Ford throws himself on Silas’ upper body, Wyatt does the same to his lower half. Rylan kicks the shotgun away before he starts to look around, presumably for me. I know when he’s found me, his lips twitch up into a small, but kind, smile.
He makes his way over to the ladder that’s attached to the wall. I crawl over to the edge of the loft exit, but I can’t bring myself to move to the ladder and actually climb down.
“Tulip, babe. You need to come on down,” he says, keeping his voice soft.
Shaking my head, all I can think is that Louis is going to see this, he’s going to see all of this and realize that I’m not for him.
Granted, I know that he’s going to figure that out eventually, but I want more time with him. Selfishly, I don’t want him to ever figure out that he deserves better than me at his side.
“I can’t. He can’t see this,” I breathe.
Rylan lets out a snort. “Right now, there are two men attempting to hold him back. They can’t keep that man back for long, he’s a fucking tank. He’s been scared shitless all afternoon, been calling everyone he knows, driving all over town looking for you. Trust me, right now he only wants you in his arms.”
Tears stream down my cheeks, I’m not sure if they ever stopped. “Joey’s dad. This was him and I feel so dirty,” I whimper.
Rylan holds his arms up for me. “Channing felt the same way, but she wasn’t and neither are you. C’mon down and let your man know you’re okay. You can talk to Channing when all this is over, she can listen and she’ll be able to relate. But right now, that man is about to lose his goddamn mind.”
As if on cue, Louis enters the house. His presence alone sucks all of the air out of the space. I don’t even have to look at him to know that he’s in this cabin, I don’t look at him either, I can’t see the hurt in his eyes, the worry.
Turning my back to him, I climb down and into Rylan’s arms. Rylan doesn’t set me down on my feet, instead his muscles flex as he holds me up and he walks us both out of the cabin and outside into the dark night.
“I’m going to give you to him. You’re going to be just fine, Tulip.”
Nodding, I agree with this move, even if I want to tell him to just get me out of here. Rylan turns and transfers me into Louis’ waiting arms. As soon as Louis’ arms tighten around me, everything else melts away.
My entire body jerks in his grasp as I begin to cry. Louis grips me even tighter, his muscles flexing and he squeezes my breath from me, but I don’t mind. I’m alive, I’m out of that nightmare, I’m free.
Eventually, he sinks down to the dirt and rock road. I don’t mind, my body is so tired, so sore, and just plain ready to give up. I let out a sigh as he wraps his legs and arms around me, holding me close to his body as if he wants to consume me, and right now I want nothing less than forever with him.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. I don’t think that he’s heard me, because he doesn’t respond. “I’m sorry that you’ve fallen for me. I’m so weak. My past is so ugly.”
Louis’ arms flex around me, holding me closer to his body. It’s then that I know he’s heard me. “Shut the fuck up,” he rasps. “You’re so goddamn strong, Tullie. So goddamn strong.”
I hear the sirens in the distance and I know that it’s going to be crazy here in just a few seconds when the police see what’s happened inside of that small cabin. Lifting my face from Louis’ chest, I tip my head back and look up into his eyes.
He’s got tracks where tears have slipped down his cheeks and my heart shatters at the sight. Sliding my hand between us, I cup his cheek with my palm and use the pad of my thumb to attempt to wipe the evidence of his tears away, but it doesn’t work.
“I’m not strong. I’m weak and I’m stupid. I should have told someone about those notes. I just thought Mark was being creepy. I knew he came down to the club. Then he kind of started a thing with Charlie, so I figured he was over it, and it would all stop.”
Louis runs his hand over my head, petting my hair for a moment before he slides his fingers through the strands at the back and grips me firmly, tugging my head back so that he can look directly into my eyes.
“It wasn’t stupid. If anything like that happens again, just let me know. Swear to fuck you don’t have to navigate this world all alone anymore, baby. I’m here for you. I’m at your side and I have your back, fuckin’ always.”
Tears prick my eyes again and I nod as I lick my lips. Louis’ gaze flicks to my mouth, then returns to my eyes. “Kiss me, please,” I breathe as the sound of the sirens, crunching tires, and the smell of disturbed dust fills the air.
Louis doesn’t hesitate. He bares his teeth with a growl before his mouth slams down against mine. Our teeth clash together before I let out a sigh and part my lips. His tongue slips inside and he tastes me.
I hope he can’t taste the little bit of disgusting cold chili I ate, but at this point, I don’t really care. He’s kissing me and that’s all that matters. His fingers tighten in my hair and the whole world melts away around us.
Slowly, he breaks the kiss, his teeth nipping my bottom lip before he rests his forehead against mine as he pants to catch his breath. My eyes stay closed as I breathe him in. A throat clears beside us and I don’t bother looking, I don’t care. I have Louis, I’m in his arms, that’s all I care about.
“We need to get a statement,” a woman’s stern, gruff voice announces.
Turning my head, I tilt my head back and look up into her face. She’s wearing a sheriff’s deputy uniform, a felt cowboy hat, and a frown. Louis rises to his feet before he extends his palm to mine and helps me up.
Dusting off my pants, I nod and follow behind the woman who has turned her back to me and is walking away and toward an area where there is nobody else lingering around.
My entire body is stiff and I’m a bit nervous to be alone with her, until she turns around and her hard demeanor immediately softens and my body relaxes as well.
We spend the next thirty minutes talking. She doesn’t ask me a million questions, rather she lets me go at my own pace and although I know that Louis is pacing somewhere behind me, I find that it’s important she knows the entirety of what I can remember from the past and tonight about the Perry family.
“Please tell me that you’ll try and find the other women he rambled about?” I ask when the questioning is over.
She nods, then reaches out and wraps her hand around my own. “I’m going to personally check on that,” she says. Nodding, I swallow hard and press my lips together. “Promise me that you’ll talk to someone,” she says with a small smile.
My lips twitch and I know it for the lie that it is when I make the promise. She knows that it is a lie as well, I can tell by the sad look in her eyes as they search my face. She gives me a nod, then slips me a card.
“If you ever need to talk, Tulip. I’m here.”
Without another word, she gives me a small smile, then turns and walks over to her police cruiser. I grip her card in my hand and shove it in my front pocket. I don’t foresee ever needing it, but maybe I will one day. You never know when you’ll need someone, or when they’ll need you.