Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Imogene
I heaved my exhausted body out of the driver’s seat of my SUV and stumbled up the front steps of my townhouse late Saturday afternoon, the weight of the past week heavy on my shoulders.
They say the truth will set you free.
In my case, the truth felt like a burden.
Ever since Liam all but admitted to shooting Samuel, I couldn’t focus on anything else. My mind constantly wandered back to our years-long friendship, replaying certain moments through a new lens.
A more jaded lens.
And with every resurfaced memory, I wanted to kick myself for not seeing the warning signs that had been so obvious. If only I hadn’t allowed the guilt I felt for the role my sperm donor played in his mother’s death to cloud my rationale, maybe I would have seen it all sooner. Maybe I could have prevented what happened to Samuel.
The only time I’d felt any sort of peace had been when I was out on the ocean or running along the beach. Even though we hadn’t spoken since I told him I believed him, Gideon continued to show up and sit at his usual table at The Daily Grind every day.
I’d begun to crave the early morning hours because I knew I’d see him, despite the confusion and turmoil plaguing me.
If I could just get through the night, I’d find some peace in the morning.
I punched my code into the door and let myself into my house, wishing I hadn’t promised Melanie I’d drive up to LA to spend the weekend with her after today’s game. So much had happened since the last time I saw her, and I didn’t know how to explain it all.
One thing was certain. It wasn’t a conversation we could have over the phone. Which was why I’d offered to drive up to see her.
Now, it was the last thing I wanted to do.
Tossing my keys onto the entryway table, I was surprised Ollie wasn’t here to greet me, especially since it was dinnertime.
“Ollie. Come on, pal. You hungry? You need to eat before we hit the road.”
I stepped into the kitchen and scooped some of his kibble into his bowl.
But even after hearing the telltale sound of his food being poured, he didn’t come out from one of his many napping spots.
“Ol?” I called out again, my worry increasing by the minute.
I headed toward my office, since that was where he tended to sleep during the day. When I didn’t find him there, I made my way up to his other favorite napping spot — my bedroom.
The instant I crossed the threshold, my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach.
Ollie lay on the floor beside his bed, as if he’d fallen off. His chest rose and fell in a rapid pattern, his eyes wide and mouth agape.
“Ollie?” I scrambled toward him, instinctively running my hand along his side. His heart raced out of control, each inhale a struggle. “What’s wrong, pal?”
But he didn’t respond or acknowledge me. Instead, he stared straight ahead, confused and disoriented.
Panic seized me, and I bolted downstairs to grab my phone, calling the only person I could think of.
“Imogene,” Gideon answered as I returned to Ollie and knelt in front of him, tears streaming down my face.
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came.
“Imogene?” he repeated, his concern evident. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Ollie,” I finally managed to choke out.
“Ollie?” His voice cracked on his name.
I knew this man better than most people. Or, I knew Samuel better than most people.
I never heard this level of raw fear in his voice before.
“He… I don’t know,” I rushed out. “I came home, and he was on the floor. His breathing is labored. His pulse is increased. I just?—”
“Henry, find the closest vet and call them,” he ordered without hesitation. “Tell them we’re bringing in a dog that needs to be seen right away.” Then he returned his attention to me. “I’ll be right there, Imogene,” he soothed. “It’ll be okay.”
“There’s no time,” I sobbed. “I need to take him in now.”
“I’m already here. Let me in.”
A knock sounded, echoing through my home.
I straightened, not immediately moving. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know why he was already at my house.
Then again, he admitted he’d been watching me for weeks. While a part of me felt it a huge invasion of privacy, I shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, this was a man who had killed to keep me safe. Knowing what I now did about Liam, Gideon wouldn’t have left me unprotected. He promised me as much.
Jumping back to my feet, I ran down the stairs and opened the door for him.
Unlike the suit he wore earlier this morning, he was now dressed in a pair of sweats and a hoodie, much like Samuel used to wear whenever he came from wrestling practice or the gym.
“Where is he?” he asked with a subtle tremble.
“In my bedroom.”
He ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and I followed.
During the short time I’d known him as Gideon Saint, he rarely showed much emotion, apart from a few isolated incidents.
But when his vision landed on Ollie, something cracked inside him, the fissure allowing more of Samuel to escape.
“Oh, god,” he whispered as he hurried toward him, carefully scooping him into his arms and cradling him. “It’ll be okay, buddy. I’m here.” He pressed a soft kiss to his head. “You’re going to be okay. I promise.”
He held him for a moment, inhaling a deep breath. Then he stood, carrying him out of the room and down the stairs, murmuring sweet words of encouragement every step of the way.
When we emerged onto the front porch, Henry stood outside an idling SUV with the rear passenger door already open. I slid in before Gideon climbed in beside me.
Throughout the short ride to the vet, Gideon clutched Ollie tightly to his chest, begging him to hold on as tears welled in his eyes.
And like that fissure in Gideon’s hard exterior allowed a piece of Samuel to escape, seeing this side of him again caused the wall around my heart to crack a little, too.