She never in a million years thought she’d actually run into Tanner. In addition to what the private investigators found out about him, she’d done plenty of her own research on the man. She knew he was a great homicide detective, respected in the community, and revered by his colleagues. She just hadn’t been able to prove one way or another if he was one of the cops on Ned’s payroll.
April first met Ned at her sister’s wedding and he seemed like a nice guy. After Casey was killed in a head-on collision with a truck driver who’d fallen asleep at the wheel, Ned adopted then almost three-year-old Violet, and life seemed to go on as usual. April hadn’t given it too much thought because she was too worried about her own life spiraling out of control at that point.Losing Casey caused April’s depression to hit rock bottom, and after a few stupid decisions and some recreational drug use that she’d regret until the day she died, April accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake in the elementary school parking lot where she was a second-grade teacher, and hit a first grader.
Just thinking about the accident made April’s head spin, her skin break out in a cold sweat, and her eyes burn with tears. She had no idea how that little boy made a full recovery, because April sure hadn’t. She still couldn’t make herself sit behind the wheel of a car, opting to either take public transportation or use a ride-sharing service to get around.
The school had understandably let her go, and just when April thought she’d be spending the next several years in prison, she got the call from Ned. He offered to “take care of everything,” if she agreed to take a position with DynaTech as Violet’s full-time nanny and homeschool instructor. April jumped at the opportunity. That little girl was all that was left of Casey. Not to mention, Violet was so young, and she’d recently lost her mother. They needed each other.
Before she could even see Violet, Ned presented her with the ironclad non-disclosure agreement. She knew the man ran a multibillion-dollar company, but something about it just felt wrong. Still, it wasn’t like she had much of a choice. Violet needed her, and April really didn’t want to go back to prison. She was grateful for any help Ned offered. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined that her sweet little niece was being used and abused worse than a lab rat.
So, April had signed the document, and prepared to keep any company secrets to herself as long as she got to spend her days with Violet. She was pretty much ready for anything - except the truth.
April threatened to go to the police that first day, but Ned reminded her of two things. One, she’d signed an NDA and if sheviolated it, he would ensure both she, and her recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's mother, suffered for the rest of their lives. And two, while her terrible accident had been deemed anaccident,and she’d been allowed to endure almost no repercussions because the child had made a full recovery, it was well within Ned’s power to change all of that by simply making a phone call to the right person and insinuating that April had been under the influence of something that they hadn’t tested her for. Or worse, if drugs were suddenly determined to have been in her vehicle.
Ned’s words were as vile as he was, and judging by the look in his eyes, April knew he could and would follow through on his threats. She didn’t so much care about herself, as she did her mother, who was already nearly lost to her on most days. But far worse than even that would be that Violet would then have no one on her side. At least by being here, April could make sure Violet was taken care of, ate all her meals, and was loved by at least one person.
After Casey’s death, Violet had become withdrawn, skittish, and shy. But with April’s careful and gentle guidance, she blossomed, started laughing again, and acting more like a child her age.
April couldn’t do anything about the half hour Ned controlled her for, but she could make sure that the other twenty-three and a half hours were as beautiful and peaceful as they could be. And that was why April had resolved to stay. To hold her breath in a sheer state of fear every second she watched Violet respond to the daily attacks by men four times her size. It was why she silently swallowed back the bile that rose up, burning the back of her throat every time Echo stepped into the room, or whenever she stood beside Ned and listened to his harsh tone as he commanded Violet - like she was some kind of robot instead of a little girl.
Staring at Tanner’s business card, she picked it up along with her cell phone and started to send him a text message. Zara was right. She’d learned everything she could about the man from the private investigators and doing her own online research. It was time to do the only thing she hadn’t done yet.
Spend some real time with him.
***
Tanner knocked on Blake’s door, holding a case of beer in one hand, and a bag with two bottles of soda in the other. It was usually Skyla who brought the booze to any event since she was the owner of the very successful Madigan’s Bar and Grill, but given the circumstances, he didn’t want to make any assumptions that she would have alcohol on hand. The truth was, he had no idea if there would even be any drinking, or if Skyla was allowed to drink after everything she’d been through. He simply didn’t know what else to bring.
Orly and Luke were bringing a pie. Hallie and Caden were making a casserole. Reese and Garrett were bringing a tray of finger foods with various dips. Martin had volunteered to bring plastic utensils and paper cups and plates to make cleaning up easier. So, all that was really left was drinks and booze.
Part of Tanner was grateful for that. Soda, he could do. Alcohol, he was familiar with. It was whatever he was going to face on the other side of that door that made him shaky on the inside, turned his stomach into knots, and honestly made him want to bolt.
But then the door opened. Blake stepped out and wrapped him in a bear hug. “Thanks for coming,” Blake said, his voice thick with grief. “Come on in.”
Tanner’s hands were full, but he let Blake hold onto him for as long as he needed, before following him inside. Luke took the case of beer from him, and Caden shook his hand before taking the bag with the sodas. It was quiet, completely unlike what gatherings with his friends were usually like. Skyla sat on the couch between Orly and Hallie, and while Tanner didn’t spot Reese or Garrett, Martin was sitting in the recliner, a mixture of tension and sadness written on his features.
Tanner made his way across the room and kneeled in front of Skyla. He took her hand in his, and held it for a long moment, meeting her eyes in a meaningful silence. He didn’t have to tell her that if she ever needed anything, all she had to do was ask. He didn’t need to tell her how sorry he was for her loss, or how heartbroken he was seeing the dark circles and redness around her eyes. He’d known Skyla for years, but it wasn’t until she and Blake had gotten together that he’d finally taken the time to actually talk to her and get to know her. She was strong. Full of passion, grit, and the kind of courage that left her friends in awe. He had no doubt she could handle anything life threw her way, but right now, the way she was looking at him, he’d give anything to take away the pain and anguish swimming in her eyes.
Just as he was about to release her hand and straighten, she leaned forward and embraced him in a gentle hug. He wrapped his arms around her, hoping to give her even a small amount of comfort. This would be a long journey of grief and recovery for her and Blake.
When she released Tanner and sat back, he gave a quick and quiet glance of acknowledgement to Orly and Hallie, then finally stood to his full height and went into the kitchen. He needed a moment to regain his composure. Luke was placing the drinks in the refrigerator, and handed him a cold beer as he walked in.
“You doing alright?” Luke asked.
Tanner nodded absently, taking the question for what it was. No one was doing alright here right now, and it would likely be a while before things went back to normal, whatever that was.
There was a soft knock on the front door. Blake let Reese and Garrett in, greeting them in much the same way as he had Tanner. Reese made a beeline to Skyla, where the women hugged tightly and made room for her on the couch. Luke stepped out of the kitchen as Garrett brought the tray of pre-packaged snacks in and placed them on the counter. “We didn’t know what else to bring,” he said.
Tanner placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “I think we’re all at a loss here.”
Garrett shook his head. “You don’t understand. This is all my fault.”
Tanner’s eyebrows nearly touched his hairline. Surely his friend wasn’t implying Skyla’s miscarriage had anything to do with him. “How do you figure that?”
Garrett’s sullen face grew even more pale as he looked over his shoulder, as if to make sure they were alone. Luke, Caden and Martin were in the living room with the women. Blake stood nearby, not really talking with anyone, but at the same time not turning away from his friends either.
“It’s my fault,” Garrett said again, softer this time. “If she hadn’t healed me -”
“Whoa,” Tanner interrupted him. “First of all, you don’t know that, and secondly, she healed you over a month before she lost the baby. I doubt there’s any causation.”
