Felix
Sex. I had sex with Riley. My wife.
Except what we did—all damn night—felt more earth shattering than just sex. Not that I have any experience to compare to.
My muscles ache in ways they never have and in spite of the pain, I’ve got a goofy grin on my face.
And I’m in Uncle Granger’s truck heading down the mountain. Eyes wide open.
Last night changed something inside me. Changed the way I look at life—at the life I was living before Riley showed up at my door.
She’s the breath of fresh air I didn’t know I needed. The spark that sets my heart on fire. I’m in love with her. There is no denying it or avoiding it.
Maybe I felt that way all along and only recognize it now.
I can’t deny she’s had a pull on me from the second I saw her picture on Get Hitched.
I might want to hunt down her supposed uncle and beat him senseless, but I can’t ignore what he did brought Riley to me.
“Doing okay?” Riley whispers beside me.
I look over and grin. “Never better.”
Her confused expression makes me laugh, and I don’t blame her. Until this week, I didn’t want to leave my home, didn’t think about it. Uncle Granger made sure I had everything I needed, and walking to and from his place satisfied my need to be free.
Except right now, sitting in this truck, rolling down the mountain road that claimed Mom, I feel more free than I ever have.
Reaching over, I grab her hand and squeeze gently. “Promise. I’m fine.”
“Hmm…” Her gaze drills into mine. She’s looking for the lie. She won’t find it.
“This is a long time coming. I’m not worried, or scared, I’m happy to be at your side for this.”
“I hate that you’re forced to do this for me.”
“I’m choosing to do it for both of us.” Bending down, I drop a kiss on her forehead. “Now, let’s go over the plan again.”
For the next few minutes, we talk about what will happen when we reach Winter Lake.
First stop is the lawyer’s office to drop off the paperwork that will give Riley access to her inheritance.
Then we’ll meet with the chief of police and a couple of his officers before we head over to the house she lived in, unaware she owned it, to remove Warren.
It’s going to be a busy morning, and I’m hoping we might be able to have our second date. Lunch at Della’s Dina isn’t exactly the best date option, but we’re limited for choice because it’s too late to get a reservation at one of Winter Lake’s fancier restaurants.
“Okay, there isn’t any parking so I’ll drop you both off and circle the block,” Uncle Granger says as we approach the building that houses the law firm Riley’s parents used.
“Head over to the police station. We’ll walk from here. It’s not far,” I tell my uncle when he pulls to a stop in the street.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Glancing over my shoulder before I exit the truck, I see the concern on his face. “I’m okay, I promise.”
He must see the truth in my eyes because he nods before putting the truck back in gear. “See you over there.”
When we’re on the sidewalk, Uncle Granger pulling away, I slide my hand into Riley’s. “All right. Let’s get this done.”
Everything changes again today. It changed yesterday. Last night too. I have no idea where we go from here. All I know is wherever she wants to go, I’ll follow.
Taking a deep breath, she faces the entrance and steps forward. “Don’t let go of my hand.”
“Never.” It’s a vow. I might not be able to physically hold her hand forever, but figuratively, emotionally, I will always be with her.
It takes no time at all to hand over the paperwork and only a few minutes later we’re walking to the police station. The sun is out, the snow of a few days ago long gone if they even got any this far down the mountain, and I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to come back here.
“I don’t want to leave.”
Riley’s words have me missing a step, tightening my grip on her hand. “What?”
“I don’t want to leave Winter Lake. I thought I did, before, but now I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
Hope flares in my chest. “It’s a great place to grow up, to live.” Not that I’m an expert on the town. I might have gone to school here, had friends who lived in town, but a lot can change in a decade.
“Does it look different?” she asks, her gaze moving around the street.
I follow her lead and take in the buildings. “A lot is the same,” I murmur. “New paint, the odd store is different, but mostly it seems just as I remember it.”
“Will you come down more now that you have?”
It’s a valid question. When I insisted on coming with her and Uncle Granger this morning, neither of them was convinced it was a good idea. “Yes. I’ll come when you do.”
“Oh.”
“I said I’d never let go,” I remind her, raising our hands to make my point.
We cross a side street, and she uses her free hand to indicate down it. “See the dark brown house? That’s where I lived.”
From here, it looks neglected. The way the sun is out should have it looking bright like the houses around it, but the color, the weathered paint, make it dark. It makes me think of Halloween and haunted houses.
“Will you fix it up,” I ask without thought. “Sorry, didn’t mean to suggest—”
“It’s okay, it does need renovating; the bathrooms and kitchen have never been changed.” She smiles up at me as we leave the road for the sidewalk again. “I don’t know if I can live there again as it is.”
“I can help. I built the shed at the back of the cabin, and Uncle Granger and I built the woodshed at his place three summers ago.” I want her to be comfortable, to be happy with where she lives. “We can drive down every day and do a little bit at a time, or you can hire someone to fix it.”
“Hmm…” Her focus shifts to something in front of us and she smiles. “There’s Granger and Chief Yunker.”
Looking up, I see both men waiting for us, a couple of officers behind them. As we walk, the look on my uncle’s face changes and the chief lunges forward, his hand reaching for his sidearm. Confused, I react on instinct when both men yell my name.
Spinning around, I find Warren rushing toward us, a gun held out in front of him.
Everything happens at once. I yank Riley behind me just as a loud bang echoes down the street and pain spears my side.
Spinning more, I take us to the ground, shielding her from Warren, and the ground seems impossibly hard.
Another bang quickly followed by another echoes before I land hard on my side. Pain ricochets through my torso, but I don’t let go of Riley. Curling around her, I cover her as best I can, except I can’t catch my breath and she’s trying to wiggle free.
“Felix!” Her hands shove at my chest. “Oh my god! Felix!”
I want to move. Want to lift off her because I have to be crushing her into the sidewalk. “Rile…”
“Don’t talk.” Pain pierces me when she presses on my side. “Don’t move. Granger!”
“I’m here. The ambulance is coming.” My uncle is a blur beside me. “Fuck!”
More pain as he joins Riley in pushing against me. “Love. You. Rile…” It’s hard to breathe and my eyes are getting heavy…
“Don’t close your eyes. Felix, don’t close your eyes. Stay with me.”
The panic in her voice has my instincts wanting to move, to do what she asks, except with each struggle to pull in air, to hold my eyes open, my vision blurs more until I can’t do it. “Love…you…”