With Kol (Daniels Family 2)

“What’s this about?” Hunter looks at all of us, but I remain silent until Pearson gives the go ahead.

At his nod, I explain. “Four years ago, a sixteen-year-old girl was raped by her step-father, a powerful man in town. When she sought help, his influence swayed the investigation towards her simply seeking attention.” Rage billows beneath the surface the more I think about what Thea went through.

“Jesus fuck. This guy is still on the streets?” Hunter growls, and I know we’ve got him on our side.

“Worse,” Noah mutters.

“He’s a judge down there now,” Pearson reveals.

“Fuck.”

“Exactly. But here’s the thing, I want you to speak directly to the detectives that she spoke with. I want you to gauge whether or not they can be trusted, and if they were pressured from higher up to let the case go.” I want to be the one going down there myself, but I can’t leave her.

“What’s her name?”

“Thea Andrews.”

His eyes widen. “I remember her case. They thought she jumped off a bridge, committed suicide.” I nod. “Should I let them know we might think we have a lead on her, that she’s alive?”

“That’s up to you. But know that Richard Dane’s brother has been here already. He knows she’s alive, and we believe he broke into and trashed her apartment last night. Her safety is the priority. Got that, Adams?” Pearson glares his point across until Hunter nods. “Good. Get going and check in daily.”

Hunter’s gone as soon as I hand him the file Noah and I compiled on Thea through the night. “You boys get back to work. Find some killers and robbers.”

Dismissed, we head back to our desks. I don’t like that I had to leave Thea at home today, but I felt better knowing Ember is with her, and cars are patrolling the block more frequently. Those two know not to open the door and keep the blinds closed. I can only hope they’ll listen.

Thea

* * *

With a hot cup of coffee in my hands, I watch the steam as it travels up in the air. Almost indiscernible, but I catch it. The little puffs of steam float into the air like mist. The day passes by like everything is normal. As if my world isn’t about to implode. Again.

The sun is shining, kids are walking home from school. Parents are greeting them at the door. Normal.

“I knew what normal was once. I was an ordinary girl. Just like these kids. That ended the day Richard entered our life.” I gaze at Ember who has been sitting with me all day, waiting for me to break down.

I’m past that, fortunately. I can no longer change the outcome of my immediate future. Richard likely knows I’m not dead because of Colin. Soon my mother will know, as well. All of Joplin will find out that I’ve been alive this whole time, and I feel certain that my life is no longer going to be my own.

“Do you think I’ll be arrested?” It’s been on my mind a lot since Kol left. Will he be the one to put cuffs on me and close the cell door? Or will it be Noah?

“Why would you ask that?” Ember sounds horrified.

“I ran away. Faked my death. Changed my name, twice.” I don’t think I committed identity fraud, but I have no idea.

She concentrates hard before answering me. “Did you ever take out credit cards or anything similar in these fake names? Use a social security number? Leave debt behind?”

I frown as I answer. “No. Never. Not like that. But I went with my grandmother’s last name for nearly anything else. She’s been dead for years.”

“Then I want to say no. Even if you were, they would have to consider extenuating circumstances. You were forced into this, Thea.” Her hand rests on my arm, and I look down at it. Everything in me says to reject the comfort, but my heart longs for the contact. It’s been so long since I’ve had someone touch me without it turning into something dirty.

“I hope you’re right,” I reply. “Will Kol be home in time for my shift tonight?” I only work for a couple of hours, and I’d hate to disappoint Kelly. She took a chance on me when she hired me, and I explained I couldn’t be put into any system. I had to stay under the table and was willing to take a pay cut in order to make it possible. She took pity on me, even understood my panic and fears on a very personal level.

“Kol won’t let anything happen to you, Thea. Trust him to make this right for you. To give you your life back.” Em’s so vehement about it, I want to believe her. Because if I don’t, I might not have enough wherewithal to make it through what is no doubt going to be a very tough few months.

“I’m going to have to relive it all, aren’t I?” That more than anything else terrifies me to no end.

Scooting closer to me, Ember grips both of my hands in hers and looks me straight in the eye. “You are. Every horrible moment.” Her watery orbs match my own. “But I promise, Thea, I will be there every step of the way. I’ll be your shoulder to cry on, the friend to scream at, the sister who will hold you together. And when I’m not enough, when you need an unwavering strength, Kol is going to hold you high. He’ll be your punching bag, your steady ship in the unwavering waters. He’ll be everything you will ever need, and when you’re ready, Thea, Kol is going to become your entire world. I know my brother. He won’t admit it yet, but he loves you. He has from the day he set sights on you.”

“You can’t know that.” I try to sniff back the tears, but I’m afraid it’s not working.