He heard River take a ragged breath. “I know it’s a ridiculous expense, but... I need you, Pat. Can you...”
“Dad,” Patrick yelled across the room, “Call Bobby. I’m leaving for the airport as soon as I grab a set of clothes.” To River, he asked, “Do you need Row, sweetheart?”
“Yes, please.”
Her timid voice ripped his insides to shreds. “Dad, call Rowan and go pick her up. I’ll meet you at the airport. Bran, tell Raven what’s happened if you don’t think it’ll upset her too much.”
“I’ll tell her regardless, or she’d never forgive me,” Bran assured.
His dad disappeared upstairs, presumably to grab his own bag. River was still on the phone, her ragged breaths not calming his panic whatsoever. “He made the pictures into a... like a flip book. I watched every second of you kissing that woman.” River moaned in pain. “I don’t know if I can bear it, Pat. It’s all I see— all Icansee.”
Patrick was running up the stairs to their floor, practically bent in two, with the pain of her words ricocheting in his head. He heard Jo whisper words of love and reassurance. “Baby, baby, please don’t cry. Don’t leave me again, River. I couldn’t take you leaving me.” He ran into their apartment, grabbed a tote off the kitchen counter, and dumped groceries on the floor as he ran to the master. He wasn’t sure what he put in the bag, but he was out the door in less than thirty seconds.
As he hit the main level and the massive front door, Bran yelled, “Your guards have cars out front for you and Dad.”
Patrick gave a wave in acknowledgment to his brother, throwing his bag in the backseat of the first car. “Hold on, River. Two hours.”
* * *
River curledinto a tight ball as she hung up. She’d started crying in the shower and couldn’t seem to stop. It had nothing to do with the stalker and everything to do with the photos. God help her. She couldn’t stop the mental manipulation of the photo story. She still loved Patrick. She’d always love him, but... to have her face rubbed in... to see his mouth against another woman’s...
“I’m sorry, Jo. I asked Patrick to come. I... don’t know.”
“Only you know what’s best for you, River. I have... Thomas... you need your own Honey Bunny.” She smiled as she hugged River tightly. Apparently, everyone needed a little HB in their lives.
River rubbed her knuckles into her eyes. An attempt to suppress the raging emotions currently burning her body. Her phone started ringing again. She assumed it was Patrick. It was Raven. River heard her sister take several breaths, probably trying to speak through her tears.
“River,” Raven hiccupped, “would you... put me on speaker... just lay me on the pillow next to your head... let me... let me be with you until Patrick and Row get there. Please.”
“Okay.” And it was okay, or it would be eventually.
36
River’s bedroom door swung open, and her youngest sister walked in. Her eyes were red and haunted. Jo hugged Rowan after she slipped off the bed at her approach before quietly leaving the room.
Rowan crawled into bed beside her and placed her fingers gently on River’s cheek. “Rowan’s here, Rave.” River touched Rowan’s cheek and took a deep, cleansing breath. Her sisters grounded her.
“I wish I could have come to you,” Raven whispered.
“None of that, now. Youhavebeen here with me. I don’t have to see you to feel your love, but Raven, you need to settle now. Let Bran put you to bed. You know it destroys him to see you upset.”
“Fine, but promise me you’ll come to see me first thing when you get home.”
“I promise.” After hanging up, Rowan examined River’s arms. “They’re a lot better. I bet by tomorrow, the red will be all but gone,” River tried to reassure her.
Tears started leaking from the corners of her sister’s eyes. “I gave you that damn package. God, when I think of how much worse it could have been.”
“Don’t you dare blame yourself! Of course, you gave it to me. It had my damn name on it!” River tugged Rowan against her side so they could wrap each other up in hugs. They whispered soothing bits of nonsense to one another for another thirty minutes before Rowan pulled back.
“Are you ready to face him?” Him being Patrick.
“I asked him to come, so I imagine I need to.” River hated the flutters of conflict. He was the one person she wanted to see the most. He was also the reason those photos even existed. River groaned and rubbed her eyes.
Rowan slid from the bed. “You’ll get through this. Youarea Byrne, after all.”
That made River smile. “True. I’ll walk out with you.” As soon as she stepped outside the protective haven of her bedroom, she searched the room, looking for one man.
“Patrick,” she said quietly. He had been staring out the living room window but whirled around when the door opened. He looked destroyed... distraught.
