Chapter 26

Killian Savage

As soon as the rest of the officers leave out her front door, Pierce stands in the living room with us, rubbing the back of his neck as if all the weight of the world had settled there. They've been here for an hour, scouring the place for any evidence that might have been left behind from the break-in.

I had come back from the thrift store only to find Tori home and three police cars parked out front. After stashing my newly acquired knife in the B&B, I made my way to the house to see what was going on. Tori had ended up calling them about the break-in, and while at first, she was micromanaging, she sat on the couch after my reassurance, chewing her nails while staring at the lily in one of the officer's clear evidence bags.

"Well?" Tori asks around biting a nail down so far that I'm surprised it doesn't bleed. I stand to the right of her knees, fighting the urge to pull her hand out of her mouth. I understand it though, even if we're both nervous for different reasons. I don't like cops for obvious reasons, and I couldn't relax enough to sit next to her with the fresh reminder of the break-in. So I just hovered nearby the entire time instead. Besides, I think that's what she needed, a pillar of protection against what horrors and truths Pierce and his guys might have found.

Pierce drops his hand back to his side and fully turns to face her. "There were no prints aside from yours and his." He tips his head to me and sighs but continues, "Whoever it was must have worn gloves."

"You found nothing?" I demand in disbelief, though I shouldn't be disbelieving. When I reported my family's bodies, they hadn't found any evidence either.

"The window wasn't tampered with. It had been unlocked to begin with. There's nothing more to say."

I can hear it in his tone, the accusation toward Tori for being irresponsible. It makes my shoulders tighten, but I keep my mouth shut because what I really want to say and do could land me a night in jail. There, I wouldn't be able to protect her.

"And the cameras?" Tori presses.

He shakes his head and crosses his arms. "There's nothing there but the orange coat. Nothing to go on."

"That man's body had the same shape as Kent's," she growls, lowering her fingers from her mouth and bunching them into fists against her knees.

"Not this again."

"When will you believe me?" she all but shouts.

"When you have actual evidence, Tori," he says patiently.

"Well, I suppose I should tell you about today, then."

Before he can protest any more bullshit from his mouth, she starts to recount an interaction she had with the pastor this morning. My blood runs hot. Then it turns ice cold because, if that kid employee of hers hadn't shown up, there's no telling what could have happened. Fear nearly makes me sit down next to her, almost has me collapsing onto the couch, because I had let her go alone. I knew better, and I let her go anyway.

Their conversation draws me back to the present even though my mind wants to dwell on all the possible ways I could have lost her forever.

"Why else would he have said what he said? Acted the way he acted?" Tori asks when Pierce only considers her and the situation carefully.

"If you do nothing and something happens…" I let my words trail off, knowing that he has to choose between investigating his grandfather to get to the Lillian and having a guilty conscience if something else were to happen to her.

Pierce rakes a hand down his face. "I'll see about a search warrant."

"If he's not guilty," Tori spits, "Then he'll let his grandson in his house to have a look around, now won't he."

"I still have to go about this the legal way."

I roll my eyes. If he wanted to go about this the legal way, he would have looked at his grandfather several days ago.

"Something to say, Savage?" Pierce directs at me in a threatening manner.

"Oh, I have plenty to say." I take a step in his direction, letting the rage fuel my motions. I can't protect her to my full capability if even the law won't stand behind her.

"Stop," Tori interjects. "Stop!"

Pierce's narrowed eyes relax when he looks back at Tori. I nearly chuckle darkly because, even after all the shit they've been through the last few days, everything she's slung at him, he still has it bad for her. Color me territorial red.

She continues, "I'd also like a restraining order against him."

It takes a minute, but Pierce curtly nods. "I'll do what I can. And though I don't think he's who you're looking for –"

She chuffs. "You're in such denial," she interjects.

"– I agree that he has it out for you."

She shakes her head, opens her palms, and flexes her fingers into her palms a few times. "Whatever," she whispers. "Just please do your job."

Pierce sighs long and slow, but he says nothing else before grabbing the door handle and exiting the house, leaving me and Tori alone.

Sagging her shoulders, she looks up at me. "I want nothing more than to move."

I shrug a little. "I can help with that."

She laughs softly, but the sound has very little humor in it. "Tempting." Standing, she gathers herself to her toes and tucks her head under my chin. She breathes out contentedly as if she'd been waiting for comfort since the moment I stepped into her house. I wrap an arm around her and kiss the top of her head while my eyes go out to her sunny front lawn.

"Better?" I ask after a few moments.

"I will be once there's a restraining order."

I almost huff, but I stop myself because no law and order will stop the Lillian from taking his mark. Nothing will stop him from showing me he can, either. And, truth be told, even if that restraining order doesn't come through, I'll find where the pastor lives myself and watch him bleed until he tells me what I want to know. Until he's good and dead inside a house fire for what he's done to Tori, too.

Because I know he has answers. And I know he has to pay.

I have every intention of doing that.