Chapter 29 Levi
Levi
Sheriff Williams just called, telling us it was okay to go back to the rental.
“I’ll be quick,” I say to Kelcie. She’s sitting cross-legged on the bed with Lick cuddled up beside her. “The two of you stay here. I don’t want you anywhere near that house.”
“Can I pack your clothes while I wait?” she asks.
“I’d appreciate that.” I tie the laces of my boots and climb to my feet. Striding over to Kelcie, I give her a quick kiss. “Love you, my muse.”
She grins up at me. “I love you too.”
I ruffle Lick’s fur, then leave the room, shutting the door behind me.
Hit in the face with an icy blast, I grumble, “Jesus.” I quickly jog to my truck and climb in. Starting the engine, I set the heat high before I pull out of my parking spot.
The ten-minute drive goes by quickly, and I glance at the Adamses’ house across the street as I pull into the rental’s driveway, parking beside the sheriff’s cruiser.
I didn’t like Colby, but I feel for his parents. What happened yesterday was such an unnecessary waste of life.
After climbing out of my truck, I hurry to the front door and quickly open it. Sheriff Wilson is standing in the kitchen, drinking a cup of something hot.
“I just made coffee. Want some?” he asks.
“I’m good, thanks.” I look at the bloodstain on the wooden floor, and the memory of seeing Colby on top of Kelcie flashes through my mind. I shudder to think what would’ve happened if she hadn’t managed to call me.
My jaw clenches, and not in the mood to chat, I mumble, “I’m going upstairs to pack.”
“How is Kelcie handling everything?” he asks as I turn toward the staircase.
I pause and look at him again. “She’s doing okay.”
Sheriff Williams stares at me for a few seconds. “You take good care of that girl. She’s suffered enough.”
“I will.” I go up the stairs two at a time, not giving the sheriff time to say anything else.
In the main bedroom, I find several moving boxes and see that some already have clothes packed in them.
I open the closet doors and get to work, folding every piece of clothing neatly.
When I’m done, there are still two empty boxes, and I take them down to the kitchen before heading back to the main bedroom so I can load everything into my truck.
Just as I’m loading the last of Kelcie’s clothes into my truck, I hear Mrs. Adams scream, “You’re a monster!
” My head whips to the left, and I see her coming toward me, not even checking the road for traffic as she crosses it.
Her tone sounds downright manic as she cries, “You killed my baby. You should rot in jail with that brother of yours.”
As I turn to face her, Sheriff Williams comes jogging past me. “Hey, now. Let’s get you back home, Darlene.”
Mrs. Adams keeps glaring at me with an insane expression, making her look unstable. She repeatedly hisses, “You killed my baby.”
“Come, Darlene.” Sheriff Williams takes hold of her and pulls her back toward her house, but she cranes her neck to keep glaring at me.
I let out a sigh while I head back inside to clear out the kitchen.
Hearing footsteps, I glance at the sheriff as he comes into the house. “She’s just grieving. Don’t take anything she says personally.”
I make a noncommittal sound and continue to place the tableware in a box.
Sheriff Williams looks at the lone couch and probably notices there is no other furniture because he asks, “Kelcie never really moved in here, did she?”
“It wasn’t home to her,” I murmur, emptying the drawer containing all the silverware.
“Are the two of you moving into her folks’ place?”
I shake my head. “We’ll only be staying there for the time being while Kelcie packs everything.”
“Oh.” His eyebrows lift in surprise. “Is she going to sell the place?”
Fuck, he talks a lot.
“Probably. Kelcie mentioned it’s what Jordan wants.”
When I lift a full box, Sheriff Williams comes closer, saying, “I’ll grab the other one.”
“You don’t have to hang around. I’ve got this,” I mention, hoping he’ll take the hint.
“Nah, if I go back to the office, my wife will have me filling out loads of paperwork.” When I give him a confused look, he explains, “Libby is the receptionist at the sheriff’s department. That’s where we met.”
While we load the last of the boxes into my truck, Sheriff Williams glances at the Adamses’ house. “Just as well you’re clearing out today. Colby’s death hit Darlene hard.”
“I can only imagine,” I grumble before walking back into the house to make sure I have everything.
Sheriff Williams follows me through the house, saying, “If Kelcie and Jordan sell their folks’ place, where will she live?”
“With me.” I shut the door to each room as I’m done checking it. “I bought a farm in Stoughton.”
“Oh wow. So it’s the farm life for you? Can’t really see Kelcie fitting in on a farm.”
“It was her idea.” My feet make quick work of the stairs as I head down them.
“Will you be back for the couch and TV?” Sheriff Williams asks.
“No. I’m taking them now.” I unplug the TV, and carrying it outside, I load it onto the passenger seat, making sure it’s secure and won’t topple over during the short drive to Kelcie’s family home.
When I go back for the couch, the sheriff says, “I’ll grab this end. You take the other.”
Appreciating the help, I smile at him. “Thanks.”
It takes some pivoting and nudging, but we get the couch into the truck bed.
“I’ll follow you to the Woodruffs’ place and help you offload.”
Letting out a chuckle, I say, “You must really hate paperwork.”
“You have no idea.” While he watches me lock up the place, he adds, “A word of advice? Never work with your wife.”
I give him a chin lift as I climb into my truck, and while I reverse out of the driveway, I see Mrs. Adams glaring at me through the window.
Kelcie
I’ve decided to live out of boxes because I’m too lazy, but Levi is insisting we unpack everything.
“It will be quick,” Levi says.
My teeth worry nervously at my bottom lip. I have a growing sense of urgency to get out of Verona. There’s been too much death, and I can’t risk running into Colby’s parents. I know what happened yesterday wasn’t my fault, but I feel bad for the Adams family.
“Or we can leave it like this and move to the farmhouse when we get back from visiting Jordan,” I say, giving Levi a hopeful look.
“It will be dusty while we do renovations,” he reminds me.
“The main bedroom is ready. We can keep the door shut.” I move closer. “I want to get out of this town, Levi. Please, can we move to the farm?”
The corner of his mouth lifts, and his features soften. “If that’s what you really want, my muse.”
“It’s the only thing I want,” I tell him, giving him a thank-you kiss. “Oh, and I want to go to the cemetery. Would you mind taking me? Malakai said my car will only be ready the second week of January.”
“Why are the repairs taking so long?” Levi asks.
“They’re closed for two weeks over the holidays.”
“Right.” I watch as he neatly stacks the boxes on top of each other so they’re not scattered all over the place, then he asks, “When do you want to go?”
“Seeing as we’re leaving early tomorrow to head to Naperville, I was hoping I could visit today.” When Levi’s gaze meets mine, I add, “I’d like to introduce you to them.”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “Yeah? What are you going to introduce me as?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” I tease him. “My friend. My neighbor.” I toss around a couple of ideas. “My stalker.” I snort. “They’ll get a kick out of that one.”
Levi comes to wrap his arms around me, and staring into my eyes, he asks, “How about you introduce me as your husband?”
My lips part, but an instant later, I scowl at him. “You want to skip the whole wedding and go straight to being my husband? That’s cheating, mister.”
He chuckles, then says, “Okay. Then how about you tell them I’m your fiancé?
” Before I can give him my thoughts on that, he continues, “Tell them I bought a farm to show how invested I am in us. Tell them I can’t live a single day without you.
” My eyes begin to fill with tears when I realize what he’s doing.
“Tell them I would be the luckiest man on the face of this planet if you agreed to marry me. I want you as my wife, Kelcie.”
“Levi,” I whisper.
Standing in the house where my happiest memories are, I add another one to them as I ask, “Is that a proposal?”
The corner of his mouth lifts, and with emotions swimming in his eyes, he brings his hands up to frame my face. “Will you marry me, Kelcie?” A tear escapes, and as it rolls over my cheek, Levi leans in to catch it with a kiss. “Please. I’m only half a soul without you.”
A sob sputters over my lips as I nod. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He seals our special moment with a kiss, and when he finally lifts his head, he says, “We can buy your ring while we’re in Naperville and celebrate with your brother.”
“I’d like that.”
“But first.” He pulls away from me and grabs our coats from where they’re hanging near the front door. “Let’s go so I can ask my soon-to-be in-laws for their blessing.”
While I shrug on my coat, I ask, “How soon?”
“As soon as you’ll let me.” Levi indicates for Lick to come. “I’ll marry you today if you give me half a chance.” When Lick just stares at us from her warm spot on the couch, he asks, “Are you staying?”
Her reply is to curl up and go back to sleeping.
Laughter tumbles past my lips as I open the door. “Let her stay. We’ll only be an hour at most.”
I step out onto the porch and put on my gloves while I wait for Levi to lock up behind us. We walk to his truck, and when his phone buzzes, he digs it out and checks the message that came through.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you get a message,” I mention.
“It’s my agent. He’s just wishing me a happy holiday and not so subtly asking when I’m sending the manuscript.”
I give him a worried look. “Have you gotten any writing done the past month?”
Levi shakes his head while we climb into the truck, and as he starts the engine, he replies, “I couldn’t write while we were apart. Don’t worry. I still have eight months before the deadline.”
“Oh, that’s good.” I place my hand on his thigh, then say, “I’m sorry all the nasty business messed up your writing schedule. We can set up a writing corner for you in the main bedroom until we have the study ready.”
“I was just going to sit on the couch, but I like your idea better.”
The drive to the cemetery is quick, and when we get out, I glance over all the headstones that are covered in snow. “It’s actually so peaceful here.”
Levi meets me at the front of the truck and takes hold of my hand. “Where are they?”
I point at the big tree that’s a hundred yards or so away. We trudge through the snow, and when we stop in front of the three graves, I pull my hand from Levi’s and brush the headstones clean with my gloved hand.
“Hi, guys. Sorry, I haven’t visited for a while. Things got a little crazy, but it’s nothing for you to worry about.” I move back to Levi’s side and hug his arm. “This is Levi.”
He pulls his arm free from my hands and places it around my shoulders.
“I wish I could’ve met you all,” he murmurs.
He’s quiet for a while, then he clears his throat and says, “I’m sorry for what my family did to yours, but I want you to rest in peace knowing I’ll take care of Kelcie and love her with all my heart. ”
I place my hand on Levi’s chest and lean into his side as I smile at the graves. “Isn’t he the best? I knew you’d love him.”
I hear a car’s engine, but I don’t pay it any attention.
“Levi bought us a farm, and we’ll be moving in soon. I’ll take everything that was special to you with me, but Jordan and I are going to sell the house. I hope you’re okay with that.”
“I’m sure they understand,” Levi says.
“You killed my baby!” Mrs. Adams suddenly shouts behind us, and shocked by the sudden attack, our heads turn to look at her. “Monsters! It should’ve been you instead.”
“What the hell?” I gasp, my heart sinking. I don’t have it in me to handle an argument with Mrs. Adams.
“Jesus,” Levi snaps. “I’m so over this fucking shit.” He pulls his keys out of his pocket and shoves them into my hand. “Get in the truck. I’ll deal with her.”
“I’m not leaving you alone,” I argue. “Besides, you hate dealing with people.”
Sucking in a deep breath, I look at Mrs. Adams. “This has to stop.”
Her cheeks are flushed, and there’s a mean look in her eyes as she glares at me.
“You should’ve died with them.” She points at my family’s graves.
“I told Colby he was too good for the likes of you, but that boy just wouldn’t listen to me.
He could’ve made it big in life, but no, he stayed in Verona, chasing after you. ”
“That’s enough!” Levi’s voice thunders, and he moves partially in front of me.
A deranged expression makes her look scary as hell, and I grab hold of Levi’s arm as she spits the words out as if they’re poison.
“You played him like a fiddle, and you loved it, didn’t you?
You . . . You . . .” She gasps for air before she screams, “My boy just kept giving and giving, and you walked all over him. You broke his heart, but that wasn’t enough.
Why did you have to kill him? What did he ever do to you to deserve that? ”
Levi takes hold of my hand in a firm grip and pulls me in the direction of the truck while telling Mrs. Adams, “We are done here. You need to get help, lady.”
Suddenly, there’s a crack in the air, and as something slams into the snow near us, I let out a shriek.
As I realize Mrs. Adams just fired a gun at us, shock shudders through me.
“Have you lost your—” My sentence is cut short when Levi hauls me off my feet and runs for his truck.
My bear of a man makes quick work of putting some distance between us while I cling to him, my eyes locked on Mrs. Adams.
She points the gun at us, and when another gunshot fills the air, I scream, “Levi!”