Chapter 28
twenty-eight
Tessa
All the guys went back to work or home to give the appearance of everything being status quo. We all agreed the best way to protect Killian was to just pretend he went back to Boston suddenly. Penelope came back to the ranch with me as I wasn’t ready to be here alone.
Thankfully, Killian lives far enough away from Ember Falls’ main drag that it offers some seclusion. Although, I’m not stupid enough to believe no one saw the entire fleet of black SUVs swarming through town in the middle of the day.
“Here, you need to eat something,” Penelope says as she hands me a yogurt parfait that Killian made and was keeping it in the fridge.
Do not cry, Tessa.
Stay strong. He needs you to keep it together.
“Thank-you,” I choke the words out as I take it from her.
Penelope doesn’t try to fill the silence, and I appreciate it more than she’ll ever know. It allows me a few minutes to just be alone in my thoughts. I eat, thinking about what type of crisis management plan I can create for when this breaks.
Of course, it all depends on what was seen.
“Tessa?” Penelope calls my name softly. “Liam is pulling in.”
Finally. He clearly knows something, and I need any information I can get if I want Killian to be released.
We both stand up and head to the door, opening it as he arrives.
Liam is tall with dark hair, and he has a three-day beard coming in. He looks at Penny and smiles. “Pen.”
“Liam, you’ve met Tessa.”
He shakes my hand. “I have. It’s good to see you again, Tessa.” He then motions to come in. “May I?”
“Yes, sorry. Of course.”
We head back into the living room and sit as he clears his throat. “I’m still working on getting the entire story from my contacts at the FBI, but this is what I know so far.”
“I met with Killian this morning to let him know that I located Travis. He was seen with some members of a known crime organization up north. These men are involved in a lot of nasty things. Drugs, money laundering, among other things.”
“Okay…” I say hesitantly. “What does this have to do with Killian being arrested?”
He lets out a long sigh. “The FBI arrested six other known members of this crime ring at the same time that Killian was arrested. I was at the casino where they arrested Travis as well as one of the ring’s suspected hit men who happened to be there as well—I don’t think it was to just check up on Travis.
So, Killian being arrested proves one of two things.
Either the FBI thinks Killian is involved in this crime ring or Travis is involved, which I believe he is, and he’s done a good job implicating Killian.
Which could mean Killian is set up to take the fall for all of it. ”
My heart sinks all the way to the pit of my stomach because this is the worst possible news and either option is terrible. “No. Killian didn’t do anything.”
Penelope rubs my back and looks to Liam. “Do you think he’s involved?”
“I don’t. Not even a little. I made a few calls, and I’m doing what I can to talk to my friends at the FBI. It’s not going to change anything for a few days, but I’ll turn everything I’ve found so far over to them. It may not accomplish anything, but I’ll do what I can.”
Staying strong no longer feels possible.
He might go to jail, and I might lose him forever.
I didn’t get to tell him how I feel, how much he means to me, that I love him, that I want a life with him.
We needed just a little more time to talk to Meredith and work it out.
But instead, that chance was taken—he was taken.
I look into the eyes of my only hope to clear his name. “Do what you can, Liam. Please, bring him back to me.”
He stands. “I’ll do everything I can.”
That’s all I can ask for. I just hope that it’s good enough.
“Jake reached out to one of his family friends who is a defense lawyer. He’s done a few high-profile cases, and we’re just waiting to hear from him,” Meredith explains.
“Thank you. I know my boss did the same. Brynlee said the lawyer will come here in the next day or so to speak with me and then see what he could do about getting Killian released.”
Meredith and Jake got here two hours ago and it has been such a huge comfort.
“We’ll get him out of this, Tess,” she says as we’re both curled up on opposite ends of the couch.
Regardless of whether she knows Killian or not, he is still her father. He cares about her, and I know she cares for him too. It’s hard to see her struggle over him being in jail for something he didn’t do.
Well, I don’t believe he did it.
I look over at her with a soft smile. “I should be the one comforting you.”
She shrugs. “I have Jake for that.”
He’s been a force of nature from the moment he heard about Killian’s arrest, calling everyone, asking for information, and trying to work whatever angle he can.
“I just want him home.” I look over at her, and she looks slightly uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, Mer.”
Her eyes snap to mine. “For what?”
“This has to be really weird. I know you said you needed time, and it’s only been like, what, twelve hours.”
She shrugs. “Sure, it’s a little strange, but at the same time…it’s really sweet. If this was Jake, I’d be the same as you. Desperate to find a way to get him home. I know you told me you loved him, but now I get to kind of see it.”
“I didn’t even get to tell him,” I confess.
“What?”
“I never told him how I feel.”
Meredith pulls the blanket up and sips on her coffee. “I bet he knows. I mean, do you think he loves you?”
I do. Or at least I think he does, but it all feels so fast. “I hope he does.”
She grins. “If he doesn’t, he’s an idiot—a big one. Considering I came from him and I’m pretty much a genius, I’ll bet he knows that right now, you’re moving heaven and Earth to get him out.”
“I would do anything for him.”
“Why don’t you go to bed? It’s already midnight, and you’ve had a really intense day. You need your rest so we can tackle this in the morning.”
I can’t sleep in a warm bed while he’s in a cold jail cell.
Besides, I don’t think I’ll be able to close my eyes without hearing the door come off the hinges, the screaming, the guns. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep without seeing the look in his eyes when they took him away.
I clear my throat. “I think I’ll go check on the horses.”
Meredith seems to know I need some space right now because she says, “Okay, I’ll be here if you need me.”
I nod and get up, wrapping my sweatshirt around me as I walk out into the cool summer night.
This day has been a storm that came in hard, then left only to return again. The thunder and lightning have clashed, causing everything to feel unsettled.
The only thing is, during the lull, luck seemed to be on our side. Everett and Miles both reached out to tell me there’s been no talk in town about the arrest. Lachlan is at the firehouse for work and is also keeping an ear out.
Hazel texted that the only talk she’s heard is about how amazing the rodeo was and how everyone hopes Killian hosts another one soon.
It may be a small victory, but I’ll take it.
I push open the barn door and grab a few apples from the bucket that hangs on the inside of the door, putting them in my pocket. To think yesterday this place was full of people and life. There was a hope in the air that was contagious.
Little did I know that it wouldn’t last.
Instead of replaying the shitstorm my day was, I walk in and smile when Midnight comes to the front of the stall.
“Hi, girl,” I say, and she roots her head around, sniffing near my pocket. “I see how it is—apple first?”
She snuffs her head against my shoulder, and I smile. “All right, you can have the apple and then you’ll let me pet you, huh?”
I pull one of the apples out, and she takes it gently. She really is a sweet horse. After she eats it, she stays put, allowing me to pet her.
I stand here with just the overhead barn lights on, and she rests her head on my shoulder, so I lean against her. I close my eyes, allowing this beautiful animal to comfort me and I hope I’m giving her the same.
While she doesn’t know what happened, there was so much commotion here that Gary had a hard time getting some of the horses to calm down after the FBI whisked Killian away.
“You weren’t one of the ones who was scared, were you?” I pet her neck, wishing she could talk. “We’re going to fix this. There’s a lawyer coming, and it’ll be okay. We just have to have faith.”
We stay like this, my head resting against hers for a few long minutes. As we do, my heart starts to find its staccato and my strength begins to build.
I meant what I said—it’ll be okay. I just have to have faith. Otherwise, there’s nothing to fight for.
Who knew I just needed a horse hug to feel like the world isn’t ending?