Chapter 25

Tori Townsend

I'm a little late opening the shop this morning. I hadn't planned to be late, but between my time with Killian and errands, I arrived later than planned.

I park the car in my usual spot and quickly shut off the engine. Grabbing my things, I then dash from the car and to the front door. Thankfully, there are no customers waiting to get in, and as I insert the key to the shop, I take a calming breath.

That calming breath is momentary, however, because footsteps coming in my direction cause me to look up, and then promptly feel a tinge of fear.

"Tori," Kent greets with a raised upper lip, as though I stink and the very thought of being in my space causes him discomfort. I know I don't smell. I showered with Killian before I left the house. Kent is just being an asshole, and even though I know that, I still can't shake the fear as he comes to stand before me .

He left that lily. I know he did. And now he has the audacity to stand before me as if he hadn't broken into my house to give me, at the very least, a warning.

I back up a step, the key in the door dangling and all but forgotten, and that only makes him smile.

"Kent," I greet in a shaky voice. Suddenly, I'm fully aware of the clouds, of the sounds of birds, and of the smell of freshly cut grass. If he takes me now, no one would know. "I'll scream," I threaten.

His expression remains the same as he says, "Is that supposed to matter to me?"

A car passes by, and for a brief moment, I want to beg them to stay. "If you try to take me, they'll know who to look for."

He cocks his head to the side. "Whatever do you mean? Take you? Where would I take you, Tori?"

In this moment, I wish like hell Killian was here. I shouldn't have reassured him that I'd be fine, but at the same time, I didn't know I'd be so openly confronted in broad daylight where anyone could see. I thought I'd be kidnapped in the dark somewhere. Scratch that; I didn't actually think I'd ever be kidnapped. It was in my mind, but denial is a funny thing.

"I know it was you," I whisper.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You're the one who chased that woman onto the street – the woman I hit. You kidnapped Susan Toro." I swallow thickly. "You broke into my house and left me the lily."

He crosses his arms and looks at me like I'm a child making the wrong choices. "Why would you think that? That's a horrible thing to accuse me of."

Anger rises in me because he's basically calling me a liar. I know it was him who did all those things. I know it's him working for the Lillian. Kent may not be breeding the women he takes, but he's on board with all of it, and he's certainly aiding the one who is.

"I'm not stupid," I mutter. I hate that I feel small in front of him. Vulnerable. But he's always been a shark. He's always been out for blood when it comes to me. Hell, when it comes to anyone who views the world differently than his perfect and pure ideal world, he attacks.

"No one would be surprised if you were."

A tendril of anger licks at my insides. It's because of him that I barely have any business. I already know how he feels about me. However, every time he brings it up, I feel even smaller.

With my purse's strap tucked tightly in my elbow, I cross my arms loosely over my chest. "What do you want, Kent?"

He waves a hand gently around, ever the icon of grace. "I was just going for a stroll. It's a rare sunny morning." His tone makes my skin crawl because that definitely wasn't what he was doing. Most likely, he saw me pull up, and he wanted to see how rattled I was. Well, mission accomplished. I want nothing more than to flee like a damn deer.

By now, I know what Josiah's car sounds like. The engine grumbles as the breaks squeal, and I feel relief as he parks the car right in front of us. Kent certainly can't take me now. Thank god for employees – and on-time ones at that.

"Goodbye, Kent," I say with more vigor than I feel.

Josiah hops out of the car and takes in the two of us; Kent's easygoing demeanor and my stiff one. He approaches cautiously. "Everything okay?" he asks.

"Oh, just fine," the man of god says cheerfully as if we are really neighbors who actually get along.

"He was just leaving," I add. Now that Josiah is here, I feel more in control. I step into Kent's space, turn the key, and push the door open, effectively dismissing the pastor.

"I'll see you again, Tori," he calls as I step fully inside my shop with Josiah right behind me. I halt in my next step because the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. It sounded like a threat, and it probably was.

The door shuts, effectively stamping out Kent from my immediate life, and I give myself a little shake as I head to the light switch and flick on all the lights.

"Did I miss something?" Josiah asks as he follows me to the counter.

I head to the register and blow out a breath. "Nope," I respond because, even though that pastor may trash-talk me, I try to make it a habit not to air my dirty laundry. I find it just gives him fuel for harassment.

On the other hand, maybe I should tell Josiah. I glance at him, only to find him watching me with curiosity. He must know I'm lying. If I told him, he'd be a witness of sorts when Kent finally does what he's threatened and takes me.

That makes me want to throw up.

Instead of dwelling on it, however, I take a deep breath and plaster on a fake smile. "Thanks for being on time today."

He nods and slowly, my smile becomes real, because I truly am grateful for him.

I give him a list of things to do while I head to the office and begin my tasks for the day, chiefly getting my desk in order. It doesn't take long before a knock sounds on my door.

Solely into my sore store's budget on my laptop, I glance up distractedly. Tegan stands there, a bag of donuts in one hand and a coffee in her other .

I lean back in my seat as she dips inside and passes me both the coffee and the bag. "I thought I told you no more donuts."

"When we're sad, we feed each other sugar," she says in the way of explanation.

"Mhmm," I hum, opening the bag and taking a whiff of my favorite morning pastry.

She takes a seat in the chair and props her feet on the coffee table as she sips from her own coffee cup. No doubt it's decaf. I have every faith that she's taking care of her body in the way that she's supposed to while pregnant.

A gentle hand rests on her lower abdomen while she watches me closely. And when I set the bag of donuts down on the desk without pulling out my breakfast, she scowls. "What's wrong?"

I only flick my gaze at her. "Nothing," I lie.

She rolls her eyes. "Not this again. Come on, Tori. What's wrong?"

I shake my head as I fight the lump in my throat.

Her feet slide back down to the floor and she leans in my direction. "Did they find out anything else about the woman with the brand? Is that what's wrong?"

I shake my head again. "No, I haven't heard anything on that."

"Then what is it?"

Using both hands, I scrub my cheeks with my palms. I could keep her in the dark. I could lie to protect her. But I tell her everything. She knows every part of my life, and if I break that now . . . what kind of friend would I be? What kind of friendship would we have if I suddenly went missing and she never saw me again?

So, I tell her. I tell her about the orange raincoat, the harassment of the pastor, the lilies he plucked from the field, the woman kidnapped in the same town where he works, and all the way to the flower left on my counter. Then I tell her about Killian and his ties with the Lillian and how every piece of the puzzle connects to one another.

She listens silently, but expressions flick across her face. Shock, sadness, anger. They flit back and forth as my story goes on, and when I'm finished, she simply stares at me.

"Say something," I whisper when the silence becomes too much. "I can't stand the silence."

"I could have Cole murder him," she suggests with complete seriousness. "Then he wouldn't be a problem anymore."

I run a hand through my hair and lean once more into the back of my chair. "Tempting. That would just cause more problems though."

"It's better than you being taken to be bred like cattle. It's more than tempting, and you know it."

"Yeah," I breathe. "But Killian won't let that happen."

"Killian can't be around all the time, Tori," she whispers.

I look down at my palms. "Yeah," I say again. "I know."

"Does Pierce know?"

I close my fists, and annoyance curls in my gut. "Some of it. I haven't told him about the lily though."

She sips from her coffee again. "You should. He might change his tune if he knew someone broke into your house, lily aside."

I consider this for a moment. Pierce may have shut both Killian and me down once, but he can't deny a break-in. I should tell him. I should do something about it, if for no other reason than to let the authorities know that I'm being targeted. That I could be next, right along with Susan Toro. The thought should comfort me, but it doesn't because, from what Killian says, the Lillian will go to great lengths to get the woman he targets.

I just hope that, with Killian around, with people constantly around me, he won't be able to. Unless . . . he decides to hurt them to get to me. After all, he did kill Killian's family in revenge. He could easily kill one of the people I care about, someone I love.

I look back at Tegan, who watches me and waits for my answer. He could hurt her, and the best way I can keep that from happening is to tell Pierce so he can start an investigation. With any luck, It'll give him the evidence he needs to start to question the man who raised him.

"You're right," I say, and then I pick up my phone.