I whistle. “I bet. Makes it hard to lead yoga classes if you can’t do yoga.”
“It’s more than that,” Alyssa says, appearing lost in thought. “She’s acting so strange. Paranoid. Scared. They gave her a sedative.”
I pull my top lip into my mouth, bobbing my head, not at all surprised that Lanie Anderson is a tough patient. “What do you think is wrong? Just too close an encounter with a near death?”
She shakes her head, eyes narrowing. “No. It’s something more.”
I can tell Alyssa’s bothered, and I wish there was something I could do. But Lanie Anderson is a tough nut to crack, and it’s likely she’s just overwhelmed by tonight and unwilling to admit it.
“Lanie will be in a brace and will have to do some physical therapy, but she’ll be fine. They got her all cleaned up.” Alyssa yawns. “When she’s discharged, they’re going to check into the hotel to get some sleep.”
“Looks like you should too,” I say, pulling her into my chest and rubbing her back. “You look exhausted.”
“I am. But I wanted to wait for you.”
I get her into the car, heading toward the hotel. We’re both quiet for several minutes when I ask, “How’s Ashley?”
Alyssa’s head falls to the side. “They have her on an IV. A police officer is stationed at her door for when she’s better. Her mom was causing quite the scene when they showed up.”
“She’s going to jail,” I say, shrugging. “But I’m sure they’ll make a plea deal with her, and she won’t be in there long.”
“That’s what I said. The most important thing is to bring down the Order and whoever this KVS is.”
I nod. “Skiver and the FBI will do anything to uncover the people associated with KVS and the Order,” I vow, knowing that’s their objective.
“Now what?” Alyssa says, voice tinged with sleep.
“We get some rest and head home tomorrow.”
“I’m pretty sure Chelsea’s spirit has moved on. I don’t feel her anymore.”
I turn to look at Alyssa. She’s shrouded in darkness, but as we pass under a streetlight, making our way into town, her face is illuminated.
God, she’s beautiful.
Even exhausted, she takes my breath away.
“That’s good,” I say, clearing my throat when my words come out all husky.
“It is.” She sighs heavily. “Do you think when we get home, we can put the investigating on hold long enough to actually date?”
I laugh. “I promise you; we’ll make it happen.” I place one hand on her thigh. “You and me. This thing’s official, yeah?”
She turns her head to look at me, a lazy grin plastered across her face. “Definitely.”
That one word has the ability to turn an otherwise shit day into one that I’ll remember forever.
Alyssa Mann is quickly becoming my happiness. The woman I want to spend every minute with.
The woman I want to introduce to my crazy family.
And that scares me more than the KVS or Order of Providence.
Epilogue
The Tower
Two months later…
