Page 51 of Small Town Secrets

He suppressed an instant urge to groan and instead pinched the bridge of his nose, glancing over at the sheriff, who held a stupefied gape of his own. “Let me get this straight, you transferred the power over your money to Enzo Costa?The hokey celebrity lawyer with failed aspirations of a political career?”

“Because he’s a complete tool, right?” She rolled her eyes but shook her head. “Except, he was still an up-and-comer a decade ago. Someone well-regarded in our community at the time. His ‘tooliness’ was much more covert. Like you said, I didn’t know any better and I simply went with the guy everyone else trusted. My biggest failing is that I never really thought much of it thereafter.” She shrugged, looking a little hopeless. “Even if he did become less than what I expected, by the time that happened, he owned a large law firm and I figured he probably wasn’t even the one running the financial side of things anymore.”

Though Ramos tried to remain non-judgmental, he couldn’t help but say, “That’s a whole lot of assumptions.”

“I know.” She looked down at the ground and sighed. “I should have stayed on top of things, but I was busy on my adventures. Hindsight is a hell of a thing.”

She peered up at the sheriff just as his radio blared with a new update. He disconnected from the conversation to answer. Apparently, the roads were now open in two lanes as promised and the time had come to evacuate the town hall. As much as everyone here would leave, he and the sheriff still had obligations that would keep them from tending to any personal dilemmas.

Not wanting to waste any more time, he hooked his arm around Rochelle’s elbow and guided her out the door, staying with her by the main hall, while the sheriff met with Blaine and Dean just inside. “Enlist all the help you can to clear this building. Start with the Coopers. I saw them around here somewhere. Most people will respect whatever orders they pass on.”

“Sure thing.” Dean patted the sheriff’s back, before the sheriff turned back to Ramos, taking Rochelle’s arm. “Go settle things with Laila. I’ve got this one for now.”

He nodded his thanks and found Laila not far from where he’d left her at the top of this crowd. Her parents were close by now and Whitney held her grandma’s hand. So, he took Laila a little farther away, demanding her full attention. “Listen, I have calls to make and can’t leave yet, but you and Whitney go with your parents. Don’t stick around here. Got it?”

Her eyelids flared wide, and her gaze fluttered about his face, like she read the unspoken message in his words. That he didn’t fully know what would happen next or when he would see her again.

“You won’t stay back long?” The strain across her face turned slack with understanding and her voice trembled. “Will you?”

He shook his head, wanting to tell her not to worry, but knowing everything about this situation warranted concern. “Only for the urgent stuff. The sheriff is taking Rochelle and I’ll do what I can on the road on my way out of town.” He took hold of her cheeks, and as much as she’d wanted to keep their relationship a secret, he couldn’t deny himself one final and desperate kiss. “Listen to me, the syndicate will know I played a part in Mark Farro’s arrest. They’ll be looking for me, so I need to stay clear of you and Whitney until this is all over. Do you remember your promise to me?”

She began to shake her head as if she didn’t want to accept what he asked, only to pause and for a wider look of understanding to take over. He asked her to keep the promise he’d had her make the night at the hospital. The one that, when the situation called for it, she would put herself and Whitney first.

That situation was now.

“For a number of reasons, it’s best you and Whitney aren’t with me.” He ran a thumb over her cheek and her expression crumbled into a look of broken acceptance. “I can’t message or call you, it’s too risky. If I can, I’ll try to get word to you some other way, but…”

His words trailed because there was no positive spin to this. There’d be no telling how long they’d be separated. Days. Maybe months. Perhaps he would never stop being a target. Either way, obstructing the syndicate signed the death warrant on this relationship, and once again, a man Laila cared for was leaving her.

Once again, he berated himself for getting involved. As if he could have ever controlled his emotions when it came to this woman. And still, she’d drawn him in. And he’d pursued her. That would likely always be his biggest mistake.

Had he caused her more trouble for simply knowing him?

Since this wasn’t the time for finding out, he let her go, hoping against all hope that he’d soon settle the whole saga with Enzo Costa parading as Rudolph Manzinni. That Laila would be safe, and that, as much as her pleading eyes now begged him to come with her, she would stay safe and leave this burning town behind once and for all.

Thirty

One day after Harlow burned, Laila lay on a bunk in the crammed school gymnasium of the neighboring town of Marston. Whitney slept tucked under her arm. Partly because Whit hadn’t wanted her own bunk. Partly because Laila wanted to keep her daughter close. And, of course, Laila couldn’t sleep.

That said, she suspected she wasn’t the only one having trouble closing her eyes. So many of her fellow Harlow residents surrounded her tonight. So many displaced. So many having lost so much. And just as when she’d had to move into Aggie’s cottage, once again she was displaced, too. Forced to sleep in a bed that wasn’t her own. Out of her element. Just counting down the minutes, like everyone else here, before she could return to town to see what was left of her former life.

From what she’d witnessed yesterday, there wouldn’t be much.

And what about Ramos? The last she’d heard from the sheriff was that Adrian had returned to LA. Back to his job. But Adrian, himself, was yet to contact her.

Maybe he would never return to Harlow.

Maybe she couldn’t blame him.

She wasn’t so sure she wanted to go back either.

Her arm had turned numb from the weight of Whitney’s head, so she shifted under the scratchy, moss green emergency blanket and rolled to her side. She kissed Whit’s temple, finding some comfort in the softness of her child’s skin. Meanwhile, her gaze caught on her mother staring back at her through the darkness. Her eyes were pinched, and her forehead scored in lines from the same worried look she’d sent Laila all throughout the day.

Worry seems to be a mother’s default emotion.

Laila locked her arm tighter around Whitney. This situation was everything she hadn’t wanted for her child. Perhaps the same thought ran through her mother’s mind when she looked at Laila.

Heartbroken. Injured. Broke. Homeless.

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