Page 56 of Wait For You

Rosie came to a stop sign and glanced over. I met her concerned gaze. “I think you’re right. I don’t think he would hurt Eric.”

She nodded, just once. “You are a strong woman, one of the strongest I know. You can, and you will get through this. I’m going to drop you off, and those overprotective Cannon brothers will come to your house and make sure you’re safe. We will find Eric, and it will be okay.”

While I didn’t feel her confidence, I appreciated it. “Okay,” I whispered.

In short order, Rosie dropped me off at home, making a show of talking to me when the car door was open as I climbed out. “I can give you a ride in tomorrow if you need it.”

I felt vulnerable and exposed as I jogged from her car to the house and let myself in. My hands shook as I locked the door. I had no idea how long it would be before Adam and his brothers might get here. I knew they planned to walk through the trees from the street where Rhys and Haven lived and come to my kitchen door because it wasn’t visible from the front.

I was shivering cold, and my fingertips tingled again. I didn’t know what to do. I sat down at the kitchen table and placed my phone on it. I checked again to make sure the volume was on. Then I stared at it.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when it chimed loudly as a text came through. As I slid it closer, my heart pounded. It was a text from Rich. I couldn’t even remember what I was supposed to do.

Just when I started to panic, there was a light knock on my side door, and I glanced up to see Adam. I hurried over and opened the door. He walked in and carefully closed the door behind him.

“Rich texted. I haven’t read it, and I can’t remember what to do.” I could hear the panic in my own voice.

“We’re supposed to read it. Let’s just see what it says,” Adam said, his tone level.

“You read it. Please,” I whispered. My lips were numb.

Adam quickly spun the phone around before holding it up to my face so that it opened.

My pulse raced in a stumbling, sickening beat. My throat burned from the acid of the bile rising. My stomach was a churning mess. “What does it say?”

Adam scanned it, his eyes narrowing and darkening with anger before he lifted his gaze to mine. “He’ll trade Eric for you.”

“Okay. Where do I meet him?”

“Tessa, are you insane?”

“No. I’m terrified, and I want to know that my son is safe.”

Adam closed his eyes, his jaw clenching tightly. One of his palms was flat on the table, and I watched as it curled into a tight fist. He forcibly stretched it open. When his eyes met mine again, his shoulders rose with a deep breath. Just then, there was a tap on the door.

I leaped up, hurrying across to see Kenan and Wyatt when I peered through the side window.

Adam was on my heels. “Tessa! You’re supposed to let me let them in. It could’ve been Rich.”

I spun around. “I don’t care!” I felt jumpy inside with restless, unsettled energy coursing through me.

Adam reached around me to open the door and let his brothers in.

Although I was still terrified for my son, and it literally felt as if my heart had been ripped out of my chest, a strange sense of calm fell over me. It felt sort of like a curtain surrounding me. I wasn’t delusional. I knew exactly what was happening. It was just that the worst had almost happened, and now I was solely focused. I wasn’t worried about myself. I just wanted Eric to be okay.

I distantly heard Adam talking, and my awareness clicked into place again as I turned to listen. He flung a hand in the air. “Rich wants to trade Eric for her, and Tessa thinks that’s a good idea.” Adam spun away from his brothers and began pacing.

Kenan focused on Adam while Wyatt shifted his attention to me. He took several steps and stopped in front of me. “How are you doing?” His tone was calm, and I needed that calmness.

“Well, I’m not okay at all. But I don’t think Adam understands,” I explained.

“Maybe, maybe not. We’re calling the police to let them know. We’ll do whatever they recommend,” Wyatt said. He placed a palm on my shoulder, his touch strong and soothing as he squeezed before his hand fell away. He was already lifting his phone and calling the police on speaker.

“Chief Mike Taylor.”

“Rich texted Tessa. Wants to trade her for Eric. Adam is understandably upset. What should we do?” Wyatt asked without preamble.

Whatever Kenan had said to Adam, he appeared to have calmed considerably. He and Kenan came to stand on either side of me. Adam curled an arm around my waist, holding me close to him. Even though I could sense his unrest, I felt comforted. Because it was Adam, and I knew he loved me.