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Ronan napped. Only once did a nightmare try to sneak in, but I talked him through it. He twitched and cried out, but I whispered soothingly into his ear until he settled again. He woke at noon, his stomach growling.
“Bibi and I will get lunch and then we can figure out what happens next.”
“What happens next?”
“Mitch goes to jail.”
He tried to protest but I silenced him with a kiss, then kissed him again, gently, on the side of his nose and on his temple above his eye.
“Put a shirt on,” I said with a grin. “And that is likely the first and last time I will ever say that.”
Bibi and I fixed grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup. Ronan, moving slowly and stiffly, came into the dining room.
“Hey,” he said, self-conscious and unsure.
“Oh, my sweet boy.” Bibi’s hand went to her throat. Tears filled her eyes and suddenly I was on the verge of a breakdown too, to see how much she cared for him. She recovered quickly and gestured to a place setting.
“Sit. You must be starved.”
We all sat at the table, Ronan beside me and Bibi across from us. When we’d eaten, she wiped her mouth and tossed the napkin on her plate. “Tell me, honey.”
Ronan told Bibi everything, including how Mitch had paid him a visit in the fall after his fight with Frankie at Chance Blaylock’s party.
Bibi pursed her lips, her eyes slightly unfocused but angry. “Shameful,” she snapped. “Using his authority like that. Ronan, you need to press charges.”
“He’ll just deny it. Frankie and Mikey will vouch for him. There’s no proof…” Ronan stiffened, his eyes widening.
“What is it?” I asked, alarmed.
“Maryann…oh shit, I remember. She had her phone…” He tore from the table. “I have to go.”
Before I could stop him, he hurried back to my bedroom. I found him pulling on his boots, grimacing in pain.
“Ronan?”
“Fucking stupid. I’m so fucking stupid.”
“What are you talking about? Who’s Maryann?”
“My neighbor. She’s the one who stopped it. She recorded the whole thing on her phone. And Mitch knows it.”
“Okay so…?”
“I need to get back. Make sure she’s okay. Have Bibi call her friend. Tell him to help Maryann.”
“Ronan, you’re panicking. Just take a breath—”
He stopped and the look on his face chilled my blood. “I couldn’t save her, Shiloh. Do you get it? I couldn’t save her. I was too late.”
I nodded, my heart breaking when I was sure it’d already been shattered to pieces.
“I get it,” I whispered. “I’ll drive you. Don’t argue. It’ll be faster and you can hardly walk.”
He nodded with gratitude and gingerly pulled on his jacket.
“I’m taking him home,” I told Bibi when we came out. “I’ll be right back.”
She heard in my tone that this wasn’t over and nodded.
