Page 89 of Living Hell

Taking a deep breath, I discovered I wasn’t worried about what he might think about the deception. In fact, I was relieved he knew. “I’m sorry I had to keep that from you.”

He shook his head. “I understand. Sometimes there are things that happen in life that take time to reveal. That you’re unsure how others may react, so you think it’s best to keep it to yourself.”

I furrowed my brow. Was he referring to me or something else?

“I signed a contract to keep it secret. Though the person who made the contract had lied to begin with, so it’s probably void now anyway.”

“Do you love her?” Austen scratched the scruff on his face. I had noticed the last few weeks he didn’t appear as clean-cut anymore. Maybe he was falling out of love with his bank rules and regulations and in love with something or someone else.

“Babette? God, no.”

He chuckled, and it felt good to have a break in the tension of the moment with some levity. “I meant Iona.”

“Yes. I don’t think I ever fell out of love with her.”

“Love’s a crazy thing,” he mumbled.

I stared at him for a moment and realized he might just be in love with someone, which made me happy for him. I’d known him for two years and not once in that time had he gone on a date.

“I see the sheriff. He’s waving us over.” Austen pointed toward the street.

I turned to see the sheriff jogging over.

“It’s Iona. My team has located her.”

A wave of relief rolled over me.

“Thank God. Where is she?” I glanced around Garrison but couldn’t see her anywhere.

“They know where she is, but they aren’t with her. Look, Tyler . . .” The sheriff put his arm on my shoulder and turned me away from Austen. I thought if Garrison ever did this I would faint from happiness, but now I might pass out from horror from the look on his face. “I asked Iona to wear a wire for us. The mayor is under investigation with the FBI, and since Iona was going to be alone on the float with him, I thought she was the perfect candidate to get some information from him.”

My man-crush was beginning to fade. I hated that he put Iona in danger like that.

“Our team would be listening to everything and jump into action if anything went wrong. Based on what they heard, we thought they were still on the float but when you said you couldn’t find them, our team realized they had moved locations. Do you know where Iona may have gone with him? She mentioned a shack but nothing more.”

I wanted to punch Garrison and when I found Keaghan, I’d murder him. Basically, I’d be the one arrested by the end of the day, but I didn’t care. If anything happened to Iona or the baby, there would be hell to pay.

“I’m sorry I had to do this, but we needed to bring the mayor down. He’s a dangerous man, and right now he’s alone with your fiancée.”

My jaw clenched as I tried to focus on where a shack might be near here. Rage made it difficult to think. “I need a minute.” I threw off Garrison’s arm and took a few steps away from the crowd.

Standing at the corner where the sidewalk ended for the town, I glanced back toward the trees. Our spot was through those trees. The place I fell in love with Iona. I wanted nothing more than to go back to that innocent time and hold her in my arms.

Then it hit me so hard I stumbled back.

“Shack?” I turned my head and looked at the sheriff.

“What?” He pointed to the crowd.

He couldn’t hear me. I was too far, and the people were too loud.

I waved him toward me and motioned to the small path between the trees. “The shack,” I said.

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