Page 137 of Love Me Steadfast
“Sorry, did I catch you at a bad time?”
His kindness just makes the hurt sharpen inside me. “I can’t find Morgan and I can’t get a hold of Will either and my dad’s at his cabin…” I suck in another breath and use my shirt sleeve to wipe my tears.And something bad is going to happen.
“I’ve been trying to reach Will too,” he says, concern lacing his tone. “I thought he might be with you.”
“No.” I wipe my nose with my sleeve. God, I have to get it together. I pull to the side of the road and press the heels of my hands to my eyes. Nothing is making sense.
“But, Charlotte, things are happening fast and there’s something urgent we need your help with.”
“What?” I cough out, batting my face with my sleeves.Wait, we?
“I’m going to join our call with Special Agent Luke Ballard’s.”
“No,” I croak, but it’s like he doesn’t hear me.
“Hi, Charlotte,” Luke says in that warm tone that has me breaking down again because how am I supposed to navigate this right now? “Forgive me for how this is going to come across, and the distress it’s going to cause you. I need you to know that I’m on your side, okay?”
“That goes for me too, Charlotte,” Zach adds. I can picture his face right now. Earnest, caring.
I shake my head, confused, my head aching from how long I’ve been crying, and the dread building inside me. Something bad is going to happen.
I know it.
“Okay,” I say.
“I checked in with Garnet County Sheriff’sDepartment,” Luke says. “Based on the information we’ve compiled, we were operating on the idea that Ari Pullman might have been assaulted that night you all played at Creekside eight years ago.”
I wrap my arms around my middle and curl into myself but the sobs still shake me. Because now I understand. Garnet County must be where Creekside is located. I don’t remember that detail, but no other explanation for what he’s saying fits.
“But it wasn’t Ari who ended up in the hospital that night,” Zach says in a kind voice that slides around me like a blanket. “It was you.”
Shame burns hot inside me, igniting my face.They know.
“I…can’t talk about it.”
“We’re going to put him away, Charlie,” Luke says, urgent, almost firm. “So he can’t hurt anyone else.”
“I said I can’t talk about it,” I say in a rush, squeezing my eyes shut. “I…signed an NDA.”
“Charlie, I’m on your side, remember?” Luke says. “And I can tell you with absolute certainty that whatever terms you agreed to won’t stand up in a court of law. He can’t keep you from complying with a court order, so you are absolutely one hundred percent protected. A nondisclosure is not intended to hide a criminal act. He manipulated you into thinking otherwise.”
“But he’ll take everything.” I swipe my wet cheeks.
“We’ll keep that from happening,” Luke says. “He’s taken enough, don’t you think? Not just from you, but from Ari, and Dagney, and the others. Their families.”
My sister. I sob, covering my face with my hand.He pretended to be her friend. He stole her strength, her beautiful courage.“I thought signing the contract was the right thing to do.”
“You did the best you could, Charlie, okay?” Zach says. “But it’s time to let us take over. Can you come to the station? Or I could come to you and drive you in.”
“William,” I whisper.I can’t do this without you.But will he stillwant me when he learns the truth? Could he possibly find a way to forgive me?
“I’m trying to find him,” Zach says. “Hang on.”
“Salazar is back at Creekside tonight,” Luke says. “But he won’t make it to the stage. This ends now, Charlie.”
“Oh shit,” Zach utters.
Answering him feels like I’m swimming through molasses. “What’s wrong?”
