The woman who was talking to Callum rushes over and tries to take Ria from my arms, but I hold fast.
“No, you can’t take her,” I say, pushing away from everyone. “I was with Callum. Striker, he and I are together,” I admit. “I don’t know what’s going on, but Ria isn’t being taken away from Callum. I’ll stand on that hill with my dying breath for him andthis baby.” I don’t even know where that came from, but it’s true. “She’s lost so much already. Don’t do this.”
“You are a suspect in something, and that baby shouldn’t be with another criminal. She’s already had to endure so much,” the woman says.
“She’s no longer a suspect, per my calculations. It’s easy enough to confirm her alibi. If she was in the library, we’ll find footage on their cameras. And if she was with Cowboy here, then there’s no way she could have been back in Indiana.” The sheriff defends me. “Loreen, I know you’re just trying to protect the baby, but I think she has a family now.”
“She fucking does.” Callum moves toward me, wrapping an arm around me, his nose dripping blood from where Striker hit him. “Now, what the hell is going on?” he asks the sheriff.
“Bridget Amaica was killed yesterday. I believe you had a professional relationship with her, Ms. Forbes. She was your counselor off and on. The only file missing from her office was yours.”
Cradling Ria closer, I’m shocked to hear the news. “You’re saying my former counselor was murdered and my file was taken?”
“Yes. Do you know anyone who would do this?”
“I didn’t give you permission to ask her any more questions.” Wayne jumps in.
I hand Ria to Callum and step away.
I know. Shit, I know.
I look toward Ridley and then at Callum, holding Ria. Everything snaps into place.
“I have a stalker.” I let the word drop, and everyone starts talking at once.
I walk away. I need to get my things. I need to protect Ria and Callum, and this is the only way. At first, it was just me. Nowit’s people around me. I knew I should have walked away sooner. Both Ridley and Butcher had suggested it.
When I reach Callum’s room, I ignore the bed where we slept, wrapped around each other. I grab my bag, and before I walk out, I take my necklace off. It was a gift from my father before he died, and it means so much to me, but I want Callum to know I’ll be back. That this isn’t forever, just a minor bump in the road. I need to stay away until this person is caught. I’m not completely breaking up with Callum, but I need to keep space between us so this person doesn’t come after them.
Rounding the corner back into the large room, I don’t see Callum or Ria. I want to say goodbye to him, tell him I care for him, and that I’ll wait if he’ll wait for me. Moving around the room, I see Ridley talking to the sheriff and my attorney. I don’t see Striker, but Lia is sitting in a recliner with the twins in her arms, eyes closed as they sleep.
“I think Striker and Cowboy are talking in the kitchen,” Jumper says. I thank him as I turn to head that way.
Butcher walks up. “What’s the plan? I can see it in your head. We need to figure it out before you go off half-cocked.” He blocks my path.
“I think we need to take some time, make the stalker think we broke up so they’ll go away and not jeopardize Ria or Callum.”
“Okay. Head to the kitchen, and I’ll meet you outside to get ready. Ridley can get you a safe house to stay at.”
I move toward the kitchen and am just about to enter when I hear his voice.
“I have a child to worry about now. Ria has to be my sole focus.” Cowboy’s words stop me in my tracks. He’s right. I step back so they don’t see me.
“Children change everything,” Striker says, and my heart breaks. Even Striker doesn’t want me with Callum.
I head out the side door, and just like that first night, I take off in an Uber.
By the time I get back to campus, I already have a plan in motion. I’ve messaged my instructors, arranging to finish everything online and through virtual classes. Lennox offers to pack up my room for me. I stop at campus just long enough to grab a bag and jump in my truck. I’m out of here. I’m running because my heart can’t take the fact that Callum doesn’t want to be with me anymore.
The life I was so sure I was going to have has been destroyed by my stalker, just like they wanted. They said I’d never move on, and now I can’t. I won’t jeopardize Ria and Callum for anything. I had originally only wanted to put distance between us, but now I have to end it with a clean break.
I shut off my phone and head home, ready to set the next part of my plan in motion.
CHAPTER 9
COWBOY
“I’m not givingup Andi, no matter what.” Ria struggles against me for a moment before she settles again. “Yes, I have to think about Ria, and what I just saw out there is proof that Andi wants what I want. She’ll protect Ria with her life. That’s what she needs,” I argue with Striker. “I know I should have come to you sooner, but the damage was done already, and I couldn’t take it back. She’s mine. I won’t give her up, no matter what you or anyone says. Fuck, she could be pregnant with my kid right now.”