God. I remember where he was before this. He was with Liam, and it was for something important—at least that’s what Gary said.
“What?” Miles says quickly, but I turn to Penelope.
“Penny, your brother, he knows Liam, right?”
She nods. “Yes, they’ve been best friends forever. They work for the same company.”
“Can you call him?”
“Sure. Liam or my brother?”
“Do you have Liam’s number?”
“Yes,” she answers quickly, pulling her phone out of her bag. She rattles off the number, and I quickly dial it.
He answers after the third ring. “Dempsey.”
“Liam? This is Tessa and…we’ve had a situation with Killian.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know a Killian.”
My entire body slumps. I don’t have time for this, but just as defeat washes over me, Penelope extends her hand for the phone and I give it to her.
“Liam, it’s Penny. The FBI came, raided his house, and arrested him. Tell her whatever she needs to know.” She hands the phone back to me.
“Penny?”
“No, it’s Tessa.”
He sighs. “I tried calling his phone, but no one picked up.”
Liam was the one who was trying to get in touch with him. “We were talking…and…he didn’t look.”
“I’m on my way to Ember Falls. We have a lot to go over. Just…stay there.”
I had no plans to go anywhere else. I need to help the man I love.