Over the next several minutes, the three cops moved away from Grace, conversed amongst themselves, and then headed to separate cars. He looked away as they passed him, sitting in the parking lot, and turned their sirens on.
The flashing lights, the noise, all disappeared. Grace and her sister walked into their hotel room. He continued sitting on his Harley, trying to get used to the thought that the cops weren't coming for him.
He thought about riding away, getting out of St. Maries, and heading back to Avery Falls, where he had some protection. The club was coming around from the switch. He could rely on the originals.
But his heart was locked in the hotel room.
He got off his Harley and strode between the cars parked in front of the hotel. Outside the room, he strained to listen to what was going on inside with Grace and her sister.
"Do you think it's over? They won't need anything more from me, right?" said Grace.
"I don't think so. The one officer told you that we're free to go, so nothing is keeping us here. We can be back to Canyon Beach as soon as we get some rest."
"I'm exhausted. Every muscle in my body hurts," said Grace.
Keenan looked at the ground. She shouldn't be in any pain. He'd taken care of her.
"Do you have an extra toothbrush?" Grace yawned loudly.
"No. we'll have to buy one in the morning before we take off."
Silence fell between the two women. He wondered if Grace had fallen asleep when her sister said, "So, did you get a picture of the Pekania pennanti?"
Grace sighed. "No."
"At least you get to keep the advance. That's something. We'll be okay. Now that my ankle is healed and you're back, I can return to work. We'll keep saving. Our goal hasn't changed...only delayed."
Grace never replied, or at least he couldn't hear her through the door.
"I love you, sis. You have no idea how much I've missed you," whispered Grace.
Keenan placed his hand on the door and leaned forward, wishing he could touch her and assure her that she was wanted. She was loved. He'd give anything to have her in his arms right now.
Instead, he turned and sat down on the ground, leaning against the wall. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes. Only a few feet apart from her, it felt like a million miles.
She was safe with her sister. She was where she wanted to be.
He pulled the cell phone out of his vest pocket and dialed Prez. There was only one thing he could do.
He had to let Grace go.
Chapter Thirty Four
"Amelia?" Grace poked her sister in the shoulder. "Wake up. We overslept."
"Hm?" Amelia rolled over and blinked awake. "There's no hurry to leave. Check-out isn't until eleven o'clock."
"I want to go now." She moved over to her sister's bag and found a hairbrush. "Come on, get up."
Amelia groaned but sat up in bed. "I haven't slept since you left home to go on the job."
"I know, and I'm sorry. But you can sleep for the rest of your life if you want. I just want to get today over with." She yanked the brush through her hair, ripping out the snarls in her rush.
She'd escaped Keenan. She'd left. There was no use sugarcoating what she'd done to him after promising to stay until it was safe for them to contact her sister.
He would view her leaving as betrayal.
She knew him well enough to understand how much he relied on people in his life being loyal. It would take her being a force of nature to make him listen to her reasons about why she'd left.
God, he was stubborn.
"I'm going to grab a shower before we head out." Amelia walked by her and spontaneously hugged her. "I forgive you, sis."
She held Amelia tighter, putting all her worries on the closest person she had in her life. While her sister might not understand her choices and believe she was a complete idiot for staying with Keenan, she wouldn't stop loving her. They were family.
"Thank you," she whispered chokingly. "I love you so much."
"Love you, too." Amelia kissed her cheek, grabbed clean clothes, and went to the bathroom.
Alone, she inhaled deeply and let out a shuddering breath. Her stomach was in knots. Last night, she'd counted how many days she'd spent with Keenan and was surprised to learn that she arrived in Avery Falls nine weeks ago. Was that even long enough to fall in love and rearrange your whole life, pushing her needs ahead of everyone else?
She straightened the bed she and Amelia had shared last night. The more she could do to lessen their time at the hotel, the faster they could get out of here.
A knock came at the door. Her spine stiffened. The shower was still going in the other room. She moved over to the door, making sure it was still locked. Even though her sister was with her, she couldn't stop the fear that someone was still after her. She'd seen the kind of men who participated in the project alongside Keenan. The two of them wouldn't stand a chance fighting one of the men.
"Grace. It's me." He paused. "Keenan."
Adrenaline shot through her, and she fumbled with the lock in the doorknob. Then, working on the chained latch, she failed to match the opening with the peg so she could unlock the door. Her hands trembled. She shook her arms, forcing herself to slow down, and finally, she opened the door.
Keenan stood in front of her, wearing his leather vest. His hair blown back from his ride. There were extra wrinkles at the corners of his eyes as he studied her from head to foot and back up again.
Her chest pounded, seeing him out of his element in St. Maries. "Wh-What are you doing here?" she whispered, unable to catch her breath.
"I had your bags and Jeep brought here. I thought you might want everything you brought to Avery Falls with you." He motioned with his chin and cleared his throat. "The Jeep is parked in the lot. I put gas in the tank, and there's some money in the glove box to help you get settled."
Her heart sank the more he talked. He'd brought everything to her as if he wanted her to keep going and not come back to Avery Falls.
Keenan kept her gaze. "Your sister found you."
"Yeah." She swallowed hard.
"That doesn't surprise me. If she's anything like you, she probably scoured every inch of the Bitterroot Mountains looking for you." The corner of Keenan's mouth lifted, though the happiness never reached his eyes.
There was a compliment in there somewhere, but she couldn't focus on that right now. "Keenan, I—"
"I know," he said softly. "Me, too."
She shook her head. He had no clue of what she wanted to tell him.
The door behind her opened. Aware of her sister joining them, she half-turned toward Amelia.
Her sister gaped. Grace motioned toward the door. "This is Keenan. Keenan, my sister, Amelia."
Keenan dipped his chin without taking his gaze off Grace. Her whole body vibrated. She wanted to touch him, to reassure him that her feelings hadn't changed.
Amelia joined her at the door and whispered, "I'll go outside and let you two—"
"No." She grabbed Amelia's hand. "Stay inside. I'll go outside."
She slipped past Keenan, feeling him turn with her and follow. Once the door shut, she stopped in the walkway between the two buildings.