Page 31 of Small Town Secrets

“I saw your car pull up. I came out to say ‘Hi’ only to find this.” He lifted his note, brow still dipped in concern. “Are you okay?”

She blinked at his question, the answer being a firm no, though she didn’t want to say that. Didn’t want to give voice to her doubts, especially those pertaining to her ability to keep Whitney safe.

And then there were her thoughts on this man. That things moved faster than she wanted, during a phase in her life when everything was far from stable, all because she’d rushed things in the past. And even then, she’d always kind of had a sense of direction, something she didn’t really feel right now.

Now, the syndicate wanted her gone, as well as a good chunk of people in this town.

So, no. She wasn’t okay, and she wasn’t sure about anything. Not about her future. Certainly not about Adrian Ramos.

That thought invaded her brain, just as her attention landed on his hand holding the note, her focus traveling higher, to his thick biceps and then his broad shoulders. This man was the visual show of strength she so sorely needed right now.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She paused and cleared the hoarseness from her throat, a sense of betrayal winding through her. That she wasn’t being honest with herself or him. “Just a little shaken up, that’s all.”

His eyes narrowed at her, and he shook his head. “You’re a bad liar, Miss Egan.”

A small, but empty, smile broke from her lips. Despite the situation, she wanted to laugh, but she didn’t go that far because his perceptiveness broke something more within her. “You’re right, just... I just can’t believe this whole thing is happening.”

And even that wasn’t the compete truth. Adrian’s solemn expression said he knew as much. That he hadn’t been self-serving when it came to her. Or anyone else in this town for that matter. He downright put his life on the line everyday he stayed here. In this town, and now, connected to her.

Unlike Mike, or the Gerrys and Lennys of this town, she couldn’t see Ramos leaving her to languish.

And maybe that, too, added pressure to the prospect of relying on him in any substantial way. Too much pressure on him. Too much of a leap for her. A mother used to handling so much on her own. A relationship too new to trust when she had a daughter to protect, and a syndicate and irate townsfolk breathing malice down her neck.

“It’s just people blowing off steam.” The certainty in his tone broke her focus and he stepped closer, reaching out until his wide hand wrapped her wrist in a gesture of support.

A hot jolt ran through her body, and she lifted her stare to lock with his. She’d trusted Mike. She’d always trusted the people of Harlow, too. Did everyone always betray each other eventually? What made Ramos any different?

What a terrifying time to be an adult. Much less one in charge of a child.

“Thank you for checking on me.” She forced a smile for his sake, her wrist limp in his hold as she debated snatching her arm back. “I appreciate it. I really do. It’s just, they all turned on us so damn quickly, yah know?”

Her voice dropped to a raspy whisper and her heart raced at the intensity of his gaze. He drew in a little closer. The stillness in his eyes seemed to push through her attempt to downplay her worries. “That was a bold move you pulled at the meeting.”

Her shoulders fell slack and her lips sank into a frown. “You think this is my fault?”

“No.” He shook his head, his hold on her increasing in a way that added resolve to his words. “You stirred the pot a little, but perhaps that gave them a hint that we might fight back.”

Her breath grew shallow, and he seemed to read her doubt, as he pulled her in and wrapped her in his arms. “There’s still hope, okay? And you have to remember, whoever did this, it wasn’t all of them. I’d wager it wasn’t even most of them.”

His eyes lit with an optimism that she didn’t feel, and an unexpectedly boyish smile took over his face. One that shone a light on the ridiculousness of their situation.

Despite her darker thoughts on her relationship with Ramos and the turning of this town, a genuine chuckle broke free of her and she leaned her forehead into his, his peppery musk embracing her with welcome warmth.

“These things happen, Laila. People get riled up.” He tipped her chin up and gave her a light kiss, his hand stroking all the way back and down the length of her ponytail. “With any luck, they’ll feel like the angry letters achieved something and they’ll move on.”

Though she offered a weak smile, she sensed the conflict on his softened tone, like he knew their situation remained precarious.

“You can’t promise me that things will be okay, though, can you?”

He shook his head, a small show of hopelessness entering his eyes. “You know I can’t, but we’ll try our best to get through this, won’t we?”

Nineteen

The next day, Laila parked her car down the end of Main Street, the sheriff having called an informal meeting for anyone who’d received the red notes.

Venturing out of her car hit her with a hard dose of reality, or more precisely, the charred remains of Frank and Maureen’s general store. The blackened debris seemed to stand as an unmissable omen of what was to come. As did her few short strides on her way to Blaine Callaghan’s store, Oak Tree Furniture.

A few passersby avoided her gaze and veered their paths away from her. These were people she’d always been friendly with, but gone were the once expected smiles from their faces, any upbeat greetings replaced with frowns and silence.

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