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He stepped forward and said, “I don’t know, but Bennett will find out. Don’t worry, Meri. I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re safe.”
“Not now, but you will. So, thank you, but I’m going to take care of myself.” I was the only one I can count on.
“Meri, you can trust me.”
“I want to. But I’m afraid that you will keep things from me again,” I said.
“You mean like you are from me? You won’t tell me what is wrong with Reesa. And I have not shut you out because of it,” he said.
“That’s different. I had sworn to keep her secret,” I explained.
“And my brother has done the same, yet I have told you things I shouldn’t.”
He was right. I was holding him to a higher standard than I had set for myself. But there was one thing I knew Bennett didn’t tell him not to share with me, and that was his timeline for staying or going. That was all on Ryker.
“Tell me the truth as to why you didn’t tell me you were staying longer,” I demanded.
He paused for a moment, then said, “Things were so good between us. I was afraid that if I told you, and then changed my mind and left anyway, it would hurt even more. So, I waited until I was sure I was staying. Could I have told you earlier? Yeah. But I also knew that I didn’t want to give you false hope about our relationship. I’m staying but not for good. Just to help Reesa. And now with Mombo gone, I’m not sure how much longer I will be here. Maybe just a few more days,” he said.
I didn’t want to feel anything, but I did. “I...I know you have to leave. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“Nor do I, sweetheart. Nor do I.”
I stepped into his welcoming arms, and he just held me while I rested my head on his chest. A moment later his cell phone rang.
“Sorry. I must get this. It’s Bennett.”
I wanted to know as badly as he did.
I didn’t need to ask this time because Ryker answered the call using the speakerphone.
“Ryker is Meri there with you?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m here,” I said. “Did you find out who left the note?”
“Yes, I did. And she has been apprehended.”
“She? It was a woman?” I asked.
“Yes. And it was the same woman who was spotted at the hospital claiming to have found the phone. And that is not all either.”
“I’m afraid to ask what else,” I admitted, my head spinning, palms sweating, and heart racing. Yup, a full-blown panic attack. Something I had treated, but had never experienced, until now.
“She is the cousin of one of the men running for president. And would you like to guess who she used to date years ago?” Bennett asked.
Ryker and I said in unison, “Mombo.”
“Yes.”
Ryker asked, “How did she get the resort?”
“She didn’t. There was a change of shift and she asked one of the maids if she could give this note to the receptionist. Because there was no one at the desk, she left it on the desk. So, no one actually made it on the property.”
Thank God.
“This means that Reesa is not in danger any longer either, right?” I asked.
“My men are on their way to have him arrested. Now we have proof connecting him to Mombo, and with the letter Reesa received, we have a strong case against him. I see no reason why Reesa won’t win the election by a landslide now,” he said.
