by Stacey Wilk
“If I solved the robberies. If I could prove who did it. She’d still be here giving me a bad time about everything.”
“It might do you some good to go to the restaurant and tell good stories about Phyllis. Remembering her that way and not like this.” She pointed to the coffin.
“No.” He had no right to tell stories about her to make himself feel better. He would sit here and sear this image into his brain.
“Do you want to visit with your brother and dad for a while? Your mom is over there.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Tell me how I can help you.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed.
The back of his throat ached. He gathered Calista in his arms because he didn’t want to feel the pain anymore.
And cried.
Chapter Twenty-One
Calista unlocked the front door of the B and B. The smell of fresh paint met her in the living room. The place was shaping up, thanks to Justin. A name she would not bring up while Gage was with her.
He hadn’t said a word on the ride from the cemetery to her house. He’d kept his jaw set and his hands on the wheel. His knuckles had been white the whole time. She wanted to ease the pain for him and didn’t have a clue how to begin. She had let him cry on her shoulder but struggled with seeing him fall apart. It had reminded her of that night. He had been crying then too, and she had not helped him. The echo of that slap on his face haunted her at night. She hoped she was making up for that just a little now.
“Do you want a drink? I have some wine and a couple of beers.” She kicked off her strappy sandals. She hadn’t worn them since Fox’s funeral a few weeks ago. After today, she was going to burn those shoes. They only brought bad energy and aching feet.
He tossed his suit jacket on the couch and tugged his tie off his neck. “A beer would be great.”
She handed him the bottle. He held it to his head. She wasn’t expecting that. “Do you have a headache?”
“I guess so.” He twisted off the cap and took a swig.
“Are you hungry?”
“All I want to do is hold you.” He put the bottle on the counter and wrapped his arms around her.
She sank into him and inhaled his woodsy scent. She relaxed to his heartbeat. This was the only place she wanted to be.
The kitchen door banged open. “What’s going on here?” Her father’s voice rattled her nerves and made her jump.
“Dad, I didn’t know you were home.” His presence had her saying stupid things. As if she were a teenager again and had been caught drinking or making out.
“Where else would I be? The funeral was over hours ago. Calista, do you realize what you’re doing here?”
She eased out of Gage’s embrace and squared her shoulders. “I’m pretty sure I do.”
“Andy, you need to know Calista and I are working through our issues. We’re going to be together.” Gage stood his full height.
Her heart filled up her chest. Strength rolled off him. He was protecting her in that way he always had. His presence and the glare in his eye told everyone to back off. She was his, and he would take care of her. She had missed his protectiveness. It didn’t matter that she could take care of herself. Knowing he was there for her gave her extra courage.
“Yes, Dad. Gage and I are back together.”
Her father’s eyes grew wide behind his glasses. “The Rykers aren’t welcomed in my house.” He slammed the door behind him.
She wilted against the counter. “I’m sorry. He’s impossible this time because of all the changes I’m making. He’s mad at me. Not you. He likes you. He wasn’t even all that mad you arrested him.”
“I should go. I’ve caused enough pain for one week. It might be better if we meet at my place instead of here until your dad comes around.”
The weight of the day pressed on her. She didn’t want him to go, especially if he needed her, but she could use a few hours to recharge her battery and find a way to make her father understand that she was moving on and he would have to as well.
“Are you going to be okay?” she said.
“I’m going to take Silver Bell out for a ride, and then I’ll go for a run or something like that. I have work to do. I can stay busy. Can you come by later?” He gripped her hips and tugged her closer.
She snaked her arms around his neck and relished in his hard chest pressed to hers. “I’m working at the pub tonight to help Kennedy. She’s just about ready to start working again. Can I come after that? It will be late.”
“I don’t care what time it is. I just want you in my bed tonight.” He kissed her lips.
“Izzi will be across the hall. A sleepover won’t be respectable behavior for her father to partake in.” She undid the top button of his shirt and drew circles with her finger on the soft skin.
“I’ll send her up to the main house for the night.” He nipped at her earlobe. “We’ll finish this later.”
“I hope that’s a promise.”
“Oh, believe me, it is.”
****
Calista changed out of her funeral clothes and threw them in a heap with the sandals. She never wanted to wear them again. She would always be reminded of the pain on the faces of the people hurting at the loss of their loved ones. Death was a part of life, but that didn’t make it any easier.
She debated on talking to her father about her and Gage, but by the time she got the nerve up, he had gone out and didn’t tell her where.
That gave her an opportunity to do what she’d wanted to do since she stepped foot in Backwater. She opened the door to the lake house. Of course, it wasn’t locked. Her father hadn’t learned a thing since the robbery. They hadn’t replaced any of the stolen items, and the back door in the kitchen still had the wood nailed over the broken window. She’d have Justin fix that this week.
She wished she could make Gage see that Justin wasn’t involved in these robberies, but how to do that escaped her as much as how to push her father forward did. Packing up Ava’s room was going to end badly for her. That didn’t stop her from dropping cardboard boxes on the floor of Ava’s room.
The wooden box with Ava’s trinkets was gone. Her father probably moved it into his room. That could be his keepsake. She wouldn’t touch it if it was there, and she wouldn’t look for it.
She didn’t know how much time she had before her father returned. She couldn’t afford to be particular with how items went into the boxes. She would start with the clothes in the closet.
She ripped dresses and shirts from the hangers and tossed them in the box. She didn’t stop to look or remember times when Ava wore them. If she wasted even a second, she might not finish before her father came back. The dust flew around the room in angry swirls, as if to protest her actions as well. She threw open the window for fresh air.
The dresser was still full of undergarments, socks, and T-shirts that now smelled stale and old. Her hands flew over the worn fabrics and tossed them. Some of them hung suspended in the air before they floated to the ground. Many of them missed the box.
Tears spilled down her cheeks. She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. She had never thought this trip would turn out the way it had so far. Could she finally be at a place in her life she thought would never come? She had been waiting for years for the moment she would feel like herself again. Her yoga practice told her it would come, but she didn’t know when and had started believing it never would. How would she put the pieces of her life together again? But she finally saw the light to guide her. Not everything was fixed between her and Gage, but they were so close. They would make it, and she would be able to close the wound with Ava’s name on it. She would always miss her sister, but the pain could lessen.
“What the hell is going on in here?” Her father’s bellow shook the open window.
She jumped. “Dad. When did you get back?”
“Never mind that. What are you doing?”
“I’m packing up.” She held his gaze. “I want to clean t
his place up and start renting it out again. You can move back to the main house with me. You need to rent this house out to guests now. You need the money to pay the mortgage and continue the upkeep. Since you allowed the insurance to lapse, you also need the money to replace the stolen items.”
“First I find you in the arms of Gage Ryker. Now this. You only care about yourself. If you loved me at all, you would leave this room alone. I hate you. Get out of my house. Forever.”
His words were a slap on her face. Her body shook with disbelief. He couldn’t mean it, but the cold, dead stare in his blue eyes said he did. Her bottom lip trembled, but she wouldn’t cry. Her father had been sending that message to her from the moment Ava died. He secretly blamed her for Ava’s death.
If she hadn’t been dating Gage, Ava would be alive. Ava would never have been friends with Ajay if it wasn’t for her and Gage. Their relationship made a friendship with Ajay safe for Ava to explore. Except it had been anything but safe.
Her father had never said those exact words to her, but he didn’t have to. He stopped looking at her the same way after. And when her mother left without her, the door to his heart shut forever. He didn’t want her around as a reminder of what he lost. Not long after Ava died, she had packed her bags and moved away.
Without another word, because there was nothing left to say, she turned and walked out. She returned to the main house and packed her bags. She loaded her old SUV and drove away.
She stole a glance in the rearview mirror and said a final goodbye.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Gage pulled onto the ranch’s property and took a deep breath. This day had torn him to pieces, but knowing Calista would be with him later gave him hope. He would change out of his suit and go for a run through the wooded trails, then take Silver Bell out for a short ride. He hoped he’d be able to breathe again by then.
He passed the main house. Jett’s truck was there. Maybe Jett would saddle up a horse and come with him. He’d like to have his brother with him today.
His phone buzzed and connected through the truck’s Bluetooth. Lincoln’s number popped up on the screen. He hit the brakes. That was faster than he expected, but he had called Linc because of his skills.
“Hey, Linc, what did you find?”
“I don’t know if this is what you want to hear, but there’s nothing about Justin Crow you don’t already know. He’s clean. I even managed to get some outside footage of your town. He never spoke to anyone on those nights in question. He was nowhere near the flower shop the night of the shooting.”
His heart sank. “What about the brother?”
“Jamie Crow is a little different. He has a history of doing some petty drug stuff. He was arrested once, but nothing stuck. He doesn’t have a job. It appears he has a drinking problem too. There’s no connection to the robberies, though. He could be stealing to keep up the drug habit, but I can’t give you anything to pin on him. I’m sorry.”
“I need to arrest someone.” He had to tell his residents something. They were relying on him. He didn’t care that Lincoln couldn’t find anything. Justin was involved somehow. He could feel it in his gut.
“I’ll keep poking around if you want, but turn your investigation away from this Justin Crow kid. He’s not one of the unsubs.”
“Please keep checking. Thanks. I’ll be in touch.” He ended the call and pounded the steering wheel until his hand hurt.
Fury shook him. He had no other leads besides Justin. He kept showing up at every robbery in one way or another. He had to be connected, and Gage was going to find out how.
He followed the road past the barns and slammed on the brakes. He threw the truck in park and bolted out the door. He ran like mad and tripped in his dress shoes. He righted himself and continued without further thought. Justin’s beat-up sedan sat by the horse stable. Izzi had disobeyed him again and brought that criminal onto his property.
He bounded into the barn. They stood at the end of the aisle by Silver Bell’s stall. White-hot rage blinded him. He had to shake his head to see clearly. He forced his legs to sprint harder, as if he were about to tackle his sworn enemy. His arms reached out. He grabbed Justin by the back of his shirt collar and threw him against a stall door. Justin bounced forward. His eyes rolled into the back of his head.
“Daddy,” Izzi screamed.
He pushed Justin against the wall and fisted Justin’s collar in his hands. He yanked Justin onto his toes to look him in the eye. “Who robbed the flower shop?”
Justin opened his mouth, but he couldn’t bear to hear a lie. He shook Justin. “Tell me, or I swear I will shake it out of you.”
“Daddy, stop. You’re hurting him.”
“Isabelle, go inside. Now.” He never took his gaze off Justin. “Tell me who robbed the flower shop. You know. Do you realize that woman died because of you? She had a family who loved her.” He shoved Justin against the wall again.
He slid to the ground, but Gage wrenched him back up.
“I don’t know, Mr. Ryker. I wasn’t there.”
“You’re lying.” He hated liars. “Tell me.” His voice blew Justin’s hair back. The kid tried to squirm away, but there was nowhere to go.
“I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
Gage grabbed Justin’s neck. His vision narrowed to a pinhole. He wanted answers because someone he loved had been murdered.
“Uncle Jett. Uncle Jett. Come quick.” Izzi ran to the barn entrance and screamed.
Justin’s fingers scratched at his hands. The kid tried to kick him, but Gage moved out of the way. His height gave him the advantage he needed. “Tell me who robbed that store, damn it.”
Hands gripped his arms like a vice and dragged him away from Justin. Justin’s neck slipped from his grasp.
“Jesus Christ, Gage, let go.” Jett’s deep voice startled him.
The black around the edge of his vision retreated, and more of the barn came into view. Justin slid to the ground, holding his neck. His face was red, and he gasped for air. Izzi dropped down beside him.
Gage stared at Jett. His heart pounded in his ears. The hot rage continued to burn inside him.
“Have you lost your mind? You’re the damn sheriff of this town. You were going to kill him. Don’t we have enough trouble in our lives at the moment?” Jett wiped his face with his hands.
“I’m sorry.”
“Daddy, how could you?” Izzi helped Justin stand.
Gage took a step forward, and Justin jumped back. “Stay the fuck away from me.”
“I’m sleeping at Gammy’s.” Izzi led Justin out of the stables.
He turned to Jett. “He knows something about those robberies.”
“Choking him to death isn’t going to give you the answers. Do you think that’s what Phyllis would want you to do? Pull your shit together and fast. I don’t have time for this.” Jett marched away.
He tugged his phone out his pants pocket and dialed Barry Pearce.
Barry answered on the first ring. “Everything okay, Sheriff?”
“You’re the sheriff now. I quit.”
****
Gage downed the last of his beer and crumpled the can in his fist. He threw it against the wall and knocked over the picture of him and his brothers taken on the Mother’s Day before Ajay died. The glass shattered as it hit the corner of the cement hearth. He didn’t move.
Calista wouldn’t be there for several hours. He didn’t know if he could wait until after her shift to see her. She made him feel better, and he needed that now. But he wouldn’t go to the pub tonight. Not feeling as if he could tear someone in two.
He had really fucked things up today. He couldn’t be the sheriff any longer if he was willing to hurt a suspect. Or hurt anyone. He’d shown his daughter the absolute worst part of him. He was a lousy father. His whole family would be disappointed in him, and that would include Phyllis.
The doorbell shattered the silence. He hung his head. It was probably his mother or Jett or even
Barry. He couldn’t deal with any of them at the moment, so he stayed on the couch. Like a scream in the night, the bell rang again.
His phone buzzed. Without thought, he glanced down. Calista had sent a text.
—Are you home? I’m at the door. I’m early.—
He jumped up and tore open the door. The breath left his lungs at the sight of her. He gathered her in his arms and inhaled her spicy scent. “God, it’s good to see you.”
She snuggled up against him. “I appreciate that, but what’s the matter?”
He pulled back and looked down at her. “What makes you say that?”
She gave him a half shrug and a grin. “Well, it’s all over your face.”
“What is?” He pulled her into the house, then checked the area outside for anyone else. More habit than worry, but he did not want an unexpected guest to interrupt them.
“The anguish. Something happened since I left you.”
“I don’t want to talk about it now. I just want to hold you.” He dropped down on the couch with her and wrapped his arms around her so she was tucked against him.
“Gage, you shouldn’t keep it inside. Let me help you.” Her fingers tapped against his chest.
Emotions he wanted buried deep bubbled up to the surface. He fought to keep them from spilling over. He had cried already. He wouldn’t do it again. Move forward. That was what a Ryker did.
“I quit my job.”
She jumped out of his arms. “No way is that possible. Please tell me you’re joking.” She dropped her gaze as if to consider what he said, but looked back at him. “You’re not, are you?”
He hesitated. He wouldn’t be able to stand her disappointment when she heard what he’d done to Justin. It would be like it had been with Ajay. Even if she didn’t slap him this time, if the way she looked at him changed, he would crumble.
“I can’t be the sheriff anymore.”
“You’re scaring me.”
He took her hands in his and told her the whole story from the moment he called Lincoln. She sat there silent as the words spilled out on the wave of emotion he had desperately wanted kept inside.