Page 96 of Redeeming Melodies

Ended the call feeling like the world was shifting under my feet. In less than an hour, I'd gotten forgiveness I never expected and discovered that Jimmy's case went deeper than any of us realized.

But that's what being sheriff meant - protecting your people, no matter how complicated things got. No matter what shadows you had to chase down.

Time to find out exactly what Ramirez had been up to, and who in New York wanted Jimmy quiet badly enough to pay for it.

The storm was coming.

Good thing I'd never been afraid of rain.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Four hours of driving, watching tree-lined roads give way to concrete and steel, and my heart kept trying to pull me back. Back to Jake's steady presence. Back to a town that had somehow become home when I wasn't looking.

Old Mrs. Henderson had caught me loading the car, pressed a tupperware of cookies into my hands like I was some kid heading off to war. "For the road," she'd said, patting my arm. "And don't you worry about those vultures in New York. We've got your back here."

The Plaza's familiar facade loomed ahead, all gold and pretension and everything I used to think meant success. Henry spotted me the moment I walked in, his smile genuine under that professional polish.

"Mr. Blue." He moved from behind the desk, already reaching for my bag. "Welcome back. Though I hear Oakwood Grove's treating you well these days."

News really did travel everywhere. "Better than I deserve, Henry."

"Nonsense." He pressed a keycard into my hand. "Upgraded you to the park view suite. Figured you could use the extra space, given everything."

Everything. Such a small word for the shitstorm about to hit. "Thanks. Really."

The suite felt bigger than I remembered, or maybe I'd just gotten used to simpler spaces. Jake would hate it - all that gilded excess, those perfect corners meant to impress rather than comfort. The thought made me smile. My small-town sheriff with his practical ways had ruined me for fancy hotels.

Shit. Missed him already.

Sarah's officehadn't changed - organized chaos of papers and screens, coffee cups breeding in corners. She looked up as I walked in, that sharp intelligence assessing every detail.

"You look like shit."

"Missed you too, Sarah."

"Sit." Not a request. "And explain to me why the fuck you don't have an agent handling this mess."

The familiar argument settled between us like an old friend. "Because I'm done having people manage my life."

"No, you're done having people protect you from exactly this kind of situation." Her fingers flew over her keyboard, probably pulling up more disasters I hadn't considered. "An agent would've spotted Vanessa's spy, would've had protocols in place."

"An agent would've told me to stay away from Jake." The words came out harder than intended. "Would've tried to package everything into neat little press releases and photo ops."

That stopped her typing. "Ah."

"What?"

"You really love him." Not a question. "This isn't just some midlife crisis or rebellion against Vanessa. You actually found something real in that town."

My throat went tight. "Yeah. Yeah, I did."

"Good." She spun her screen around, showing me what looked like war plans. "Then let's make sure you get to keep it. Riley's ready whenever we give the green light. Cassidy's got the legal angles covered. But Elliot?"

"Yeah?"

"This is going to get ugly before it gets better. Vanessa's team is already positioning you as the villain, using the racing retirement and the move as evidence. We need to flip that narrative fast."

The rage burned familiar in my gut. "She's the one using our kid as a weapon."

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