Page 82 of Always Right

“Hiring a PI is the best option.” Nathan broke the tense silence surrounding us. “They would be able to investigate along with the police and the bank more efficiently.”

Reasonable enough.

“How do we fix the stalking part, though? Hm?” The words tasted bitter on my lips, a fucking poison. “Because while they investigate, while they find proof, there is still someone out there who knows every fucking detail about her life. They know where she lives, they know our daughters exist. So how the fuck do we handle that for now?”

Nathan sighed, rubbing his temple but didn’t give me an answer...because he didn’t have one.

No one did.

“That’s not even the main problem and you know it, Nathan.” Evie glanced at us with heartbreak written all over her face. “We need to go look for her now but we’re wasting time.”

Exasperated, Nathan glared at Evie who couldn’t keep herself from trembling...as if she was facing a very real fear.

The tightness in my chest increased.

“What am I missing here?” I asked, glancing between the both of them.

Nathan shook his head, his lips in a tight line and Evie looked at him, as if seeking his permission...his approval for something.

He didn’t give it.

“What the fuck is going on?” I insisted, this time unable to keep that fear from showing in my voice. Something was terribly wrong and I could feel it.

Evie hesitated, looking at her husband but Nathan didn’t say anything.

“When you had your fallout last time, it was too much for her.” Her words made me want to jump out of my own skin. I could feel the panic creeping in with each second that passed, as the weight of what she implied began to sink in.

I swallowed past the lump lodged in my throat, fighting the urge to run. I needed to know despite the sense of dread that made me falter.

“What do you mean?”

Evie looked to Nathan for help, but all he did was shake his head in disapproval.

"Hannah hurt herself. Badly.” Evie’s voice broke as did my resolve. I cursed, looking to the night sky for some fucking comfort that it wasn’t my fault, but I felt the guilt in every bone in my body. “I found her in the restroom and...and it was bad, Derek. We called an ambulance and they took her in, and had her in the hospital for a couple of days.”

Defeated, Nathan sat back down and let out a sigh. Evie wiped away her tears as the memory made her falter.

I didn’t want to imagine, didn’t want to think of a life in which Hannah thought it wasn’t worth living but I knew she had. I always did.

And knowing I had a part of pushing her over the edge...fuck.

I’d never wanted to hurt her.

Evie continued, her eyes swirling with so much emotion I wasn’t sure how the hell she was still standing there, begging. “So you see, she can’t be left alone. Please Derek, we need to go look for her. You need to go after her. Please.”

I wanted to go after Hannah more than anything.

I wanted to find her, take her in my arms and protect her from the world, from herself.

But to do that would have been to betray her.

My stomach churned and the backyard suddenly seemed too small, but I knew what I had to do. I let out a breath, one that seemed to be lodged in my throat and walked up to Evie, seeing the hope in her eyes.

“I want to go after her, Evie and I know you want me to go, too...but this isn’t about what I want or you want...it’s about what Hannah needs...” Her features contorted in pain and disbelief, but I continued, even as she stumbled back. “And what she needs now is to be alone.”

Nathan shot me a glance from where he sat, one full of understanding and respect. He had Hannah’s best interest in mind and despite Evie being his wife, he remained impartial.

Evie was on the verge of tears, nearly begging for me to go look for her but I wouldn’t.

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