Page 47 of Before the Night Falls
Olivia nodded, wishing she could voice the tangle of emotions in her chest—the apology sitting on her tongue, the gratitude that made her throat tight, the fear that made her want to ask him to stay with her.
Instead, she slipped into the driver’s seat and closed her door, watching through the window as Tyson stepped back, his eyes still scanning the garage.
As she turned the key, a single thought eclipsed all others: What if being careful wasn’t enough?
* * *
When Tyson arrived home, he found Wes sprawled on the couch.
He’d been thinking about Olivia since she left the office.
He’d checked the security footage for his building. He’d seen nothing.
Sheri had confirmed the custodian stopped by.
He couldn’t help but wonder if the incident was connected with the casino.
Was it his fault Olivia was being tormented like she was?
He paused in the doorway. “Anything good on TV?”
Wes sat up and changed it to another channel. “Not really. Just wasting time mostly.” He paused. “Olivia told me about the roses.”
That didn’t surprise Tyson. He knew Olivia and Wes were close. “It was quite the shock.”
“I can imagine.”
He glanced around. “Speaking of Olivia, where is she?”
Wes nodded. “She went upstairs to answer more emails. It’s like a never-ending job, especially when you’re as popular as she is.”
Tyson didn’t hide his grin. “I bet she was the homecoming queen, wasn’t she?”
“Just as sure as a rodeo girl wears cowboy boots.” Wes chuckled.
Tyson shifted, his eyes narrowing. “I’m curious, Wes. How long have you known Olivia? You two seem close.”
“We started working together back when she was a news reporter in Louisiana.” Wes flipped the TV off and gave Tyson his full attention. “I was the one who told her she should take the job with Static Entertainment.”
“It sounds like she went through a horrible ordeal.”
“She did. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but Olivia hasn’t been the same since.”
A frown tugged at his lips. “That’s to be expected.”
“She says she found religion during those days underground. We all thought her faith would wear off, that it was just a reaction from her trauma. But it stuck. Olivia changed from a materialistic party girl to a fun-loving, girl-next-door type.”
Tyson let those details settle in his mind. “I can’t imagine what she went through.”
“She hates talking about it. I can’t say I blame her.”
“I can’t either.” Tyson let the information sink in. It really did explain a lot.
Wes’ words remained heavy on Tyson’s mind for the rest of the day. The thought of someone hurting her . . . it made anger rush through his veins.
Anger like he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Suddenly, all he wanted to do was protect her. But would Olivia let him?
