Page 45 of Entwined Hearts
I sat down slowly. “What kind of questions?”
“Personal ones. About you, Claire, Beau. If you and I talked about anything related to the zoning lawsuit.” He sat down at his desk and put his glasses back on. “I told him nothing, obviously, but I think he saw right through me. Preston can read people with frightening accuracy.”
“Thanks for letting me know.” It was the only thing I could think of to say, while my mind raced with ways this could rear its head.
“He even asked me about Tess. He somehow figured out I’m representing her in her custody case. You know she asked me for a DVRO?”
My heart stopped, and suddenly nothing about Preston, the merger, Weston, or my own problems mattered. My sister. My sweet, tender-hearted baby sister asked for a Domestic Violence Restraining Order. And what broke my heart even more was that she felt like she had to hide it from me. From all of us.
Levi went still. “I take it by the look on your face, you didn’t know.”
“No,” I whispered. “I didn’t.” I sank into the chair at his desk, pressing a shaking hand to my mouth. “She hasn’t told us anything. Won’t.” He handed me a tissue, and I realized then I was crying.
“That’s common with victims,” he said softly. I winced hearing the word victim in reference to Tess, but if what he was saying was true, then she was.
“She’s a strong woman. Resilient,” Levi added, obviously knowing far more about her than I did. He leaned forward, clasping his hands on his desk. His eyes, usually so kind and friendly, were dark with determination when he said, “I’m going to ruin that piece of shit’s life, Savannah, he’ll never be able to see her or Luke ever again. I promise.”
I nodded. “I know you will,” I rasped, pulling myself together. “Do you mind giving me a ride home?” I wanted to see my sister.
He nodded and grabbed his blazer off the back of his chair. The sun was low in the sky when we hopped in his car, and the ride was silent. Nothing but the hum of the car and Levi’s hard stare on the road.
I stared out the window, watching our small town fade to trees and open hills as we got closer to Golden Circle. My mind raced as always, bouncing from the merger to Sterling and Preston to Weston, but it stuck on Tess. God, sweet Tess. My heart ached. I couldn’t even imagine what she’d gone through.
Levi broke the silence. “I shouldn’t have told you about the DVRO,” he said, voice tense like he was beating himself up about it.
“It’s okay. I’m glad you did.” I shifted in my seat. “Well, glad isn’t the right word, but thankful, I guess.”
“I just…I remember now her saying she wanted to keep it under wraps as much as possible, was worried how people would look at her when they found out.”
“Nothing could change the way I look at her. She’s my sister. I love her more than anything.”
“That’s what I told her,” he said. “Not the loving her more than anything part,” he added with an adorably awkward chuckle. “But the having a family who supported her part.”
“It seems we aren’t the only ones who support her,” I pointed out.
His grip tightened on the wheel, but he didn’t deny it. “She’s a good person,” was all he said.
“I’m glad she has you in her corner.” And I truly meant it. Levi might’ve been related to the people trying to tear Golden Circle apart, but only in name. He was nothing like his family, and knowing how much he clearly cared for Tess only made me believe it more.
Later that night,I sat with Claire, Emmett, and Tess in our living room. “Don’t be mad at Levi,” I said. “He thought I knew.”
“I’m not mad,” Tess said softly. “If anything, I’m relieved that I didn’t have to be the one to say it.”
She let out a shaky breath, her eyes welling with tears. “I didn’t know how to tell you that I was with a man who terrorized me for years. Who manipulated me into alienating myself from my family, who made me miss saying bye to Mama, who?—”
Claire pulled her into her side, and Tess shattered. “It’s okay, bug,” she said, her voice shaking. “You don’t have to say anything else.”
“You’re home now, that’s what’s important,” Emmett said, voice tight. He had his hands clasped together so hard they shook, his knuckles white. “You’re safe with your family where you belong.”
Tess wiped her face and sat up, sniffling. “I’m just so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be embarrassed,” I told her. “There’s absolutelynothingto be embarrassed about.” I took her hand in mine. “You’re so strong. The strongest person I know, and I’m so proud of you for getting you and Luke out.”
“Not fast enough,” she whispered.
Claire brushed her hair back. “Well, like Em said, you’re home now, and we aren’t going to let anything happen to you or Luke, okay?”
She nodded, resting her head on Claire’s shoulder. I glanced at Claire and Emmett, the three of us all on the same page: this wasn’t the end of this story.
