Page 89 of About Last Knight

I head toward my car as I call one last person. I dial her number.

“Melissa?”

“Hi Darian. Is Declan by chance with you?”

“No. Why?”

“Have you heard from him since we left last night?”

“No. What’s going on?”

I take a long breath. “I think he’s about to go off the rails. I’m afraid he’s going to hurt himself.”

“What? Why would he do that? He just came back to us.” She sounds panicked.

I sigh. “Darian, he’s a mess. He thinks he failed you by not being there for you and the girls after your husband died. I was hoping you offering forgiveness would be the end of it, but I don’t think he really heard you. He can be a self-hater at times. He carries so much guilt, and last night just added to it. I think it was his tipping point.”

“I’m so sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”

“I know. Just let me know if you hear from him. I’m going to run by his apartment, though I’m confident he’s not there. I don’t know where he’d go. I know he loves the river area, but I don’t think that’s where he is. That’s his happy place.”

“Did he say anything before he left?”

“He said nothing to me. I found a note this morning telling me that he’s toxic and I’m better off without him. He did tell my building security guy that he was going for a stroll down memory lane. Any idea what that might mean?”

“If he’s on a self-hating trip down memory lane, I know exactly where he’ll go. It’s near me. Come pick me up. I want to go with you.”

“Just tell me where it is. I don’t think you should come. Seeing you and hearing about your struggles is what set him off in the first place.”

“Melissa, we’re on the same team here. I know we don’t know each other terribly well, but we want the same thing. Trust me, I need to be there. Please.”

I sigh, having no fight left in me. “Okay. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

I do a quick stop-by at his apartment and, as expected, he’s not there. I head for Darian and Jackson’s house.

When I arrive, she speed-walks out to the car with Jackson hot on her heels. She opens the passenger door and turns to Jackson, shoving him away. “You’re not coming. Go back in the house. I’ll call you when I know something.”

“It may be unsafe. He’s unstable. I’m not letting you go alone.” He looks in the car at me. “I don’t want either of you going alone.”

She kisses his cheek. “Jackson, I love you. I love how protective you are. I promise you Declan wouldn’t harm a hair on anyone’s head. He’s a good man. He’s troubled, but he’s not a bad guy.”

Jackson looks at me. I shake my head. “The only person Declan hurts is himself. We’re fine, Jackson. Really.”

He lets out a deep breath in defeat. He grabs Darian’s face and tilts it to his. “If I don’t hear from you in thirty minutes, I’m going to break down the door. I have the address.”

“Fine. I’ll keep you updated. I promise.”

He kisses her lips. “I love you. Be careful.”

“I will. I love you too.”

She gets in the car and closes the door. “Just go before he changes his mind and jumps on top of the car.” She mumbles, “Possessive lunatic.”

I can’t help but let out a small laugh. She thinks Jackson’s a possessive lunatic? She has no idea. I guess it’s all relative.

I look at her. “Where are we going?”

“Make a right at the end of the street.” She takes a breath. “We didn’t get into specifics last night, but there was an incident. The straw that broke the camel’s back. Has he mentioned it to you?”

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