Chapter 27 Riley
RILEY
My father holds me at arm's length and studies my face, his eyes searching for something I can't quite name.
His hands are trembling where they grip my shoulders, and I can see the exhaustion written into every line of his features.
He's aged in the weeks I've been gone, his hair grayer than I remember, the creases around his eyes deeper.
"You're really okay?" he asks for what must be the third time since he arrived at the safehouse.
"I'm really okay, Dad. I promise."
"Then you're coming home with me. Right now—tonight."
I glance over his shoulder at Rafe who's standing near the Christmas tree with his hands in his pockets.
Detective Hargrove is beside him, still questioning him but watching both of us with sharp eyes that miss nothing.
The two uniformed officers are wandering through the safehouse, examining everything even though there's no point, but the main detective has gone now, left her card and handed over responsibility to the uniforms.
"I need to pack first," I say to my father. "And Rafe's coming with me. I want you to meet him properly."
My father's jaw tightens, and I see the conflict playing out on his face. He doesn't want Rafe anywhere near me, but he also doesn't want to fight with me when we've just been reunited.
"Riley, I'd like to talk to you for a minute." Detective Hargrove steps forward, his notebook in hand.
My father releases my shoulders reluctantly and steps back.
Detective Hargrove gestures toward the couch, and I sit down.
He takes the chair across from me, and one of the uniformed officers positions himself near the doorway.
Rafe moves to stand behind the couch, close enough that I can feel his presence but far enough that it doesn't look like he's hovering.
"Miss Maddox," Detective Hargrove begins, "I want to make sure I understand the timeline correctly. You left for Buffalo approximately nearly six weeks ago, correct?"
"Yes, a few days before Thanksgiving."
"And your car broke down on the highway."
"Yes. The engine just died. I pulled over and tried to restart it, but nothing happened." Now I'm really nervous. They haven't mentioned a spare tire, though Rafe said they burned it too, so maybe that didn't show up?
"And Mr. Ferretti happened to be driving behind you."
"Well, yes. He stopped to help."
Detective Hargrove writes something in his notebook. "How did you two meet prior to that?"
"At a coffee shop in the city, about a week before my car broke down. We got to talking, exchanged numbers, and started seeing each other."
"And he just happened to be on the same highway at the same time as you going to Buffalo for your family Thanksgiving?" He narrows his eyes at me and I glance up at my dad, who's staring now.
Biting my lip nervously, I glance at him and then say, "Well, I was going to introduce Rafe to my parents. He was following me home for that purpose…"
Hargrove looks at me like he's not buying any of this but doesn't ask me to clarify. This is none of his fucking business. "And when your car broke down, he offered to bring you here?"
"Yes. I was stressed about the holidays and my sister's wedding, and he suggested we go somewhere quiet for a few days. It turned into a few weeks because I was enjoying myself so much."
"You didn't think to contact your family during that time."
"Well, I did send an email from my computer, because my phone was dead.
It died the first day, and I didn't have a charger.
At first I thought I'd just deal with it when we got back, but then the days kept passing and it felt so good to be disconnected that I just let it go.
I know that was stupid. I know I should've found a way to call them. But I wasn't thinking clearly."
I feel like I'm just repeating myself over and over, and I try not to make every story identical because it's the hallmark of a fake story.
Detective Hargrove leans forward slightly. "Miss Maddox, I need to ask you this directly. Did Mr. Ferretti coerce you in any way? Did he threaten you or your family? Did he prevent you from leaving or contacting anyone?"
"You've already asked me this and I answered you honestly. This was my choice. I asked him to take me away. I wanted the break." I could really use Rafe beside me now, holding my hands.
Lying about this cover-up sucks. I don't want to keep lying to them, but the alternative is probably a prison sentence for both me and Rafe.
"And you're aware that his company is currently under federal investigation?"
I blink at him, letting confusion cross my face. "What? What investigation?"
"The pharmaceutical company Mr. Ferretti is associated with has been flagged by the FBI for potential ties to organized crime. Drug smuggling. Arms dealing. You're telling me you had no knowledge of this?"
I shake my head, and I let a little bit of anger creep into my voice. "No. I had no idea. And frankly, I'm offended that you're implying Rafe is some kind of criminal. He's been nothing but kind to me."
Detective Hargrove studies my face for a long moment, and I hold his gaze without flinching. I can feel Rafe's tension behind me, but I don't turn around.
"If you discover anything about Mr. Ferretti that concerns you," Detective Hargrove says slowly, "I want you to contact me immediately."
He pulls a business card from his pocket and hands it to me. I take it and nod.
"I will. But I don't think that's going to happen."
He stands and gestures to the officers. "We're going to finish searching the premises. It's part of the warrant. Just sit tight for a few more minutes."
My father comes to sit next to me while the cops continue searching, of all places, the kitchen cupboards and under the Christmas tree. When they find the ruined laptop in the office, Detective Hargrove asks about it.
"Coffee spill," Rafe says smoothly. "Happened this morning…
" He stands with his chest puffed out, but he's relaxed.
I'm barely able to concentrate on the way my dad dotes over me, asking if I'm alright and telling me how desperately my mother misses me.
These cops have no reason to search all of Rafe's things, but I fully respect why he made me move all of his stash now. He knew this would happen.
After an hour of searching, all three of them walk back into the living room and stand over me.
"Everything checks out," one of the officers says to Detective Hargrove. "Looks like a couple staying here for the holidays."
Detective Hargrove nods and turns back to me. "Miss Maddox, you'll need to go to the station tomorrow to give a formal statement like the detective said. And we'll need to verify the information you've provided."
"I understand. I'll be there."
"Good." He looks at my father. "Mr. Maddox, you can take your daughter home now."
My father stands and reaches for my hand. "Come on, sweetheart. Your mother is waiting."
"I'm not going home today, Daddy… I want to stay with Rafe. We're planning to be there tomorrow, okay?"
"No, Riley, I forbid it." He pulls my hand harder, walking toward the door as the cops head toward the exit and file out. But I plant my feet and resist him.
When I moved here, he begged me not to come. When I called home for help, he offered to let me move home but ended up sending me money. And now when I want to be independent, he insists I should be under his roof.
I understand that he's scared, but I am a different woman now. And I have a man I love with me to protect me.
"Dad, no." I square my shoulders as he turns back around, and I feel Rafe standing behind me.
"I am staying here tonight. But I'll be home tomorrow for Christmas. Okay?" I reach up and hug him, and he squeezes me so tight I almost can't breathe. His face burrows into my hair and he lets out a choked sob.
"I thought I lost you, Rye."
"I know, Dad. I'm okay…" I let him hold me for a few seconds and then sigh. "Let me call Mom."
"What?" he asks, pulling away.
"Your phone. I don't even know where mine's at. Let me use it to call Mom and let her know I'm okay. But I swear I'll be home tomorrow."
Dad fumbles for a second, searching every pocket he has until he finds his cellphone. Then he hands it to me before wiping his face clean with his sleeve.
When I feel a hand in the small of my back, I know Rafe is there. He watches over my shoulder as I find Mom's contact and press the call button, and in under fifteen seconds the call is connected and her worried voice blasts across the line.
"Tom, oh my God, tell me it's her."
"Mom?" I say, and I hear her gasp first, then a sob or two. "Mom, I'm okay. It's me, Riley. I'm safe. Dad's here."
All I hear is sobbing. She can't put together any words at all, and that's when the real guilt hits. I can't believe I put them through this, and though it wasn't my fault, I'm the one who’s going to carry that weight for the rest of my life.
"Momma, are you okay?"
"Oh, baby… come home. Please come home…"
"I am, Mom. Tomorrow."
In the background I hear Lila and a male voice, maybe her fiancé, asking if it's me, which only heaps on more guilt. But they all know I'm safe now and I know I can go home safely.
We stand and talk a few more minutes before Rafe clears his throat and I feel him nudge me from behind. He's ready to send my father home and put this part behind us. It's been nerve racking and honestly, I'm ready for that too.
I manage to get my dad out the door and on his way home after forty more minutes of coercion and the instant the door is locked from the inside, I fall into Rafe's arms.
"You were incredible," he says as he holds me, and I let my eyes drift to the Christmas tree and become unfocused.
"I am exhausted… We have a long drive tomorrow."
"Then," he says, backing me toward the bedroom, "let me get you tucked in, Ms. Maddox, because you and I have a long, beautiful future ahead of us and we need to be well rested for it."
The smolder in his tone makes my heart flutter.
"A future?" I ask, and I like the sound of it too.
"A very long, very beautiful future, Riley."
Rafe's lips capture mine in a searing kiss and I can think of no other better way to finish our evening than to fall into each other tonight.
Tomorrow will worry about itself.