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Until the QuickMart.
He walked into my life for barely five minutes before he turned away and stomped past me, moving as if he couldn’t leave my presence fast enough.
I remembered the last day we were together, and all of his promises as the tears welled up in my eyes, falling down my cheeks before I could stop them. Lies, all lies. When the elevator opened, I kept my head down and rushed from my building, heading straight for my car. Sliding behind the seat of my black Mustang, I let my head fall forward onto the steering wheel. How could I have been so stupid? Why did I believe he still cared and wanted me after all this time?
My shoulders shook with my cries, my heart shattered and broken.
Was this my future? Day after endless day, feeling nothing but emptiness? Loneliness? Sorrow?
Yes, I was safe from my past, but I would be forever haunted by it too.
Five years later I’m living alone and still afraid to trust a single soul.
Sucking a deep breath into my aching chest, I vowed to close my heart off forever.
Fuck Peter Harding.
I wouldn’t be used again, not by him or anyone else.
Chapter 36
I walked into Sheriff Daly’s office and didn’t bother to knock as the door flew back and slammed into his wall, several chips of white drywall fell to the naked floor and tossed chalky dust into the air. He must be having his office remodeled. Not that I cared.
“We need to talk.”
Looking up at me, one hand raising the lit cigarette to his lips, Hollis assessed me with those same cool blue eyes as his son. Beckett was so much like his father. Calm and collected. Took everything in before he reacted.
Not like me. I was just like my old man.
Fucking temper like a raging bull in front of a red flag.
My palms slapped down on his desk as I faced him, nearly spitting my words, “Something isn’t right.”
“You’re gonna have to be more specific son.”
Grinding my teeth to prevent a sarcastic response riddled with the word fuck, I released a deep breath and met his curious gaze, “Rae’s been living in Juniper Hills for the last five years.”
“Yes, I know,” he answered slowly. “Beckett informed me a few hours ago.”
“You don’t think that’s awfully suspicious?”
“How so?” he puffed a long drag and exhaled slowly, keeping eye contact.
I knew exactly what he was doing. Playing fucking games and it was pissing me off. He wanted me to play my cards and show him what was in my hand before he spoke. Fine.
“My dad lives there. Ron met Sarah there. Rae was born there for fuck’s sake. You don’t see the coincidence?” I hollered, losing my shit altogether. So much for being calm.
Hollis tilted back in his chair and puffed again, holding the smoke in before he slowly released it, “I think your problem comes from a few missing pieces of the puzzle Pete. There’s someone you should talk to. I believe he holds the answers you need. At least a few of them.”
I frowned, “You talking about Mack?”
He shook his head and smashed the cigarette butt into the ashtray, “Listen, there’s a lot you and Mack need to discuss but that’s not the first person you should see today.”
Did he have to be this cryptic? “Just spit it out, Hollis.”
“Go visit Bryce at Juniper East.”
I scowled and left the room without another word. Bryce? Really? That asshole?
