Chapter 16 #2
Her pause tastes like ash. “I don’t think it is,” she whispers.
“He said there wasn’t enough evidence that you harmed Lillian or forced her in the water, and his lawyer told him he would likely lose and his money would go with him, not to mention we advised that we had evidence of him hurting you after the fact, which is assault.
With all of that, plus Travis’s hotshot lawyer liaising with us, I think he knew he was going to lose.
I thought it was great, until he was leaving, and he whispered to me that I should let you know it’s not over for you, because he’ll be handling it himself. ”
Ice shoots through my veins. “Oh.”
“He’s dangerous, Vi. I’ve called the police and made a report, but they’re unable to locate him so you will probably hear from them very soon. There was something about the way he said it, like he just knew he was going to fix it himself.”
“We’ll handle this,” Chief says, before I can speak. “Thanks for letting us know, Sally.”
“That’s okay,” she says, her voice still shaky with nerves. “Vi, don’t come in until this is sorted. I don’t think you should be alone at all.”
“We got it covered,” Chief says.
We end the call.
I am standing, my leg wobbling, fear running through me.
Chief puts his hands on my shoulders just as Travis comes up the stairs, his eyes locked on me. “I’m going to get the club involved, see if we can find this fucker. Until then, you don’t go anywhere alone, stay here unless you absolutely have to go anywhere. We clear?”
I nod.
“What’s going on?” Travis asks, stopping next to me.
“I’ll let her fill you in,” Chief says, already turning and walking down the stairs, phone in hand.
Travis turns to me. “What is happening, kid?”
I sweep past him. “I’m going to shower.”
His eyes narrow. “Violet...”
I move to the bathroom, my hands shaking. Everything from last night, and then this morning, washes over me and makes my body feel like it’s going to give in and crumble.
A moment later, Travis is there, his face twisted with frustration. “What the fuck is going on, Violet?”
I turn around, my hands shaking. “Who is Amber?”
The colour drains from his face, which only makes everything hurt more. “What?”
“Don’t play games. You said her name last night.”
His shoulders straighten, just a touch. “I don’t know any Amber.”
My throat tightens. “Do not lie to me, Travis. I swear to God, after everything, do not...”
He steps closer but I put a hand up.
“I can’t talk about it now.” His voice is almost scarily firm. “But she’s not another woman, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Then who is she, Travis?”
He exhales, frustrated. “I swear I’ll explain. Just... not now.”
My chest aches with betrayal. I raise my hand. “Can you just get out?”
He reaches for me. “Violet—”
“No, you promised no more secrets. Please, get out.”
He does as I ask, which almost hurts more, because he didn’t cave and tell me. Instead, he chose to turn and walk away.
That fucking hurts.
I click the lock and press my back against the door. I stand, trembling, desperate to know who Amber is—and terrified of the answer.
While I’m sitting there, on the floor, I message Reagan. I haven’t spoken to her for a few days, and I miss her. I miss chatting and I need someone right now.
V - Can you fucking believe, I’m in lockdown again.
R - Oh shit, why?
V - Jeremy dropped the case and decided he was going to come after me on his own. It’s a long story, but it’s not great.
R - Girl, what the fuck? Are you in danger? I am calling.
My phone is already buzzing before I can type a reply. I answer and Reagan’s voice barrels through the speaker, frantic and strangely comforting. “Vi, are you somewhere safe? What is happening?”
I exhale. “Not really. They have me locked down. Jeremy’s gone full psycho and apparently wants to murder me, so club security is the big plan. Also, Travis talks in his sleep and said some other girl’s name, which is just... honestly, the cherry on top of my shit sundae.”
“Whoa, back up—he what?” Reagan’s voice is almost shrill.
I choke out a laugh, more broken than funny. “He literally said, ‘Amber, I’m sorry, baby’ in his sleep. And when I confronted him, he said it wasn’t what I think but can’t tell me right now. Is that not the sketchiest shit you’ve ever heard?”
Reagan is quiet, which is never good. I try to fill the silence, but she jumps in first. “Look, Vi, two things. First, are you sure it wasn’t some weird dream gibberish? Like, dudes are morons—maybe he had a nurse named Amber or some fling that went wrong.”
I want to believe that, so badly.
“I don’t think so. He said he would tell me, which means he knows it is something more than just a name. Something just feels... I don’t know, off about it.”
“Talk to him, honey. It’s all I can say. It’s the only way. Just talk to him. Now, let’s move on to Jeremy, because holy fuck. Is he violent? Like, he’d really come for you?”
My hand finds my cheek, cold against hot skin. “Yeah. Sally said he was basically threatening me as he walked out of the office. And he has been known to do crazy shit before, remember.”
“I remember, but I figured that was just grief and hurt. This... this is a whole new level of crazy. Do you want me to come there?” Reagan’s voice drops, protective. “Because I will. I have a bat and my car is big enough to run over any asshole that gets in your way.”
I let my head flop back. “No, just talk to me, okay? Distract me. Say something inappropriate.”
She’s silent for a beat, then, “I did sext my boss by accident last week. While sober. So it’s possible your tragic life is still less embarrassing than mine.”
It catches me off guard, the laugh that comes out. “Well, who was the text for?”
She goes quiet. “Harley.”
“Girl!”
“I know, it’s just new and...”
“You’re a bad, bad girl, Reagan.”
She laughs. “In all seriousness, maybe don’t jump to evil conclusions about Travis. Maybe Amber is, like, his goldfish that died tragically.”
I snort. “I just, I don’t want to be lied to anymore,” I exhale, staring at the tiled floor. “I feel like I’m always the last to know everything. Sometimes, I feel scarily alone.”
There’s a shuffling sound, then Reagan’s voice, quietly stern. “You’re not alone. You have me. And Chief. And, despite his significant emotional drawbacks, even Travis. Just focus on not getting murdered right now, okay? We can deep dive the Amber mystery when you’re less of a walking target.”
“Copy that,” I say. “Love you.”
“Love you, idiot. Call me if anything happens. I mean it, Vi.”
She hangs up. I sit in the hollow silence.
My whole body wants to cave in, but I force myself to stand.
I can’t hide in the bathroom all day. When I finally come out, the hallway is empty except for the faint smell of burnt toast drifting up from the kitchen.
I follow it, almost on autopilot. My feet pad down the old wooden steps, every creak and groan of the house making me jumpy, like Jeremy might burst out of the pantry with a gun.
The kitchen is empty except for Travis. He stands at the counter, his back to me, head bowed low like he’s reading a ransom note.
When he notices me, he straightens, smoothing his hands over his hair.
He holds a mug of coffee, the chipped corner facing out.
The toast is still sitting in the toaster, burnt, as I assumed. He is lost in his thoughts.
I take a deep breath. “Can we talk?”
He sets the mug down and turns to face me. “About last night?”
I stand on the other side of the island, putting the granite and four feet of space between us. “Who is Amber?”
His jaw works, like he’s trying to stop himself from speaking.
“I want to tell you. I do. Just not yet. But I promise you, it’s not what you think.
She isn’t... It’s not an affair, or a chick, or anything like that.
I know this is hard, and I’m not lying to you, Violet, but I need time with this. Can you give me that?”
I want to. I really do. But every cell in my body is screaming he’s lying, this will ruin you, you know it.
But I nod, because what the hell else am I supposed to do? He said he will tell me, and I have to trust that he will. “Okay.”
He watches me for a long time, like he’s waiting for me to say something else. When I don’t, he pushes away from the counter, grabs his jacket, and heads for the back door. “I gotta check in with Chief. Lock the door behind me.”
The screen creaks closed. I stare at the toast in the toaster, the charred edge crumbling onto the counter.
My hands are shaking. Something is wrong, I know it, but I can’t force him to tell me what it is.
I just have to let this one be for now. I have to believe that Travis is being honest, that he’s just protecting me from something.
But I’ve spent too many nights lying awake with the taste of regret in my mouth, and I can feel it coming again—this time, bigger and darker, a tidal wave about to break.
I can almost hear it in the hush of the house. Everything is about to collapse, and I won’t be ready at all.