“I got you.” Miles runs his hand up and down my back. I drop my head back to look up at him.
“Thank you.” I go back to resting my head on Miles' chest as the police do their thing.
“Eden. You have a moment?” Andrew asks. I nod, shifting to face him. Miles keeps a possessive hold on me. I can feel the tension in his body.
“I’m worried, to be honest with you. This isn't some random smash and grab.”
“Someone is angry,” Miles says, his hold on me tightening even more.
Andrew nods. “I want you to be careful is all. I also need a list of anyone you think could be angry with you. Ex-boyfriends and such.”
“I can do that.” Off the top of my head, I’ve got nothing. Except everything inside of me is saying this is about my father and not me.
“Why don’t you two head out?” Andrew suggests.
“But this place. We can’t leave it like this.”
“I’ve got it handled, honey.” Miles puts his hand on my back, leading me out to the car. I’m in a daze. He opens the door for me, even putting my seat belt on for me before he’s taking off.
“Eden.”
“Yeah?” I turn my head to look at him.
“Everything is going to be okay. I promise you that.”
I believe he’ll do anything he can, but he has no idea about my father and the things he’s twisted up in.
Would he look at me differently if he did? I don’t think he would but who knows? It’s always been embarrassing to me.
I need to go see my father. I don’t want Miles getting mixed up in my father’s shit. If he even knew about Miles, he’d be all over me about getting money from him. He’s already done enough for me at this point. I know what I have to do.
Seeing my father is the last thing I want to do, especially after today, but I don’t have a choice.
Chapter Seventeen
Miles
I’m furious. I don’t know when I’ve felt angrier in my entire life. The look on Eden’s face is pure devastation and hopelessness. I’d give anything not to see that expression of hers again. She does not deserve it. I keep my rage bottled inside. Right now, she needs comfort and care—not me Hulking out and pounding on the steering wheel.
“Ryan, you got school to get to?”
“No. It’s spring break.” His response is muffled by his hand. He must be seething inside, too. I know how he feels. When Violet was being stalked and the police wouldn’t do jack shit about it because there were no threats of physical violence, I’d been consumed with impotent fury. Ryan’s a seventeen-year-old with almost no resources and while he wants revenge, he isn’t sure how he’s going to enact it.
“Cancun still a popular place to go?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood.
“Yeah. Florida. Texas. All of those.”
But he’s sitting here with his ransacked home. I don’t think he’d leave even if I gave him a ticket—not while his sister was being threatened.
“You order a desk yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Better do it soon or Violet will put something in there for you.”
“Yeah.” The kid’s despondent.
Eden hasn’t said a peep. She might still be in shock. The tension sticks to my spine even after the gates open and we pull up next to the house. I help Eden out of the car and follow a trudging Ryan up the steps. Violet’s there to greet us.
“I have some hot chocolate ready. Come in and sit down.” She throws an arm around Ryan and leads him to the breakfast nook. He offers no resistance as she pushes him into the bench seat. Eden slides in next to him.
What happened? mouths my sister.
“Our place got trashed,” Ryan says.
“Oh my God.” The jar of oats she was removing from the cupboard drops to the counter. “Was anyone hurt? Should I call the doctor?”
“No. We’re fine.” Eden puts on a brave smile.
“I’m going to kill those fuckers,” Ryan shouts.
“Don’t curse, Ryan,” Eden chides almost as if by rote.
“Don’t curse? Why shouldn’t I curse? If there’s ever a time to be cursing, it’s right fucking now.”
Eden winces and rubs a tired hand across her forehead.
I don’t like seeing her this way. “Don’t shout at your sister, buddy. We’re all upset here.”
Ryan slams a fist on the counter and then bangs his way out of the kitchen onto the deck. Eden rubs her lips together and tries not to cry. Ryan’s right. We’re going to kill those fuckers. I cross the room and crouch next to Eden’s seat. “He’s going to be fine. Your café will be fine. There’s nothing that a little paint and drywall can’t cure. Can Violet help you source all the repairs?”
Violet rushes over. “Yes, please. Give me something to do, or I’ll end up pulling my hair out.”