CHAPTER 8 #2
“This is Ria,” he says, his voice thick with emotion as I look between them. “She’s my niece. Well… Honestly… She’s going to be my daughter. My sister and mother were murdered a few weeks ago, and it took them this long to find me. Are you okay with that?”
“Murdered. Oh my God, Callum. I’m so sorry. Of course I’m okay with that.” I reach for him, and he leans into me.
He hands me the baby as he returns to the woman in the skirt suit, who watches me with judgement in her eyes.
I hear them discuss that it will be a four-to-six-month process of home visits and proof that he is integrating Ria into his life and that she is a focus for him.
I overhear him say he’s already put in an offer on a house.
I walk away from them, cuddling the little bundle who is innocent in all this chaos. She lost everything in a matter of moments. I don’t know the details, but I know this little girl deserves to be loved and protected. In my heart, I make the choice that she should never be touched by danger again.
The door opens, and part of me expects to see Striker and Lia. Instead, it’s the sheriff, followed by Ridley. I look between them, wondering what the hell this could mean. They both move straight toward me and Ria. Ridley’s eyes stay fixed on me as I hold the baby.
“Ms. Forbes?” the sheriff asks, and I nod. “Ms. Andrea Forbes of West Lafeyette, Indiana?” he asks again, seeking further clarification.
“Yes, that’s me. But I live here now, on the university campus. I’m going to be making Eastport my home.”
That was part of our conversations last night. Between making love, it was decided that I’m going to move here permanently and build a life with Callum.
Glancing around the room, I notice everyone watching me, including Callum. His eyes are focused and concerned, but when they settle on Ria, sleeping against my chest, he relaxes slightly.
“I’m Sheriff Evander. I was asked to come speak with you for the Lafeyette Police Department Investigations Division. Would you mind coming with me?” he asks. I’m about to hand Ria over to Ridley when she steps in.
“She won’t be going anywhere with you.”
My phone rings, and I see it’s my mother calling back. Juggling the phone and Ria, I answer it.
“Hello.” I barely get the word out before she interrupts me.
“Don’t answer any questions from the police.
We have Lia and Striker on the way to the club, and they have an attorney friend on his way to you now.
Remember, don’t say anything at all. When the police show up, tell them you want an attorney.
And we will be talking about the fact that you’re at a motorcycle clubhouse without your cousin.
” My mom spits out the words, breathless and practically screaming into the phone.
Ria wakes up and starts to cry. As if it’s instinct, I start bouncing her and snuggle her closer, trying to comfort and calm her down.
“It’s okay, pretty girl. I got you,” I coo to her, and it takes a moment for the silence to catch my attention. Everyone is still looking at me, and my mom hasn’t said a word. “What?” I ask Callum, who has the biggest grin on his face. “Mom, I have to go. The sheriff is here.”
“No! Don’t answer his questions. I told you that. Don’t you listen? Are you drunk?” She pauses. “I don’t know what has come over you, young lady, but you will be coming home, and we will be discussing this.”
I’m pissed now.
“No, I’m not drunk. I can’t drink. As for why I’m here at the clubhouse, it’s none of your concern. I’ll do what I want. I’m an adult. Furthermore, no, I won’t be coming home.”
I hang up the phone and try to calm my nerves so I don’t upset Ria again. Turning to the sheriff, I eye him up and down. He’s kind of cute, tall with wavy blond hair. But he’s no Callum.
“I’m waiting for an attorney. But can I ask what this is in regard to?”
“Don’t answer that.” Ridley holds up her hand. “You asked for an attorney. He can’t talk to you.”
“But I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Just wait,” Ridley says.
I continue rocking Ria, trying to soothe her. When she doesn’t calm down, I spot the diaper bag on the table and grab a fresh diaper, then reach for the bottle in its sleeve to keep it warm.
The judgmental woman has been watching me the whole time she and Callum talk. I’m not sure what this means for us, but I’m not scared to date someone with a baby. I kind of like Ria so far, and I like having a baby in my arms. I like that she needs me. I want to be needed.
“Andi.”
I look up as Striker and Lia walk in, followed by an older gentleman in a suit. He’s well over six feet, with dark brown hair graying at the sides. He has a kind face, but I can tell he’s not a man you want to mess with.
“Hello, I’m Wayne Cadell. I’ve been retained by your family to represent you. Shall we go over there and talk?”
“Um… Wayne, I have no clue what’s going on,” I tell him truthfully as Callum works his way toward me. He stands off to the side.
“Look, Wayne, I understand her family is worried, but if we can just establish whether she’s even a suspect, that would be best. I just need to know where she was yesterday and last night, starting around three in the afternoon.
She could have driven back here. We don’t show she had any classes yesterday,” the sheriff interjects.
“This will be quick and easy, Ms. Forbes. Where were you?”
I know where I was, but I’m not sure what to say, so I start with the obvious. “I had a study session most of the day, but no classes yesterday. I was in the library, in a private room, with my friend Lennox until…” I pause and glance toward Callum.
“She was with me.” Callum steps forward, but before he can reach me, Striker blocks his way.
“I fucking knew it.” Striker’s fist flies, and pandemonium erupts.
The woman who was talking to Callum rushes over and tries to take Ria from my arms, but I hold fast.
“No, you can’t take her,” I say, pushing away from everyone.
“I was with Callum. Striker, he and I are together,” I admit.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but Ria isn’t being taken away from Callum.
I’ll stand on that hill with my dying breath for him and this baby.
” I don’t even know where that came from, but it’s true.
“She’s lost so much already. Don’t do this. ”
“You are a suspect in something, and that baby shouldn’t be with another criminal. She’s already had to endure so much,” the woman says.
“She’s no longer a suspect, per my calculations.
It’s easy enough to confirm her alibi. If she was in the library, we’ll find footage on their cameras.
And if she was with Cowboy here, then there’s no way she could have been back in Indiana.
” The sheriff defends me. “Loreen, I know you’re just trying to protect the baby, but I think she has a family now. ”
“She fucking does.” Callum moves toward me, wrapping an arm around me, his nose dripping blood from where Striker hit him. “Now, what the hell is going on?” he asks the sheriff.
“Bridget Amaica was killed yesterday. I believe you had a professional relationship with her, Ms. Forbes. She was your counselor off and on. The only file missing from her office was yours.”
Cradling Ria closer, I’m shocked to hear the news. “You’re saying my former counselor was murdered and my file was taken?”
“Yes. Do you know anyone who would do this?”
“I didn’t give you permission to ask her any more questions.” Wayne jumps in.
I hand Ria to Callum and step away.
I know. Shit, I know.
I look toward Ridley and then at Callum, holding Ria. Everything snaps into place.
“I have a stalker.” I let the word drop, and everyone starts talking at once.
I walk away. I need to get my things. I need to protect Ria and Callum, and this is the only way. At first, it was just me. Now it’s people around me. I knew I should have walked away sooner. Both Ridley and Butcher had suggested it.
When I reach Callum’s room, I ignore the bed where we slept, wrapped around each other.
I grab my bag, and before I walk out, I take my necklace off.
It was a gift from my father before he died, and it means so much to me, but I want Callum to know I’ll be back.
That this isn’t forever, just a minor bump in the road.
I need to stay away until this person is caught.
I’m not completely breaking up with Callum, but I need to keep space between us so this person doesn’t come after them.
Rounding the corner back into the large room, I don’t see Callum or Ria.
I want to say goodbye to him, tell him I care for him, and that I’ll wait if he’ll wait for me.
Moving around the room, I see Ridley talking to the sheriff and my attorney.
I don’t see Striker, but Lia is sitting in a recliner with the twins in her arms, eyes closed as they sleep.
“I think Striker and Cowboy are talking in the kitchen,” Jumper says. I thank him as I turn to head that way.
Butcher walks up. “What’s the plan? I can see it in your head. We need to figure it out before you go off half-cocked.” He blocks my path.
“I think we need to take some time, make the stalker think we broke up so they’ll go away and not jeopardize Ria or Callum.”
“Okay. Head to the kitchen, and I’ll meet you outside to get ready. Ridley can get you a safe house to stay at.”
I move toward the kitchen and am just about to enter when I hear his voice.
“I have a child to worry about now. Ria has to be my sole focus.” Cowboy’s words stop me in my tracks. He’s right. I step back so they don’t see me.
“Children change everything,” Striker says, and my heart breaks. Even Striker doesn’t want me with Callum.
I head out the side door, and just like that first night, I take off in an Uber.
By the time I get back to campus, I already have a plan in motion.
I’ve messaged my instructors, arranging to finish everything online and through virtual classes.
Lennox offers to pack up my room for me.
I stop at campus just long enough to grab a bag and jump in my truck.
I’m out of here. I’m running because my heart can’t take the fact that Callum doesn’t want to be with me anymore.
The life I was so sure I was going to have has been destroyed by my stalker, just like they wanted. They said I’d never move on, and now I can’t. I won’t jeopardize Ria and Callum for anything. I had originally only wanted to put distance between us, but now I have to end it with a clean break.
I shut off my phone and head home, ready to set the next part of my plan in motion.