Page 64 of Shadows of Recovery

Tristan, who had been standing by the door, stepped closer, his eyes crinkled. “I wanted you to feel safe here, Sophie. To feel like you’re still surrounded by love, even when I can’t be right here with you.”

Sophie reached out, her fingers brushing over the photograph of her family, her touch lingering on their smiling faces. “Thank you,” she said, her voice barely audible. “This... this means so much.”

* * *

That night,as Sophie drifted off to sleep, Tristan sat by her bedside, watching over her until that moment he told her he’d leave with a promise to return to her side in the morning. With a soft kiss to her cheek, he stood, leaving her under the watchful eyes of his trusted staff. After a facility walkthrough, he would be heading off to their home to sleep for the first time since this nightmare began.

Twenty-Four

The small city of Eldon Falls lay nestled on shared tribal land buried deep in the South Dakota terrain. Damon Whitlock stood on the porch of his family’s home. The welts on his back had finally become tolerable.

Damon felt a twisted sense of satisfaction as he considered the meticulousness of his actions, convinced he had left no proof of his crimes. His total possession of Sophie Everhart's body was his dark secret, one he believed she would never betray. The only thing he wished for was more success in his thefts.

The door behind him creaked open, and his father stepped out, leaning on his cane and dragging his long oxygen tubing, followed by his oldest brother, Nathan. The two men joined Damon, their expressions dour.

Trace looked at his youngest son, concern etched on his rugged face. "How are you feeling, son?"

Damon did his best not to glare at his father and brother. "Dad, how do you think I feel after being caned?"

Trace’s voice was firm. "Son, I won't justify a decision made in everyone's best interest."

Nathan, the eldest, frowned, his eyes sharp with frustration. "Thanks to you, I need to report to the highway patrol with our attorney in the morning. So don't act all high and mighty. I need to know what you did. Who did you harm or kill directly? Besides putting a hospital filled with people in danger. And what did you do to Dr. Everhart?" he demanded.

Damon remained cocky, his smirk unfaltering. "No one saw me do anything to that little lady doctor.” His mind flicked back to the sight of her nearly drowning and freezing in that muddy, sewage-filled puddle. "She won't be credible, and if she does become a credible witness, well, she'll be running our clinic and taking care of the tribe and our people."

Trace’s eyes narrowed. "You better be sure, Damon. This isn’t a game."

Damon shrugged, his confidence unshaken. "No one could prove I was negotiating on the phone. I'd place the blame on one of the dead. They learned that two of their people died. And no one could identify anyone who held the patients hostage. Everyone but me wore a mask."

Nathan’s face tightened with worry. "What about the hospital security footage? The police aren't idiots, Damon."

"I took care of that too," Damon replied. "Deleted everything. No evidence left behind." He also knew he washed his DNA out from inside her.

Trace's expression remained stern. "We’ve built something strong here. Our little city is protected by fencing and its well-armed militia. The tribe and the local sheriff already leave us alone. The tribe is paid well, and considering the medical attention they’ll get, they’ll be beholden. And the sheriff… no one wants a battle."

Nathan still looked uneasy. "And Dr. Everhart?” he asked again. “How do you plan on keeping her in line?"

Damon's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. "She’ll join us soon. I made sure she knows her place. Trust me, she’s in no position to betray anyone. She’ll be too busy running our clinic and ensuring the tribe's health. She’ll have no choice."

Trace placed a firm hand on Damon's shoulder. "You better be right, Damon. One slip-up, and everything we’ve worked for could fall apart."

Damon nodded, his expression unwavering. "I won’t let that happen, Dad. I've made sure of it."

The three men stood in silence for a moment, each lost in their thoughts. Damon’s mind raced with thoughts of his dark triumph, convinced his actions would remain hidden forever. As they stared out over the night lights in Eldon Falls, the town seemed to hold its breath, unaware of the secrets and sins lurking in the shadows.

Damon's confidence in their untouchable status was unshakable. He had covered every angle, silenced every witness, and ensured that Eldon Falls would remain their impenetrable fortress. The darkness would shield their secrets, allowing their twisted empire to thrive.

* * *

Kay Birdham was sittingat the nurses’ station in the acute admission ward, her fingers tapping impatiently on the desk as Tristan walked in. Despite the soft lights and comforting colors, she cast an unwelcoming atmosphere. Her deep green eyes glared at Tristan.

“Well, look who decided to show up to work,” Kay sneered, her eyes narrowing as she looked up at him.

Tristan took a deep breath, ignoring her tone and her statement. “Do you need something, Kay?” He kept his voice steady and professional.

She rolled her eyes and handed him a chart. “We’ve got a new admission. A forty-year-old police officer, heavily addicted and going through severe withdrawal. Seems pretty drug-seeking to me.”

Tristan frowned, concern etching his features. “I prescribed medication to help him get here without severe symptoms,” he said. “Did he take them?”

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