“Long story short.I tracked Piers to tell him you were happy to sign the NDA, all the way to the jetty.Kelly, his new squeeze, told me Piers had taken the quadbike off-roading.”
I interrupt.“Off-roading?Never!Piers’s idea of outdoor sports involves martinis and a spa pool.”
“My thinking exactly.”Theron gives me a lopsided grin, and just like that, all memories of monsters are erased from my brain.I give him a little wink to let him know nothing has changed between us.
He perks up, but I can tell that things are still serious.
“I tracked Piers to the Farmers’.Mikey had told him how to find Ben’s farm.I cut across the forest.Saw quadbike tracks in the driveway dirt.Came inside…” Theron checks with me to see if I am okay with what he’s saying.I nod, so he continues.“And I found Amelia lying in the kitchen.So I started CPR.”
I want to hug Theron, but Shadow is looking ten shades of pissed.
“Did you smell Piers in the room?”
“All I could smell was copper, Shadow.But how about we don’t let that get in the way of forming the opinion that Piers did this.Where’s Ben?”
“I managed to get him off Landslide by telling him to go with Vince to fetch the doctor.He was ready to panic after seeing you with the sun on your face.Luna had to give him a Valium.”
Jumping up, Theron begins to pace.
“Shit.I checked, I promise.But the fucking wind lifted one of the curtains.I got a face full of sunlight as he walked in.”
“I told Ben he was in shock, Theron,” I offer by way of comfort.“We should stick to that story.I’ll back you up.”
The two Riders say thanks.
“Where are the others?”I can tell from the way Theron is moving that he wants to put the sunshine event behind him.
“They are combing the island looking for that snotty shithole.”Shadow fills us in on what the Riders are doing to try and stabilize me.“Luna has to keep playing the part of the kind innkeeper.She’s serving drinks.I got Celia Heiner into the inn kitchen, and we’re offering menu items for those who don’t want to cook their own supper.Just trying to make this appear normal.”
“Kelly and the kids?”Theron interrupts.
“Shit!You said they were at the jetty?”After Theron nods, Shadow disappears.
“You’re giving me a crick in my neck, Theron.Please sit down.”
He sits down on the floor next to me, sliding an arm around my shoulders.We sit like that for what seems like a long time, listening to the heavy breathing of my mom on the couch behind us.There’s a bloodstain on Theron’s jeans.That makes me sad.
“It’s a mess.I’m struggling not to see this as all my fault.”
“Heh.I wondered how long it would take for you to blame yourself.”Theron kisses my cheek, and the rough scratch of his beard scruff makes me shiver.“We should have listened to you from the start, darlin’.And that’s on me.”
We forgive one another, and this time I know our reconciliation is going to last a really long time.
“What’s gonna happen to Piers?”Leaning my head on his shoulder feels so good.
A low growl as Theron hears something outside.But it’s only Shadow.
He comes in with no helmet.The summer sun has finally gone.“Kelly and the kids were still on the jetty.She’s hysterical, insisting that Piers must have dirt planted his quadbike and demanding we call nine-one-one.”
“If only.”Theron grins, standing up and stretching like a jungle cat.“You okay to stay here with Amelia, darlin’?Vince should be back with the doctor in a bit.I better go help the Riders find Piers.”
Giving my mom a loving pat, I stand up, too, but it’s not to say goodbye.
“You mustn’t hurt Piers.You have to restrain yourselves.If one hair of his head goes missing, you will lose Landslide and everything else.No indemnity form can stop the Jordan lawyers from squeezing until you’ll wish you were dead.My mom’s alive.We’ll sign his contracts.Leave it at that.”
“Lock the door after we have gone, Aila.”
Sliding the bolt across the door, I go back to sit with my mom.
