“I can’t leave him.”
“You have to. I suspected this would happen, and so did he. I don’t know him well, but something tells me he can take care of himself and able to think better knowing you’re safe and out of here.”
Was he right? Could this be better?
“Go. I have to look after Keiran.”
I nodded and sought the nearest exit. Each step I took toward freedom felt more as if I was abandoning him.
Dash was waiting outside just as Thompson promised. He rushed up the steps just to walk back down with me. I’d never admit it to him and risk inflating his ego, but he was very adept at reading a girl’s emotions. It was probably what got him laid so much in high school.
We reached the bottom of the stairs where he turned to me and looked me over much the same way Keiran had done but without the sense of possession.
“How are you holding up?” he asked as he hugged me.
“It’s a miracle I’m even still standing at all. I don’t think I can feel my legs, but I can feel everything in my stomach and it wants out.”
“Makes sense. You look like you’re about to turn green.”
“I don’t understand why they won’t release him.”
He let me go to shove his hands in his pockets and released a deep breath. “I’m not really surprised. The courts tend to be harder on people with priors and Keiran is far from a saint.”
“Not helping,” I grumbled. He opened his passenger for me and gestured me inside then got in on his side.
“Your man’s a badass, babe. What can I say?”
“Is it wrong to wish he never helped that woman?”
“He didn’t do it for her. He did it for you. Everything he does is for you. Every move he makes and doesn’t make is all because of what he thinks will make him worthy of you.”
“Except doing the right thing backfired on him. I doubt I’ll be a factor next time.”
“Let’s hope there isn’t a next time, and even if there were, you should know Keiran isn’t so easily moved. He wants you, and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep you.”
I realized he might have been right and decided not to argue. Besides, my inability to believe in him is what got us into this. Keiran gave up revenge against his father for me. His ability to be good was something I would never question again.
“What do we do now?”
“Thompson says they’re after Keiran now, but they’ll likely try to get you as an accomplice. We need to work on your defense.”
“They said he confessed to Laurie.”
“We both know that’s bullshit.”
“I think I just needed to hear it from someone other than my own head.”
“What? You don’t believe he’s innocent?”
“No, that’s not it. I know Q killed Mitch. I was there. I might as well have orchestrated the whole thing. I had no idea Q felt so strongly about Mitch.”
“He doesn’t, but he owed a debt to John. Otherwise, he’d have been left dead in a dumpster or a ditch.”
“We need to find Laurie and get answers.”
“Can’t. Keiran won’t like it.
“Keiran isn’t here, and I have to know why she did this to us—to him.”
“It’s done. Going after her will only look bad. If she calls the police—”
“Take me or I go on my own as soon as your back is turned.”
I expected Dash to get angry or make threats. He simply turned his head with his mouth open slightly. I’d surprised him. “That’s some pair of balls,” he remarked. “Keiran did a real job with you.”
“Well?”
“Fine. But it will take some time to find her. She’s probably gone by now.”
Thoughts of the girls crept into my subconscious, and I began to remember the things Keiran had told me about Laurie’s husband.
“She went back home.”
Like a moth to a flame.
We had just reached the city. Dash didn’t question it. He made a U-turn, heading back toward the highway.
“Are you sure?”
I’d made nothing but mistakes these last few months, but dirty and wearing last week’s clothing, I was determined to see it through.
“No, but we’re going to find out.”
Chapter Nineteen
LAKE
“How did you know where she lived?” I asked as Dash picked the lock. No one appeared to be home. The driveway was free of cars and the house was completely dark.
“Keiran gave me the address when he first staked out the house.”
“When did he stake out the house?”
“He found the time to save your life while you ran away from him for two days.”
“You sure know how to lay on the guilt trip.”
“Because there aren’t many times Keiran isn’t wrong. In fact, I never thought he would ever be right about anything.”
“Your point?”
“You shouldn’t have run from your problems.” The tumblers clicked, and Dash pushed open the door.
Was he talking to Willow or me? I decided not to open that can of worms and said, instead, “Running was the best thing I could have done for the survival of our relationship.”
“There you go again.”
“What?”