“I need to go talk to her.” Tinley stood up.
I sat her back down. “Let’s wait until she calms down and until Josh and Kyler get here.”
“You said you knew why she’s here.” Rayna asked.
“Why?” Tinley turned to me.
“I...”
The door opened. I expected to see Kyler and Josh, but Patrick stood in the door frame. He narrowed his eyes, and pressed his lips together so firmly that they disappeared. Not only had his face turned pink, but his ears were also beet red. He clenched his hands into fists at his sides before shaking his head.
“Kylie.” He looked to the ground. “Come with me.”
I stood up and took two steps toward him, forgetting I had Tinley’s hand in mine. I looked down at it. She gave me a reassuring squeeze.
Kyler and Josh barreled in, pushing Patrick farther into the room with us. It had become a familiar setup. The six of us in a room together.
My found family. After I told them how all of this started, I hoped they still wanted me to stay.
CHAPTER 35
PATRICK
Charlotte had spun a quick story about how she and Kylie had been working together to expose Josh for kidnapping and brainwashing her niece. It sounded like bullshit, except for the part about the recording she had of her and Kylie meeting to hatch their plan over a month ago in New York.
I listened to a portion before coming to the source.
Kyle moved out of the way when Kyler and Josh grabbed their littles and held them tight.
“I’m okay, Daddy,” Rayna said.
Tinley whispered something to Josh. He reluctantly set her down.
“Kylie knows why Charlotte is here?” She approached her. “Please tell us what you know.”
She took Kylie’s hand and led her to a chair next to the desk. It was odd seeing Tinley so assertive and grown, while Kylie, wide eyes and fidgety hands, looked like a scared little girl.
“That day in New York when you came in to give your statement, I was the one who escorted her into the building, andshe was so excited to be reunited with you.” Kylie looked around. “I needed to see the reunion. I thought if I saw you two together, it would give me a reason to hope.” She dropped her hands on her head. “I don’t know.”
I knelt next to Kylie and took her hand.
“Go on.” I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
“When it wasn’t such a joyous reunion, it broke my heart.”
“Oh, Kylie.” Tinley squeezed my other hand. “It must have brought up a lot for you because of your sister. I’m sorry.”
Tinley truly had a heart of gold.
“It’s not your fault.” Kylie wiped her eyes. “The next day, Charlotte showed up, asking to speak with me. I didn’t think meeting her in the building was a good idea, so we took a walk and ended up at a diner. I shared a little about my sister with her, and she shared about losing her sister. Your mother. She told me the two of you were close before you were taken because you were so close in age. Then she asked me what she needed to do to file a complaint against Josh.” She looked up at Josh. “I had the idea in my head, but I never told her about it, and I didn’t discourage the idea either. I asked her to give me a few weeks. That I was going to get to the bottom of whatever was going on and that I would make sure her niece was safe.”
Kylie turned to me. “That is all, Patrick. I swear I wasn’t working with her.”
I offered my support with a kiss to the side of her head. Josh and Kyler both gave a slight, consenting tilt of their heads, but this conversation wasn’t over.
“I should talk to Charlotte.” Tinley stepped toward the door. The entire room collectively lunged to block her way. “Guys!” Her face turned red while her balled-up fist turned white. “I am very much in an adult headspace, which I understand it’s rare and I don’t much care for it, but while I’m here, please let me take care of this. Put it to bed once and for all.”
We all stepped to the side, except Josh. “Tinley, are you sure?”
