Page 54 of Impossible Rapids

Shawn toyed with a pen. The uncomfortable pressure in his chest wouldn’t alleviate. Pulling his phone out of his suit pocket, he sent Julie a text.

Almost done. Can you meet at Takara?

He studied his phone, waiting for her response.

“Everything all right?” Franz asked.

“No. I …” He met Franz’s gaze and held up his phone. “Julie.”

There was so much to explain to her. Would she be upset with the deception? Would she understand he did it to protect her as much as anything? Would she ever feel like he put her first? Chose her over everything in the world?

Franz nodded. “You’re anxious to see her and explain everything. It’s Julie. She’ll understand and you’ll get through this together.”

“Thank you, Franz.” He appreciated Franz’s confidence, but he’d kissed her twice and then confused her again. Was that why the tightness in his chest wouldn’t ease and she didn’t text back, or was something larger at play here?

“Franz.” He stood, clinging to his phone. “I’ve got to go find her.” He’d feel better when he saw her. She needed to know how important she was to him.

“Right now?” Franz stood also, pointing to the door the judge had disappeared behind. “This is almost resolved. If you leave now, the judge can’t finish the case.”

“Nothing is more important than Julie.”

“But … just a few more minutes.” Franz’s eyes looked almost desperate. He’d worked so hard to protect his legacy and Shawn couldn’t wait a few minutes? Shawn could see it all in his teal-blue eyes.

Why not wait?

He didn’t have an answer but he knew he couldn’t wait. He had to go. Now.

“I’m sorry,” he told Franz. “We’ll have to resolve this later. Julie needs to know she comes first for me.”

“You’re right.” Franz nodded and clapped him on the shoulder.

“Thank you.” Shawn turned to go. If the judge took exception to him leaving, all the work they’d done might be down the toilet, but he had to get to Julie.

A brunette in a fitted jacket and skirt rushed through the main door to the hallway. “Apologies.” She smiled. “I’m Melissa Jardine. Mr. Wallace had a family emergency. He is devastated to miss out on this, but I will represent him and everything will go smoothly.” She walked forward to shake their hands.

Franz shoved at Shawn. “Go,” he urged.

Shawn’s neck prickled. Franz could feel what he was feeling. Danger.

He rushed around Ms. Jardine.

“He has to stay here,” he heard her say to Franz as the door banged closed behind him.

No. Shawn had to be wherever Julie was. He pushed her number. It rang and rang and rang. What if it wasn’t just his desire to put her first, but something more nefarious? They all trusted Brandon. Had somebody come after their lawyer?

He shouldn’t go to worst-case scenario, but a shooter had gotten onto the back patio and eight men had almost killed them on the river. Worst case had happened. Twice.

Julie!

Jerome and Brett followed Shawn as he ran from the building. He drew up short when he got outside.

“Sir, can you wait for the car?” Jerome asked.

“No,” he replied, urgency pressing on his chest. He started running down the sidewalk. Takara was only a couple blocks away. If that was where she was. What if she was back at the office? Why would she already be at Takara?

He didn’t know but his feet kept pounding that direction.

He pressed Paul’s number as he ran.