38. Chapter 38
Chapter thirty-eight
Warlock
It would be a month before we headed home again. The op was like so many others I’ve been on. But being my first mission as a free man, it felt more significant in every way.
For the last month, I’ve replayed everything that happened, and the one thing I know for certain is that breaking up with Tallahassee was the worst mistake of my life.
I need to see her. Talk to her. Thank her. Beg her forgiveness. Make it clear that I couldn’t let her put her life on hold waiting for me when they sent me to prison.
But I left my heart with her.
During my rare moments of downtime, I picked up the phone a hundred times to call Tallahassee. But what I have to say needs to be said in person. I just hadn’t expected the mission to get complicated and keep us out of the country for a month.
On the long flight home, I catch up on everything I missed. A lot has happened.
The men who attacked Tallahassee—now collectively known as the Tallahassee Four—each accepted pleas for multiple charges of rape and assault and are currently in prison serving time.
Not even daddy’s money could buy their freedom this time.
Three of them, Brett Abernathy’s son and the Lombardi twins, received life sentences and would never see the outside of a cage again.
Corey Kimball has a chance at parole, but not for at least twenty years.
After the surveillance footage from McQueen’s and the text messages he sent Tallahassee were turned over to authorities, Vincent Catalano was arrested and charged with stalking and extortion.
And as luck would have it, a routine vehicle search after his arrest turned up a significant quantity of cocaine, adding drug charges to his list of problems.
When his trial comes around, I suspect it’ll be many years before Vincent Catalano breathes free air again.
The team gathers around me, taking seats. Doc hands me his tablet. “Hey, boss, you might want to see this.”
It’s an interview filmed in New York while we were spun up. It features Tallahassee and seven other women who came forward after being attacked by the Tallahassee four.
During the interview, Tallahassee is asked about her life now. She admits she’s sad her swimming career is over and how unfair and stressful it was to be the butt of internet jokes because of Vincent’s lies. But she says she’s built a new life that includes a supportive family and good friends.
“I understand there’s a special man in your life?” the interviewer asks.
The question catches her off guard. She glances away. When she answers, her voice is full of sadness. “Unfortunately, that didn’t work out.”
The interviewer wraps up with a final question. “What does the future hold for Tallahassee Crockett?”
“I’m eager to put this all behind me and live my life in peace.”
When the interview ends, I look up and take in my friends around me.
“After what I did, I don’t know how she could ever forgive me.”
“You should’ve seen her. She was a hellcat when you were charged,” Pony tells me, sounding impressed. “She wouldn’t have done all this if she didn’t care about you.”
“Be straight with her,” Doc suggests. “She’ll forgive you.”
“She’ll understand,” Hawk says.
“You two belong together,” Ricochet insists. “You can’t give up on her.”
Nitro grunts his agreement.
I’m not convinced.
Do I really have the right to ask for a second chance?
I hesitate before stepping off the plane and onto the tarmac.
“You okay, brother?” Hawk asks.
“Yeah. It’s just…last time I walked off a plane after an op, I was arrested.”
Pony remains silent, but his expression is sympathetic when he claps me on the back in commiseration.
Now that we’re back on American soil, my first order of business is to find Tallahassee. That starts with a trip to Nash’s place.
I’m somewhat shocked when he lets me through the gate. The first thing I notice when I pull up is her missing RV. The second is Nash standing on his porch, legs spread, hands balled into fists. Waiting.
Skipping pleasantries, I get straight to the point. “Where is she, Nash?”
“Why should I tell you anything?” he snaps. “She finally opened her heart, and you crushed her. You turned your back on her.”
He’s right. I fucked up. I know that. I know I don’t deserve another chance, but I can’t let her go. I’ll never stop fighting for her.
Nash folds his arms over his wide chest. “I don’t know where she is. She didn’t tell us where she was going.” He studies me. “All I know is she’s taking some time off to consider her options.”
My brow furrows and I shake my head. “Options?”
“She’s thinking about moving.”
“Moving? Moving where?”
“That’s what she’s deciding. Maybe to L.A. Maybe farther north.”
No. I can’t let that happen. I can’t lose her.
Nash steps closer, his aggressive stance meant to be as intimidating as it feels. “Let’s be clear about something, Darren. If you find her and hurt her again, I’ll hunt you down and throw you a beating like you’ve never known.”
He’s her brother. Defending her is his duty.
“Understood. And if that happens, I’ll deserve it. I’m going to do whatever it takes to make it right.”
Nash turns, disappears into the house, closing the door firmly behind him.
I’ve been dismissed.
I stand here, staring at the empty space where Tallahassee’s RV is normally parked.
She’s not the same person now that she used to be.
As a world-class swimmer, she may have travelled the globe, but my Tallahassee is a homebody.
She values her privacy. With everything happening recently—the viral video, her interview, Vincent’s case, and the conviction of the Tallahassee Four—there’s renewed attention on her.
My guess is she escaped somewhere isolated. Someplace safe where she could hide but still have a modicum of freedom. I can only think of one place she would go.
The sun hangs low in the sky when I arrive. The gate is padlocked, so I climb over it to get inside.
Her motorhome’s parked in its usual spot, and my pulse quickens in relief.
When I knock, there’s no answer. I tell myself not to panic. Her RV is here, which means she must be nearby. All I have to do is find her.
I glance down to the beach and catch sight of her. Damn, she’s a sight for sore eyes.
Laying eyes on her again takes my breath away and eases the knot in my chest. Wearing jeans and a baggy cardigan, she’s walking along the ocean’s edge, alone except for a small cream-colored puppy with tan ears scampering behind her.
Recognizing it as one of Lady’s puppies, I can’t help but smile.
Tallahassee strolls with her arms wrapped around her body, hugging herself.
Her blonde hair swirling around her face and wafting out behind her.
Even from here on the bluff, I can see the sadness surrounding her.
It’s in her eyes, her body language. The only time she smiles is when she interacts with the puppy.
She shakes her head as it runs toward the waves barking, then retreats when they come rolling back in. I’m too far away to hear her, but I can see her say something to the dog.
Nerves humming like a live wire, and a sense of purpose in my stride, I make my way down to the sand.
I’m coming up behind them when the puppy notices me. Despite its short legs, it sprints toward me. It’s a friendly little thing. When Tallahassee turns and sees me, we both freeze, eyes locked on each other.
Her eyes widen. Her lips part on a gasp. Sorrow, confusion, and uncertainty cloud her expression. She must hate me.
We stand motionless, staring across the sand at each other. The puppy reaches me and excitedly jumps on my legs. I bend and scoop it up. It’s squirmy and wiggly, trying to drench me with kisses.
I’m the one who breaks the silence. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she echoes.
“Who’s your friend?” I ask.
“Liberty. But I’ve been calling her Libby.” Her response is hesitant and guarded.
“Good name.” I ruffle the puppy’s ears. “Hello, Libby.” I return my gaze to Tallahassee. “You adopted one of Dad’s puppies?”
She nods. “He gave her to me as a gift. But she was the last of the litter, and I think he just wanted to be done with puppies.” She keeps her eyes locked on mine, studying me. “You look tired.”
“We just got back from a month-long spin up. That’s why I haven’t had a chance to talk to you.”
“What are you doing here, Darren?” she asks, a million questions shimmering in her tear-filled eyes.
“Looking for you.”
“Why?” she whispers, hugging herself tighter.
I set the puppy down and stuff my hands in my pockets, suddenly nervous.
“I talked to Nash. Are you really thinking about leaving Coronado?”
Her eyes shift away from me, her brittle voice filled with unhappiness. “There’s too many memories here.”
I take a few tentative steps toward her. “You went public for me. Why did you do that, Tallahassee?”
After several long seconds of silence, she tells me, “I couldn’t let them take your future from you.”
“But why? Why would you sacrifice yourself that way?”
I’m not prepared for what she tells me next. “You came to my rescue. You changed my life, Darren. I couldn’t turn my back on you when I knew I could help you.
“When I was with you, I always felt…safe. You taught me how to laugh and smile again. You brought peace and happiness back into my life. I would’ve walked through the fires of hell for you because…” she glances away then back again, a tempest raging in her blue eyes. “...because I cared about you.”
I have to know. “Cared? Past tense?”
She stares at the sand and nods, quick little jerks of her head. “You made it clear we didn’t have a future. For my own sanity, I had to let you go.”
“I was trying to protect you. I didn’t want you wasting your life waiting for me when they sent me to prison.” Regret and shame coil through my chest. “I fucked up when I let you go.”
A single tear slips from her eye and rolls down her cheek. She glances up at me. “What are you saying, Darren?”
Wrenching my hands out of my pockets, I eliminate the distance between us.
I draw her into me, wrapping my arms around her.
Emotion overwhelms me from the feeling of her being in my arms again.
“What I’m saying, Tallahassee, is that more than anything else, I want a second chance with the woman I love. ”
Her tears flow freely now. “You…you love me?” Her breathless voice is whisper soft.
I cradle her face in my hands. “Baby, I love you in a way people only dream about. You’ve become a part of me. A part I can’t live without. My heart doesn’t have a home without you.”
She pins me with that azure stare. “I came back to Coronado, a pariah. I didn’t belong anywhere anymore. But it was you that made me realize home isn’t only a place, it’s a person.”
I’m clinging to the last threads of my control. My chest so tight, I can barely breathe. “Tell me you can’t live without me either, Tallahassee.”
She inhales a shaky breath while I wait for her response and my heart trips over itself.
“I love you too, Darren,” she confesses through her tears.
I let the words wash over me, my heart pounding wildly. I hold her in my arms, cradling her against my chest. “Thank fuck, Tallahassee,” I say against her hair. “I’m sorry for sending you away, Tallahassee. So, so sorry,” my voice cracks.
I’m stunned when she grasps me by the face. Hands trembling, she presses up on her toes, kissing me to cut off my apology.
“It was a bonehead move,” she tells me when her lips leave mine.
“It was,” I admit.
“Don’t do it again.”
“Never. I’ll never hurt you again, you have my word.”
I scoop Libby up in one hand, snaking my other arm around Tallahassee’s shoulders, tucking her close against my side.
We head back to her RV and the beginning of our life together.
When we reach the door, she swings around, those azure eyes fixed on me. She cocks her head, studying me with a look I can’t decipher.
My thumb grazes her cheek in concern. “What is it?”
She gives me that sultry smile I can’t resist. “You look like you’re going to kiss me.”
I tug her against me and grin back at her. “I am.” My grin turns lecherous. “And afterward, I’m going to do so much more.”
And then I did.