I jerk back at her mentioning he loves me. It’s too soon. He doesn’t love me. He can’t.
“He didn’t lose me.”
She smiles at that. “No, but he was worried he did. I’m going to assume you guys had a fight?”
I scoff. “I wish. We learned some information that neither of us was prepared for.”
One of her dark brown brows rise. “Really?”
“It’s not important.”
The door chimes and in come Miles, Penelope, and Everett. They each see me and rush over, all talking at once.
Hazel stands. “Easy, she’s been through hell too.”
“He’s going through worse,” I say as I get to my feet. “I need all of your help to squash any rumors of the arrest.”
“If it was spreading, one of us would’ve already heard,” Everett says. “Where’s Lachlan?”
“He’s on his way,” Miles says and then turns to me. “Did Killian say anything? Do you think he had a clue this was coming?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so. We were talking after we both had pretty interesting mornings…”
My God. I remember where he was before this. He was with Liam, and it was for something important—at least that’s what Gary said.
“What?” Miles says quickly, but I turn to Penelope.
“Penny, your brother, he knows Liam, right?”
She nods. “Yes, they’ve been best friends forever. They work for the same company.”
“Can you call him?”
“Sure. Liam or my brother?”
“Do you have Liam’s number?”
“Yes,” she answers quickly, pulling her phone out of her bag. She rattles off the number, and I quickly dial it.
He answers after the third ring. “Dempsey.”
“Liam? This is Tessa and…we’ve had a situation with Killian.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know a Killian.”
My entire body slumps. I don’t have time for this, but just as defeat washes over me, Penelope extends her hand for the phone and I give it to her.
“Liam, it’s Penny. The FBI came, raided his house, and arrested him. Tell her whatever she needs to know.” She hands the phone back to me.
“Penny?”
“No, it’s Tessa.”
He sighs. “I tried calling his phone, but no one picked up.”
Liam was the one who was trying to get in touch with him. “We were talking…and…he didn’t look.”
“I’m on my way to Ember Falls. We have a lot to go over. Just…stay there.”
