“I didn’t think he’d—” His voice cracked. “I didn’t think he’d come after you.”
“There it is.” She swallowed past the tightness in her throat. “You didn’t think.”
He flinched.
“You got involved with someone dangerous and assumed the danger would stay contained,” she continued, steady but firm. “That it wouldn’t spill over. That it wouldn’t touch me.”
His breathing hitched.
“I never meant for you to get hurt,” he said, barely audible. “I swear, Tess. I would never?—”
“I know you wouldn’t.” Her voice softened, but she didn’t back down. “But intent doesn’t erase consequences.”
He finally looked at her fully then, and the guilt in his eyes nearly broke her heart.
“I could’ve gotten you killed,” he whispered.
They both knew how close it had come, so she didn’t deny it. “Yes. You could have.”
The truth hung there between them—heavy, unavoidable.
“And that’s why we’re talking about it. You’re not evil. And you’re not a criminal mastermind. You made a reckless choice—one that had serious consequences.”
Not wanting to beat a dead horse, she took a breath and let it out slowly. “You’re grounded from the computer for a month.”
He didn’t argue. Not even a hint of protest. “Okay.”
“You’re not allowed to carry this alone either. I’m going to see a therapist to deal with what happened, and I want you to go too—with and without me. We’llget through this together, just like we did when Mom and Dad died.”
His lips pressed together, and he swiped away tears that rolled down his cheeks. His depression weighed heavily on her. She hated seeing him like that. It would take a while, but they’d get through it.
“I love you, Andy. No matter what. Remember that.”
He nodded, then threw his arms around her shoulders, sobbing. “I—I love you too. I’m so sorry, Tess! I’m so sorry.”
“I know. It’s going to be okay.” She rubbed his back as he let it all out—the fear, the guilt, and the shame. When he finally got his emotions under control and pulled away, a thought occurred to her. “You know what? Why don’t you invite Kelle over tonight for dinner? I’d love to meet her finally.”
He blinked. “What?”
“We’ll order pizza and play Jenga or something. Brian will be here too. You need normal right now, and so do I.”
His eyes softened slightly, and a faint smile appeared. “Okay.”
It wasn’t much.
But it was a start.
Chapter 34
By one p.m., she’d fielded what seemed like an endless stream of phone calls. Patty. Grace. Sean. A few friends and coworkers. And Dr. Hansen—for the second time. All checking up on her. Three neighbors who’d heard about her abduction and rescue on the morning news had also called. Once word had gotten out about an agent-involved shooting last night, the media had been all over the story, and Tess’s name had been released—something Brian warned her about. Neither was happy about it, but it would’ve been public record soon anyway. Thankfully, Frank and Amelia Carbone said they would tell the other neighbors she was okay and not to call her for a few days, giving her time to decompress.
Brian had called about thirty minutes ago to let her know he was on the way to the beach house and would stop to pick up sandwiches for the three of them.The relief she felt knowing he’d be there soon had eased some of her anxiety.
Since the kitchen and bathrooms were now spotless, she’d turned to the laundry—tackling it in between reassuring everyone that she was fine—just to do something normal. Something mindless. Sheets. Towels. T-shirts. Familiar fabric beneath her fingers. She focused on the rhythm—shake, smooth, fold. Stack.
The ordinary domesticity of it should have been comforting.
It wasn’t.
