Chapter Twenty-Six
The ride back to Balsam Cliffs has been quieter than our usual banter.
Both of us in our own heads about who is behind this mess.
I know he's thinking about it like I am because he randomly gives me an idea to connect the two groups together.
Only, one idea is more outlandish than the last. I don't know if I believe his boss is involved, that would be something truly next level, and who am I? A no-one that’s important enough for this level of extortion.
But money makes people do things they never would have dreamed of.
“We're almost home.” His voice interrupts my own thoughts.
“Oh, I'll text Emma. Your mom was waiting to bring Lily home for us.”
He only nods, his eyes scanning along the road.
“Do you think someone is there now?”
“I'm not taking my chances, because they were last night. So it’s not something they won’t do. I want to know who they are and why they're causing problems for us. I'll be fine, but fuck me if I let them get to you.”
Looking over at him, I can see the worry in his eyes. They bounce back and forth from one side of the road to the other. Lines are etched in the dark circles under his eyes.
“I'm sorry, you shouldn't be dragged into this mess.” My tears threaten to spill over, giving away my own worry about it all.
“I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Besides, it could still be all my fault, then I'm dragging you into my mess. And Lily. And that's definitely not fair.”
He puts the truck in park. “You go in. I'm going to wait out here for Emma and Lily.”
I nod, leaning over the center console to kiss him. “You're a good man, Cooper Keaton. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.”
I tentatively approach my front porch, making sure everything looks okay. Unlocking the door, I swing it open wide. Hoping to catch anyone off guard if they made it inside. Those security cameras can't come soon enough.
Moving from room to room I scrutinize everything. Until I come to an open window in my bedroom, one I know I didn't leave open.
Immediately, I spin around looking all over the room but nothing truly seems out of place. But there is something I can’t place that has the hair on the back of my neck standing on edge.
Unknown: > You’re finding that I was in your house right about now.
Unknown: > Do you feel it? The invasion?
Unknown: > I was everywhere. There’s not one room you can feel safe in until you give me what I need.
I stand frozen by the open window, staring at the barrage of messages coming in on my phone.
Unknown: I see you’ve gotten my messages. >
Me: Who are you? Why are you doing this? I have no money for you. Nothing. He died and left me nothing but debt. I can’t pay you.
Unknown: I know. But I’ll still get what I need from you. One way or another. >
Me: Leave my daughter alone. She’s innocent in all of this.
Unknown: Why don’t you check this drawer? >
Rushing over to the drawer, I pull out the envelope. Inside is a whole stack of photos. Me and Lily in our home, me putting Lily to bed, us with Cooper, even photos from my date with Cooper today.
The photos flutter to the floor.
Me: Leave us alone! Or tell me what the fuck you want.
Unknown: I’m good. I have what I want right now, you’re under my power, you’re stuck not knowing where I am, who I am, or when I’m cashing in.
Me: Fuck you.
Tossing my phone, as if it’s the one causing all this evil, I run out to find Cooper. But when I get there, he’s standing with Lily in his arms, talking to Emma through her car window.
“Hey, girl!” Emma yells.
I plaster on a fake smile, one that won’t give away what I just found. “Hey! How was my girl today? Good I hope?”
“Please. You know my Lily May was perfect. As always.” Emma laughs at me. I do not know that. Sometimes with her sass, I never know.
Cooper’s assessing eyes are roaming over me. He knows something is off. But he won’t ask in front of Lily.
A perfectly timed wail from Olivia sounds from the backseat. “Okay, someone is ready for bed.” Emma starts her car. “We’ll see you guys later!”
We both wave as she backs out of the drive.
Lily hops out of Cooper’s arms and runs inside, when I go to take off after her, my arm is pulled back, stopping me. “Don’t go yet. What happened? You look like you saw a ghost.”
“I need to get to Lily. Go to the bedroom, read my messages, it’s all there.
” The tears are about to fall and they can’t.
The stinging behind my eyes as I try to suck them back so Lily doesn’t suspect anything.
“I need to go.” He releases me, and just stands watching me as I back away from him before turning to run up the steps.
They were just here, my girl is in there alone, and I never shut the window.
Panic surges through me and I can hear my blood pounding in my ears. “Lily!” I yell as soon as I go through the door.
“What, Mommy?” She steps out in front of me from the living room floor.
“Hi! I missed you today.” Scooping her up, I walk over to the couch for us to snuggle, where I can hold her tight. “Tell me all about your time with Ms. Emma.”
She launches into a full blown, detailed diary of her day as Cooper passes through the house into the bedroom.
Two minutes later, Wyatt and his partner come through.
“Hi, Wyatt!” Lily says with a smile on her face.
“Hey, Lily May, how’s my favorite girl today?”
“I’m good! I pwayed with Wibby today!”
“I heard! That’s so fun!” Wyatt waves his partner through to the bedroom.
“What’re you doin’ hewe?”
“I just came to see Coop for a minute. Why don’t you and Mommy go to the inn and grab some homemade pizza and a cookie?
Mimi K is outside.” Wyatt holds my gaze, letting me know I don’t really have a choice.
“I think she might even want you all to have a sleepover at the inn tonight. Wouldn’t that be fun? ”
I glare at him. How dare they discuss this without me. How dare they not let me make my own damn choices about my daughter.
“Yay!” Lily immediately jumps off my lap, running off to her room.
“Wyatt.” I start.
“It’s not up for debate, Aubs. I need to process this home top to bottom with my crew. I can’t have Lily seeing that and getting scared.”
I shut my mouth. I can’t freaking argue with that. “Why does it need to be processed?”
“Because they were in here, Aubs. They were in my family’s home, under my watch. I’m not letting that shit slide.”
I nod in understanding. “Okay. I’ll go. But Wyatt?” He snaps his attention back to me from the bedroom. “You get the fucker. Promise me.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“No. I want a promise,” I demand.
“I can’t do that. But I can promise you I’ll do my best. Whoever it is, they’re messing with the wrong family.
We’ve got you.” He steps toward me, pulling me in for a hug.
“You’re not alone anymore, Aubs. The day you chose Cooper is the day you got the whole Keaton clan.
And I know Tommy and Aggie feel that too. ”
“Thank you.” The tears finally fall. The burning in my eyes was too much.
“Mommy, I weady!” Looking over, I see Lily standing with her little backpack, opened and overflowing with toys.
“How about I help you find a toothbrush. And maybe some clothes.” I chuckle through the tears.
“Fiiinneeee.” Her threenager self, showing too much.
Wyatt leaves us in the living room. Allowing me the space to handle this how I want to while he handles the rest of it how he wants to, or how Cooper wants to.
Once I grab Lily's things, I walk her out to Anna.
“Do you mind if I go grab my things? I didn't want to bring her in my room.” I whisper to her as we load Lily's bag and pillow into the trunk.
“Of course, honey. You take all the time you need. I'll be here for you whenever you're ready.” Her warm comforting smile has the opposite effect on me right now.
Instead of feeling the warmth from her, it just makes me feel embarrassed. Two of her sons are in my house right now. Seeing all the things I'd rather keep hidden. And it's only a matter of time until they uncover all the secrets I kept buried with Jack.
To make it worse, I'm going to the inn owned by her other son and daughter to hide out like a coward, something I'm damn sure not used to.
It's my job to protect my daughter.
I bet Anna's children were never in danger.
Walking into my bedroom all conversation stops, heating my cheeks more.
“I just need to get my stuff.” Ignoring everyone I grab my bag and start throwing items in.
“Hey, gorgeous, what's going on? Do you need something?”
Whipping around, I stare at him. The other two men take their cue to stop staring and start focusing very intently on some of the photos. “Why don't we go into the other room.” He ushers me into Lily's room.
It only takes me about thirty seconds to lose it.
“What's wrong? What kind of fucking question is that? You and your brother and who knows how many strangers are about to go through my whole life to find the psycho doing this to us and my daughter. Every inch of everything I do is about to be scrutinized, parts I want hidden won’t stay that way.” I throw my hands up.
“I can't even stay in my own house. I'm being sent away.” He goes to speak but I hold my hand out to stop him.
“Don't. I know it's for the best, but I still get to be mad that they're winning.”
Cooper pulls me flush to him. “I get it and I'm so sorry this is happening. But it's only for tonight then we can come back. I promise they won't win.”
“They already are.” I turn leaving Cooper in the room alone.
I'm being a bitch, but honestly, right now I deserve to throw a temper tantrum like Lily.
I'm so fucking angry.