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“Be careful. No one here knows I sent you out there. If you get killed doing what I hired you to do, it’ll be very complicated for me. So stay alive.”
King chuckled. “I guess that’s as good a reason as any to not get killed. It would be very inconvenient for you.”
“Totally.”
They disconnected the call and King sat for a long moment staring at the shack where he’d first seen Bailey. The way the light hit her. The way she’d warmly welcomed him in. No hesitation. It still warmed his heart.
Holstering his weapon and tucking his phone in his pocket, he knew he’d be breaking two important rules of Cinderhill by bringing both in. That was the least of their problems now. Everything was going to come to a head, and it was time for him to face Bailey with the truth, even if it demolished what they were building together. He couldn’t keep her safe and lie at the same time. And if he had to choose, the choice was easy.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
Bailey
With a look of determination, Bailey stepped forward to address the gathered residents of Cinderhill. They were standing in the garden, looking tired and afraid. The children clung to their mothers. The older men and women leaned against the trees and blinked slowly, trying to process what had happened and more importantly what was to come.
Bailey went right into trying to give clarity. "I know today's events have left us all feeling scared and uncertain," she began. "But we cannot let fear rule us. We must stay strong and stand together."
There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd, and Bailey continued. "The men who attacked us today are dangerous. They are loyal followers of my father's teachings, and they want this land back. But we cannot let them win. We cannot let them turn this place into a cult again. To ruin everything that is good about Cinderhill."
King spoke up, his voice low and serious. "Bailey is right. These men are dangerous and likely armed. More than that they have connections to the police that will make getting any outside help up here to protect everyone very difficult. We need to consider the safety of everyone here. If anyone wants to leave, I have people who can help you do it safely."
Bailey was taken aback by King's offer, but she quickly regained her composure. "I understand if some of you want to leave," she agreed. "But personally, I'll be staying here. I know that many of you weren't here when my father was leading this place. But I'm determined to make sure it never happens again. I won't be run out of here, and anyone who stays can count on me to do everything I can to protect us."
King looked at Bailey skeptically. "And what exactly will you do?" he asked. "Do you have a plan?"
Bailey could see his thinly veiled attempt to call her out. He knew damn well there was no master plan, but she refused to back down. "I'll figure it out," she replied firmly. "I won't let these men take over our home. And I won't let them intimidate us into leaving."
King sighed and shook his head. "I think people should leave," he asserted. "I think you should leave, Bailey. I understand how much Cinderhill means to you, but it’s not worth dying for. Not for any of you."
Bailey felt heat roll up her back. “Do you know what this place means to us? I doubt that, considering you don’t have a home at all. You’ve never been connected to people or a place the way we are to each other here. You’ve said it yourself. So how could you possibly understand why I’d stay?”
King’s eyes went wide with disbelief. Perhaps he expected some resistance from her, but clearly nothing so personal. It wasn’t her normal tactic and guilt crept in instantly, but she had to hold firm.
He turned his attention back to the group. “I don’t know how much time we have before those men come back and plan to stay. If you want to leave, let me know.”
Bailey was taken aback by King's plan to help everyone leave Cinderhill safely. "Who exactly do you have that can help all of these people get out?" she asked skeptically. "We're in a remote area with limited resources. How do you plan to handle all of that logistically?"
King met her gaze evenly. The anger over her words had subsided and was now replaced with some kind of guilt, though she couldn’t tell for what. Soon his words made that perfectly clear.
"The same people who helped you leave the first time will help everyone now," he replied, his eyes darting away. "I spoke to Carmen, and she's ready to do whatever she can to get people out safely. Unfortunately, there isn't a solution for how to stop the men who want to take over Cinderhill. This is the best they can do."
Bailey’s mind spun, trying to understand what he was saying. "How do you know Carmen?" she asked, stuttering the words out. "How did you call Carmen?”
King walked closer to her and begged her with his eyes to please hear him out. "I know this is not what you want to hear, but I’ve got to tell you the truth. Carmen asked me to come to Cinderhill to check on you," he answered quietly. "She was worried that you weren't safe. And she was right."
Bailey's anger flared like an open flame doused with gasoline. "You lied to me," she cried, her voice rising. "You didn't really care about me. You were just doing a job you were being paid for. You’re here to spy on us?” Her hands flew up to her hair and she grabbed at it to try to get herself to understand. “You didn’t really run out of gas. It was all a trick to get a job done? You and I were just—”
“No,” King corrected, cutting his hand through the air. “Once I was here, everything I did and said was real.”
“Real,” she laughed humorlessly.
There was a deep sadness in King’s eyes, but she couldn’t muster the energy to care about his feelings. He betrayed her. Tricked her. All for a job he was hired for.
"I did care about you, Bailey," he said softly. "I still do. But my job is to keep people safe. And right now, the safest thing for everyone here is to leave."
Bailey shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe you did this," she gasped, her voice breaking. "I trusted you."
King's hand reached out for her but she left no doubt by her body language that he shouldn’t.
