29. Isabella
29
ISABELLA
C amille finished reading back over the notes from their meeting and turned to Bella, her long black hair falling off her shoulder. “Did I get all of the details correct?”
“Yes. That’s all I know… for now,” Bella said.
She only had pieces, but now that the floodgates had broken, the memories were easier to grasp.
Travis squeezed Bella’s hand he held in his. “That was a lot.”
Having him beside her through this made all the difference. He was patient when she needed to think before speaking, he reminded her they didn’t need to know everything right this minute, and he urged her to take breaks when she got tired.
“This is fantastic! When I got my memories back, it was a gradual thing. I remembered little pieces every day. You remembered all of this just today.”
Bella let out a deep exhale. “It was all because I saw that man in the Feed and Seed that looked like Gunner. I don’t know how long it would have taken me if not for that recognition.”
It had been a long day that just kept going. She’d remembered Gunner and a lot of her missing time early this morning and let it simmer while she worked. Now her shoulders were heavy, and her back ached.
“Do you need anything else from us? I think I need to get Bella home,” Travis said.
“Of course. Remember what I said about the journal. Write everything down, and we’ll meet again next week. If you remember something important, don’t wait for our meeting. Just call me,” Camille said.
Travis stood and Bella followed, keeping their hands linked. “I will. Thanks for coming to the office so late.”
Camille opened up her inbox and started drafting an email. “Anytime.”
“I hate to take you away from your family though,” Bella said.
“The boys know how to fend for themselves for a little bit without me.”
“Tell Noah I said hello,” Travis said.
“I will. We need to get together for something other than work. You should both come out to the ranch sometime.”
Bella had heard about Blackwater Ranch. Travis assured her it was just as beautiful as Silver Falls Ranch. “I’d like that.”
Camille waved a hand toward the door. “You go get some rest. We’ll talk next week, or whenever you remember something important.”
“Thanks again.”
“Oh, thank you . The investigator is going to have a field day when I send him these updates,” Camille said with a smile.
Bella stopped. “Just… tell him to be careful. I mean really careful.”
“I’ll be sure to deliver the warning. After what you told me tonight, we have more than enough to get a warrant and storm the headquarters.”
“Don’t do that, please!” Bella begged.
“Oh, no no. Don’t worry. We won’t do that. If they think you’re dead, we don’t want to tip them off that you’re alive. I’ll have my whole team in on this, and you can rest assured they won’t breathe a word to anyone,” Camille assured.
The tension in Bella’s spine snapped. “Thank you.”
“I know this is scary, but you’re doing the right thing. We’ll take everything through the proper channels.”
“What about protection for Bella?” Travis asked. “I mean, I won’t be leaving her sight, but will the police be involved?”
“That’s up to Bella,” Camille said. “If we involve the police, they’ll put the wheels in motion. They probably already have a team in Omaha watching every move the club makes.”
“I don’t know if we should do that just yet.” Bella said. “I’d like to remember more before that happens.”
Camille had gone over all of the scenarios with them earlier. Her extensive knowledge of procedures somehow put Bella at ease.
Camille waved them toward the door. “Go get some sleep. It’s past nine. I have an email to write.”
“Okay. Thanks again,” Bella said with a wave.
Travis’s hand rested on Bella’s lower back as they walked out of Camille’s office and down the hallway to the exit. Her office was located in a small, older house that had been converted into a law firm complete with conference rooms and a reception waiting area in what used to be a living room.
They stepped out into the chilly night, and Travis wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “You forgot your new coat.”
“It’s in the truck. I was too distracted to grab it when we got here.”
Travis opened the passenger door and grabbed the coat, wrapping it around her shoulders before stepping aside for her to get in.
Travis settled in and started the engine. To anyone else, he might seem relaxed, but Bella knew every little sign of his awareness. The way his gaze scanned every area, the way his jaw tightened, the way he stood closer to her.
“Travis,” she whispered.
“Yeah.”
“You don’t have to do this.”
He looked from the road to her in the seat beside him. “Do what?”
“Look out for me. Now that we both know the dangers, you don’t have to watch over me. You’re not–”
“Hold up. Forgive me for cutting you off, but we’ve been over this before. I want to be with you. I want to protect you. That’s as simple as it gets, Bella.”
Why would anyone want to put up with this burden she carried? She drained the life out of everyone around her, and she hated it.
Travis reached for her hand and lifted it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. “You won’t hear me complaining about spending more time with you, that’s for sure.”
All the cold fear from the day seeped out of her. Surrounded by her new coat and Travis’s affection, it was possible to hope things would turn out okay.
Maybe Gunner and the club wouldn’t ever find out she was still alive. They’d have no reason to look for her. Surely, they’d have already come if they thought she was still breathing.
Travis pulled up at Anna’s house and shut off the truck.
“Are you coming in?” Bella asked.
“I’d like to.”
Bella squeezed his hand before letting it go. He rounded the front of the truck to her side, scanning the area as he went. He opened her door and kept her close as they went inside.
Dishes clinked in the kitchen between raised voices.
“Mom, please. I can handle this.”
“You have to do something. He’s going to get tired of your nagging and leave you before the wedding.”
Travis closed the door with a little too much force, and the conversation in the kitchen quieted.
Seconds later, Anna appeared in the doorway. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her usual smile was absent.
“Hey, I was getting worried.”
Bella had texted Anna earlier saying she was going to Camille’s for an emergency meeting. The details of the day had been too much to send over a text.
Anna’s mother stepped out of the kitchen and didn’t bother to hide her scowl. It wasn’t abnormal for the two to butt heads. Anna’s mom was a picture of sophistication and old money, and despite her insistence that she did everything to help Anna, Catherine Harris never seemed to be satisfied with her daughter.
Travis took Bella’s coat and hung it on the hook by the door. The closer Anna came, the more Bella noticed the signs of a problem. Anna didn’t wear any makeup, but her cheeks and eyes were pink and raw.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” Bella asked.
Anna waved a hand in the air. “It’s nothing.” Her short answer said she didn’t want to discuss whatever was bothering her while her mom was still around. Probably because her mom was the problem.
Catherine smoothed the sleeves of her cashmere sweater and lifted her chin. “I’d better go. Your father will be worried.”
Anna pasted on a shy smile. “Good night.”
Catherine echoed the farewell and tugged her coat tighter around her as she stepped out the front door.
Anna inhaled a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. “Sorry about that. What happened that made you need an emergency meeting with Camille?”
Why did Anna have to discredit her own problems? She did so much for everyone else but never asked for help or support when she needed it.
Bella reached out a hand and brushed Anna’s arm. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Anna shook her head, bouncing her ponytail from side to side. “Nope. Let’s talk about you.”
Bella glanced at Travis. She had to tell Anna everything. If there was a chance the club could come for Bella, Anna could be in danger. “You might want to sit down.”