He pulled away from the curb. My head was spinning. I lost several minutes just doom spiraling, and before I knew it, Holden was turning onto the highway that would take us home.
Home. It really felt that way. And now I didn’t see how I could keep it. My heart ached not just for Holden, but for the family and sense of belonging I’d found there. I’d miss Axel’s playful sarcasm, Bailey’s bratty snarking, Gray’s easygoinghumor, Dalton’s steady, grounded presence. But most of all, I’d miss Emory’s warmth and sweetness that made me feel I had a kindred spirit in the house.
Then there was Parker and the other teachers I’d befriended at school. Somehow, this little town in Nebraska had given me more family and friends—people I could count on to have my back, no matter what—than I’d ever found in the much larger city of St. Louis.
“I’ll call Dalton and see if he can do anything…” Holden was saying as he left the main part of Riverton behind us.
I glanced into the rearview mirror. There were two vehicles behind us. One was a dark SUV, the other an old, rusty sedan.
“Do you recognize the cars behind us?” I asked Holden, an awful thought hitting me.
“Uh, I don’t know. Why?”
“What if they’re following us?” I clutched at my seat so I wouldn’t grab him. I didn’t trust myself not to grip him too tightly in my panic. “We can’t show them where you live!”
“Wherewelive.”
“Holden—”
“Okay, I’ll call Dalton now.”
He placed a call to Dalton’s cell, using Bluetooth so Dalton’s voice came through the speakers when he answered.
“Hey, Holden, what’s up?”
“Got a problem,” Holden said tersely. “Those guys giving Shiloh trouble just showed up at his school.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s in the car with me. We were headed home, but Shy’s worried they might follow us.”
“Okay, go somewhere public. Where’s the nearest location to you now?”
“I’m not far from the pool hall.”
“Perfect. Pull in, go inside, and be around other people. I’ll head over and make sure no one’s tailing you, and if they are, we’ll take care of it.”
A wave of relief hit me. A sheriff’s car would spook the guys. They’d take off. They wouldn’t be able to follow us to Holden’s home. He’d be safe. His brothers would be safe.
Until I left, anyway. Brick and Curtis hadn’t driven all the way to Nebraska just to take off at the sight of a sheriff’s car. They’d hang around, watch the school, and wait for their next opportunity to corner me. If they managed to tail me to Holden’s place or asked around, then none of us would be safe.
“Thanks, Dalton,” Holden said as he flipped on the blinker and slowed to make the turn. “We owe you one.”
“It’s my job, Holden, but even if it weren’t, you’re family now,” he said over the car speakers. “I’ve got your back. That goes for both of you. You’re one of us now, Shiloh. We take care of each other, okay? I know you’re scared, but we’ll get through this.”
I wanted to believe him so badly. I just didn’t know if I should risk all the people I’d come to love. If I stayed, they could get hurt. And if I went, well, I’d be hurting for a long, long time.
I glanced at Holden as he pulled into the parking lot, that narrow-eyed look on his face that he got sometimes when he was pushing past his aversion. It was determination, courage, maybe a little rebellion too.
I didn’t see how I’d ever get over this man.
“I love you,” I said. “So much. I want you to know that.”
He shifted into park. “I love you too, but don’t talk to me like this is some kind of goodbye. I’m not letting you go that easily.”
“You might have to.”
“Absolutely not, Shy. Your problems are my problems. We will deal with this together. Because that’s what couples do.”
