Chapter 20
Addie snuck a peek at Noah from beneath her lashes. He’d had a therapy session that morning, and since then he’d been…distant. Barely looking at her, giving one-word answers. And every time she touched him, his muscles did this thing where they clenched, like he didn’t want her hands on him.
Wasn’t therapy supposed to have the opposite effect? Shouldn’t he return to her a bit more healed each time instead of looking like his wounds had been pulled wide open?
She cleared her throat. “I’m excited to meet your aunt Pam.”
His fingers visibly tightened around the wheel. “She’s amazing, and she’ll love you.”
“I hope so. And I hope she gets along with my parents too.” She smiled. “I think Dad will like being surrounded by so many vets.” There were a hell of a lot of them, with Jesse, Becket, Holden, Colt, and Noah.
Noah dipped his head.
See…that. That was what she was talking about. Where was the conversation? Where was the Noah who used actual words to agree with her and ask questions?
“Do you think therapy’s helping?” The question burst out of her.
His brow furrowed, and there was a short silence before he answered. “I don’t know.”
At least he was honest.
She picked at a thread on her jeans. “Every time you come back to me from a session, you seem…”
“Worse.”
Her head whipped toward him, surprised at his choice of words. “Do you feel worse?”
“Yeah, I do, but I’m not sure why. The first few sessions seemed to help. But now I feel like every part of me rebels against the advice he gives me.”
“What advice does he give you?”
Noah’s jaw clenched before he pulled up in front of a house. “Come on. We don’t want to be late.”
He wasn’t going to tell her. Why not? Because she wouldn’t like the answer? Because at least part of that advice involved her?
She climbed out to find Noah already by her side. After grabbing the potato salad from the back, they headed toward the house, but she couldn’t just leave it like this.
“Noah, if this is going to work between us, we have to be honest with each other.” When they reached the door, she stepped closer to him. “Trust me with the truth, even if you think I won’t like it.”
“The truth is, I’m falling in love with you, Addie.”
Her jaw dropped, her heart taking off in a gallop. Love…he was falling in love with her. She’d known she was in love with him for weeks, but to know the feelings were reciprocated made a million emotions ripple through her body.
He inched closer and gripped her hip. “But as much as that makes me happy, it also scares me.”
“Why does it scare you?”
“Because I want to do this right. I don’t want to mess everything up.”
“How would you mess it up?”
“By rushing it. By not giving you the best version of me to love.”
She could have laughed. “Noah, I’d choose the worst version of you over the best version of anyone else, every day.”
His eyes darkened, and he lowered his head and kissed her. The kiss wasn’t desire or need—it was filled with emotion, and it consumed her.
When he lifted his head, he didn’t step back, instead touching his temple to hers. “This is why I need you, Addie. You make me feel like my flaws aren’t things I need to hide.”
“They’re just a part of you,” she whispered, still breathless. Then she smiled. “Like how my chocolate addiction is a part of me.”
He chuckled, and God, the sound was good to hear.
A car pulled up on the street, and Addie turned to see her parents climbing out. Her mother smiled, while her dad watched them closely.
She wouldn’t say her father disliked Noah, he just wasn’t overly warm or affectionate. In fact, she would say her father seemed to like Noah more than any of her previous boyfriends. But then, that shouldn’t be a surprise. None of them had meant anything to her.
“Hi.” When they reached the door, she hugged them both. Noah shook their hands, then opened the front door for everyone. He led them straight through the house and into the backyard, where they found the rest of the party.
Noah slipped an arm around her waist, and they walked around to say hi and introduce her parents. When they reached an older woman with graying hair and a wide smile, she pulled Noah right into a hug. “Noah, sweetheart, it’s so good to see you.”
“Hey, Aunt Pam.”
When she pulled back, it almost looked like there were tears in the older woman’s eyes. She might only be an aunt, but it was clear she loved Noah like a son.
Noah turned to Addie and her parents. “Aunt Pam, this is Addie, and her parents Mark and Diana.”
Pam held out a hand to her mother and father. “Welcome to my home. It’s nice to meet you both.” Then she turned to her. “Addie.” She tugged her into an embrace. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
Her brows rose. “You have?”
“Of course.” She pulled back, still smiling. “I make it my mission to learn everything I can about the partners all my children have their eye on.”
“Pam…” Noah started.
Her smile widened. “I’m really looking forward to chatting with you today.” She patted Addie’s shoulder before turning to her parents. “Come, let’s get you both a drink.”
When her parents and Pam had left, she looked up to see Noah had his eyes on Jesse. “Go.”
He looked back at her. “What?”
“You want to talk to him about Rhett and see if he’s made any progress on the case. Go. I’ll be okay.”
“You don’t want to come?”
She shook her head. “I could use a break from that today.”
His brows flickered but he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
The smile slipped from her lips the second he turned away. She hated that so much was going on for him. How was he supposed to focus on his own mental health with a murder at his workplace, someone sabotaging his rock-climbing equipment, and the threats that kept being sent her way?
And why the heck was his therapist not helping him?
“Hey.”
She jumped and spun to see Indie behind her. “Oh, hi!”
“Penny for your thoughts?” She rubbed her small, rounded pregnant belly.
Addie looked back at Noah, who was now deep in a conversation with Jesse. Neither of them looked happy. “I hate that what’s going on with me is affecting Noah and Colt’s new business.”
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t ask for any of this.”
“I know. But they’re targeting me, not them. It’s because I work at the park that it’s affecting them. And now someone’s dead—”
“That is definitely not your fault.”
“The park has to remain closed now.”
“Addie, listen to me.”
She took her eyes off Noah to look at Indie.
“Everything that’s happened is because some nutcase has decided they have nothing better to do than scare you. That has nothing to do with you. And you have been the most amazing thing for Noah’s life.”
She snorted. “I’m not sure about that.”
“I am. I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. It’s like you’ve put new life into him. Yes, right now, that comes with a bit of other stuff. But you are exactly what he needs.”
Addie’s lower belly did a little somersault. Because he was what she needed too. “Thank you. I’m not sure he agrees that he’s what I need, though.”
“Well, that’s because boys can be both wrong and stubborn. Sometimes they just need a bit of convincing from us women.”
She chuckled.
“You know what you need? A drink. I brought some amazing strawberry lemonade that would probably taste great spiked with a bit of vodka or rum.”
“Actually, strawberry lemonade sounds really good, no alcohol needed.”
“Wait here, I’ll get you some.”
Indie had just walked away when Addie’s phone vibrated with a text.
Jules: Hey. I’m worried about you. Can I make you a meal? Or can we grab a coffee?
A smile curved Addie’s lips. Jules had not stopped with the meals, the check-ins, the kind gestures…it was amazing. Jules was amazing.
Addie: I would love that. Coffee tomorrow?
She hit send and had just locked her phone when it vibrated with a text.
That was quick.
But when she looked at the screen, it wasn’t Jules.
Unknown: You think I’m fucking around? I’m not. Just wait and see.
Fear fisted in her chest, but it was quickly replaced by another emotion…anger.
She was so mad. Mad that this asshole was messing with her life. That he’d killed someone. And he still wasn’t even telling her why.
Addie: Tell me why you’re doing this. What have I done to you?
Unknown: It’s too late to start asking questions, Addie. You’ve already overstayed your welcome.
Her fingers were moving before she could stop them.
Addie: Fuck you.
“You think I did it?”
Jesse sighed. “Of course not. My deputy was just doing his job asking those questions.”
Noah gritted his teeth as he looked around the yard.
“You didn’t tell me things had gotten so bad,” Jesse said, voice hushed.
“I’m seeing a therapist. I’m doing everything I’m supposed to do.”
“I’m sure you are. I’m sorry you’re going through that. I’m also sorry I can’t share more of the case with you. I wish I could.”
“You can’t even tell me if you have any suspects?”
Jesse swallowed. “I can tell you that we found prints on the battery acid…Rhett’s.”
So he had done it. Asshole.
“Yet I’m still a suspect,” Noah said quietly.
Jesse stepped closer. “You threatened to kill the guy. Less than a week later, he turns up dead. I’m doing everything I can to steer this case away from you and find the person who actually did it.
” He glanced around the yard before looking back at Noah.
“Some of my deputies want me to get a court order to get any information your therapist has on your mental health.”
Jesus Christ.
“But I told you, I’m fighting for you,” Jesse pushed. “Because I know it would be a waste of time. You didn’t do anything.”
Noah spotted Addie across the lawn. Her head was down, and she was looking at her phone, but the second she glanced up and her gaze caught on his, he saw it. The fear. The anger.
“Something’s wrong.” He stormed across the yard. “What is it?”
She handed him her cell, and he took it just as Jesse came to stand beside him. Noah’s gaze ran over the texts, and suddenly he wanted to punch something. Ram his fist into a fucking wall, he was so frustrated.
“He texted back,” Jesse said, sounding a hell of a lot calmer than Noah.
“Yeah, but not to my last text,” Addie said, shaking her head. “I’m so angry. And frustrated. Why won’t they leave me alone?”
Noah tucked her into his chest. He wished he could stop this for her. He needed this to end.
The day went slowly after that. Too slowly. He tried to concentrate on the conversations around him, but he was giving a fraction of the attention that his family and friends deserved. Even when they sat down to eat, he could barely stomach anything.
The only true smile that curved his lips was when his phone rang and Bonnie’s name flashed across the screen. He leaned down and touched his lips to Addie’s ear. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
He didn’t answer the call until he was in his aunt’s living room.
“Hey, Bon-Bon.”
“Hey.”
His brows flickered at his sister’s mellow tone. “Everything okay?”
“Actually, no. Remember how I told you that I was scared about losing my job?”
“Yeah. Funding being cut at the shelter, right?”
“Yep. It happened. I lost my job last week.”
Shit. “I’m sorry, Bonnie.”
“Thanks. I’ve been looking for new jobs, but so far, there hasn’t been much.”
“Nothing?”
There was a small pause. “Actually, I found one job advertised. It’s kind of perfect. Exactly what I’m doing now.”
“That’s great. Where is it?”
Another pause, this one heavier. “Amber Ridge.”
He straightened. There was a job for Bonnie right here in Amber Ridge? Bonnie hadn’t been home for thirteen years. No one had even seen her since she was eighteen.
“It’s a stupid idea, isn’t it?” she rushed when he was silent for too long. “It’s been so long. Everyone probably hates me for running out of town—”
“Bonnie—”
“I should go. I’ve got food in the oven. We’ll talk soon, Noah.”
She hung up before he could get another word in.
Shit. He tried calling her back, but she didn’t answer. He quickly typed out a text.
Noah: You caught me off guard. This is what I should have said—yes, come home. We all want to see you. This is where you belong.
Technically, he couldn’t speak for everyone. Indie and Bonnie had always had a rocky relationship, but even though Indie was mad at her sister for leaving, she still loved her. Coming home now was better than never.
There were other people who were also angry at Bonnie, the main ones being the White family, who’d lost their son the night of their high school graduation party.
Bonnie and Dean White had been dating. He’d gotten drunk, she’d left, and he’d then tried to drive himself home.
He’d crashed the car and died at the scene.
His family blamed Bonnie. But it wasn’t her damn fault.
The back door opened and Becket and Sky stepped inside. Becket held a couple of glasses in one hand and plates in the other, while Sky held her dog, Bella. Bella wasn’t a typical cute dog. But Sky and Becket were infatuated with her.
“What are you doing in here?” Becket asked when he saw Noah.
“Just sorting some things out.” He wouldn’t be sharing anything about Bonnie until he knew for sure what her plans were. He looked at Sky. “Is that dog allowed in here?”
“That dog,” Sky said slowly, “is part of the family. Pam agrees.”
Noah chuckled. Of course she did. Pam loved all her family, fur or people.
Suddenly, Bella lunged for a piece of bread on a plate. Sky gasped, her elbow hitting a glass on the counter. It hit the floor and shattered.
Darkness squeezed around Noah like a wet blanket, the stench of blood and sweat thick in the air.
Dead. Boone was dead. And now they thought they could make him talk?
The blood around his wrists had long since dried. Physically, he felt numb. Like he couldn’t move or breathe.
A glass shattered. It was the asshole trying to get his attention, threatening to cut him. It wouldn’t work. Nothing would.
“Tell me if it was preparation for a larger raid.”
He looked up at the asshole who’d given the directive to kill his teammate. “I’d prefer to just see you in hell.”
“Noah.”
He flinched at the weight of Becket’s hand on his shoulder.
Then he turned to see Sky looking at him, worried. But she and Becket weren’t the only ones in the room.
Mark stood in the open door, a frown on his face as he watched, like he knew exactly what had just happened…and he didn’t like it.