Papers shuffled in the background. “I can. But it’s going to cost.”
I dragged a hand through my hair, tugging on the ends. “I knew that going in.”
“All right. As long as you understand thatandthat this means you’ll be burning a lot of bridges in the process.”
I slid open the door to the back deck, inhaling the fresh, pine-scented air. “I’m done, Jim. I don’t want that life anymore. I want to make music on my terms. No one else’s.”
“That’s going to be a challenge with all the resources you’re cutting off.” He was silent for a moment. “But I know if anyone can do it, it’s you.”
“Thanks, man.” I leaned against the deck’s railing, staring out at the fields and forests before me. “I signed all the papers you sent over but let me know if you need anything else.”
“Will do. I’ll keep you updated.”
“Thanks.”
“Goodbye.” With that, my lawyer ended the call.
It was official. I was leaving my label. Or trying to. I watched as a hawk dipped and rolled, keeping an eye out for an early dinner. I couldn’t wait to be truly free.
I checked the time. Fuck it, who cared if I was early. I needed to hold Tessa in my arms, inhale her scent, feel my peace.
* * *
I hoppedout of my SUV, my eyes on nothing but Tessa. She was breathtaking as she broke apart a bale of hay for the herd surrounding her. Her long braid swung as she worked. Her cheeks were pink from the wind. Her eyes—shit. Her eyes that usually held a sparkle around these creatures were dull. Worried.
I quickened my pace, ducking between rails in the fence. She tossed the last of the hay on the ground and turned to face me, forcing a smile. I took her face in my hand. “What’s wrong?”
Tessa opened her mouth to speak, a denial most likely on her lips, and then shut it again. She let her head fall to my chest, her arms wrapping around my waist. My arms encircled her. Tessa sighed against my pec. “I need to tell you something.”
I fought my muscles’ urge to tense. “All right.”
Tessa straightened. “Let’s go sit on the boulder.” I nodded, and we made our way over to the rock. Once settled, Tessa began toying with the fraying hem of her jeans. “The missing girl. The one you saw me looking up online. She’s someone my ex used to date.”
I said nothing, sensing that Tessa needed to do this at her own pace. She pushed on. “She went missing in college, not long after reporting my ex to the campus police for domestic abuse.” My entire body locked.
Tessa stared out at the field in front of her. “Once I made it to Sutter Lake and settled in, I started searching, hunting for any information that might help me make a stand against him. I was hoping I might find an ex who’d be willing to go to the police with me. That if there was more than just me reporting it, they’d have to believe me.”
Tessa glanced in my direction, and I did my best to keep the rage and fear off my face. “That day I ran into you outside the library in Pine Ridge, I’d just learned that she was missing. Presumed dead.”
My teeth ground together, but I didn’t speak. Tessa looked down at her boots. “Today, when I signed in to a fake social media account, I had a message. It said if I didn’t stop asking questions, I’d end up like Bethany.”
I couldn’t stay silent anymore. “Tessa, we have to take this to Walker. He’ll believe you.”
Tessa shook her head, a look of deep sadness and almost exhaustion filling her eyes. “I know he would. But it’s not that simple. Walker can’t prosecute my ex. We’re not in the same state. And my ex has an alibi for the weekend Bethany went missing.”
I reached out, cupping the back of Tessa’s neck. Her skin was so smooth, her hair so soft. “We have to try. He can get someone to look into that account.”
She placed a palm on my chest. “Liam, there’s nothing to find. No photo. The name was John Doe.” Anger flickered in her expression. “My ex is a lot of things, but he isn’t stupid. He wouldn’t leave any trace. And trust me, if he knew it was me, if he knew where I was, I wouldn’t be getting anonymous messages.”
I pulled her to me, soaking up her warmth, her scent. “Nothing can happen to you.”
“It won’t.”
I held her closer. “Promise me you’ll stop looking into this. Or you’ll let me hire someone to do it for you.”
Tessa pushed off me, eyes wide. “You can’t hire anyone.” She pushed wisps of hair back from her face. “I thought of doing that myself, but it’s too risky. My ex has too much power. He could get to anyone you might hire, flip them, get them to tell him information about you. About me.”
“Okay, okay.” I pulled her back to me. “I won’t. But you can’t keep looking into this on your own either. Promise me.”
