Somebody to Hold: (A Tyler Jamison Novel - Book 2) by April Wilson

Author:April Wilson [Wilson, April]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wilson Publishing LLC
Published: 2021-02-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Ian Alexander

Tyler’s late.

He’s never late.

And he hasn’t called or texted.

I pace the living room, periodically glancing out the window that overlooks the driveway, watching for his BMW. He should have been home forty minutes ago. We have plans to grill steaks tonight on the roof. If he were going to be late, he would have called me.

As my anxiety soars, I keep telling myself to calm down.

So what, he’s late. It’s no big deal.

Maybe he got stuck in traffic.

Maybe he was assigned to a new case and hasn’t had a chance to call.

Or, maybe he’s been arrested.

Feeling lightheaded, I drop down onto a chair by the window and work on controlling my breathing. Hyperventilating won’t help. And the last thing I need right now is a full-blown panic attack.

As I run through the list of reasons why he might be late, I hear a car pull into the drive. “Oh, thank god.”

I jump to my feet expecting to see Tyler’s car in the driveway. But it’s not his car. It’s a shiny black Escalade. I stand frozen in place as I watch Sam help Beth step down from the rear passenger seat. Together, they walk up the steps to my front door. A moment later, I hear a knock.

I swallow hard as my ears start ringing.

This is bad.

Deep down, I know Tyler sent them to break the news to me that he’s not coming home.

Because he can’t.

Because he’s probably sitting in a jail cell right now.

There’s a second knock, louder this time.

Feeling numb, I head to the foyer, turn the deadbolt, and open the door.

Beth’s eyes are red, her lashes wet with tears. Nevertheless, she pastes a smile on her face. “Hi, Ian.” She glances at Sam. “We thought we’d stop by.”

“Tyler sent you,” I say in a choked voice.

Sam nods as he ushers Beth inside and closes the door. “Mind if we come in?”

I step back and point toward the living room.

Beth steps forward and throws her arms around me. With her big belly in the way, it’s a bit of a challenge. “He’s being charged,” she says through her tears.

I tighten my arms around her. She and I share a powerful bond—we both love Tyler.

Sam watches us, his brown eyes radiating pain and understanding. Then he steps close and wraps his arms around me and Beth. “Have faith, guys. It’s going to be okay.”

My mind is racing, my heart pounding, and I can’t stop shaking. It’s happening. Everything I dreaded—my worst fear—is coming true.

All I can think about is Tyler in prison, locked in a cage like a common criminal. And I didn’t even get to say goodbye.

Anxiety is choking me. “This is my fault,” I say, my voice breaking. “I did this to him.”

“No, you didn’t,” Sam says. “Tyler’s a big boy. He makes his own choices.”

We all end up sitting on the sofa, Beth to my left and Sam to my right. I haven’t known them very long, and yet they’re here with me—like family. “Do you know what’s happening?”

Sam shrugs.

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