“The FBI?” Meredith this time. “Are you okay?”
“They stormed the house,” I explain and then feel the panic rise again. I do another round of deep breathing. “I don’t know why. They wouldn’t tell me anything. They took him.”
“Where, Tessa?” Jake asks.
I’ve always prided myself on being calm in the face of crisis. Right now, I’m not able to call on that. Tears keep falling, and I know I need to get it together. Me sitting here sobbing on the side of Main Street isn’t going to help Killian.
I wipe my nose and let out a cleansing breath.
“All the agent would tell me is that he’ll be taken to the county police station where he’ll stay until Monday. I’m guessing they’ll take him somewhere else after that. I heard another agent say something about federal charges and seeing a judge? Maybe.”
Meredith gasps, and Jake consoles her softly and then speaks to me. “Okay, we’re coming there. Are you staying at Killian’s?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you now?”
“I’m going to find his friends. They’re like family to him, and they’ll maybe know what to do.”
“All right, Tessa. Stay in Ember Falls—we’ll be there as soon as we can.”
The call disconnects, and I wipe my tears away and exit the car.
I’m praying Everett is here or at least one of the group. If not, Hazel is the best shot I have.
I pull the door open to Prose & Perk. The bell chimes, and Hazel pops out from the back.
“Tessa! Hey!” Then she sees me. Her big blue eyes widen and she flips up the countertop. “What happened? Are you okay?”
I shake my head and spill out all the information I have. She rubs my back as I tell her everything I remember. “I need Everett or someone. I need help. I have to help him.”
“Of course. I’m texting the guys now, and we’ll get this figured out.”
Hazel’s phone rings and she answers, explaining a brief summary of what I told them and instructs whoever is on the other end to get here and get the others.
“They’re on their way.”
I let out a shaky breath and remind myself that part of the reason I’m here is to help. I was sent to fix any issues with Ivy Thorn, and now I need to do that. I can cry and feel all the feelings later. Right now, Killian needs me to do my job as well.
“I need to call my boss,” I explain. “We have to manage this from a PR stance as well. Killian doesn’t need any of this, and I don’t think for one minute that he’s involved in any of it anyway. I spent weeks pouring over paperwork, creating lists and trying to find whatever Travis was up to. I know Killian. I know that sounds nuts since we only just met but…”
Hazel lifts her hand. “It doesn’t sound crazy. It sounds like love. You do know Killian, and I know him too. He’s not a criminal, at least, there would need to be some pretty damning evidence to get me to believe it.”
I head outside and call Brynlee, describing the events. I feel as though I’m going to have to tell this story a hundred more times, and I’m hoping by then I won’t relive it as I recite it.
It’s horrible and I’ve never been more scared in my life.
She instructs me to keep the information as guarded as possible. She’s going to work on her end to get in touch with a lawyer her husband uses. I’m to sit tight and stay close to the phone.
I push open the door, and Hazel leads me to a table. She hands me a cup of tea and takes my hand. “Are you okay? That had to be scary.”
“It was. Now it just all feels so…surreal. I don’t know what’s going on, and I’m worried about him on so many levels.”
“I’m sure. I am too.”
My eyes meet hers. “I don’t want to lose him,” I confess softly. “I know that sounds selfish and stupid, but I’m worried. I watched them cuff him, and I just had to lie there. He kept his eyes on mine, as though he was trying to tell me to stay calm and it’s okay.”
“I bet he was,” she says, squeezing my hand. “Killian, whether he knows it or not, loves you—or at least has really strong feelings for you. I’ve never seen him as torn up as he was at the bar when he said he lost you.”
