Briar Valley: The Complete Duet

27. Willow

CHAPTER 27

WILLOW

ALWAYS COME BACK (ACOUSTIC) – MARTIN KERR

Staring at the wreckage, my tears don’t fall. I have none left. The depression I experienced after the fire has been set alight and transformed into an anger that burns so hot, I hardly know how to contain it.

They were here.

His men.

Because of me, the entire town has been threatened, and Lola’s cabin is gone. I’ve brought danger back to their door. Again. Like I didn’t learn my lesson the last time we ended up in this situation.

Ethan and Warner pick over the rubble and sift through the ashes, searching for any evidence. They arrived several hours ago after hearing the news and rushing up from London.

“Willow?” Aalia stops at my side.

“There’s nothing left.”

“I know.” She pats my arm with a sympathetic smile. “Stop blaming yourself, this isn’t your fault.”

“Yeah, it is.”

Turning me to face her, she holds me tight. “This is on him. Mr Sanchez and his men did this, not you. Remember that.”

We embrace tightly, but still the tears don’t come. I’m not capable of them right now. All that’s left after sobbing my heart out all night long is rage. Lonely, bitter rage.

“I’m supposed to be the one protecting this town,” I grind out. “Instead, it’s burning because of me.”

“Willow, he did this to you. He hurt you. He trafficked you. He threatened you.” Aalia loses her temper. “He burned the cabin down! Stop blaming yourself for Mr Sanchez’s… his…”

“His?” I find the strength to laugh.

“Asshole… behaviour,” she finishes, breaking down into inappropriate laughter. “You’ve done nothing wrong. We need you as our leader more than ever right now.”

Finally, the tears well up. “Thank you, Aalia. I’m glad that I have you in my life.”

She squeezes my waist. “I’ve got your back.”

“And I’ve got yours.”

“Let’s go inside and rejoin the others.”

Taking my hand, she tows me back towards the schoolhouse. Rachel and Miranda have called off classes for the day, letting everyone gather to eat, drink and be together while Ethan’s team conducts their investigation.

Being together is how Briar Valley copes with trauma. The town looks after its own, and dealing with grief isn’t something that’s done alone. Seeing the cabin burn has brought it all back up after Lola’s death.

Inside the schoolhouse, several long tables have been set up. Rachel is buzzing around with one of her kids helping, doling out sandwiches and steaming cups of tea to the masses of people crowded inside.

Miranda sits at another table with Doc. They’re talking to Harold, Marilyn, Andrea and Theodore in low murmurs. It feels like walking into another funeral, everyone’s attention turning to me as I head inside.

“What’s the latest?” Theodore speaks up.

“The investigation is still ongoing,” I address the room. “But it’s looking like arson. They’ve found evidence of fuel canisters near the burn site.”

Whispers sweep over the other residents, gathered to listen for updates. We all knew this was deliberate, especially given the sign that Killian saw last night. But hearing the proof is another thing.

“What happens now?” Walker asks.

He’s sitting with his two kids at a table with Johan and Amie. His eyes are darting around the room nervously, like he expects it to burst into flames at any moment.

“Sabre will continue their investigation for now.”

“But are we safe?” he presses.

Feeling the burden of responsibility, I glance around the room, feeling the collective weight of their gazes on me.

“No,” I admit. “Briar Valley isn’t safe right now, but nowhere in the world is. I’m sorry that I’ve brought this trouble into your lives, and you’re welcome to leave if that would make you feel safer.”

Standing up, Harold’s expression is severe. “We’re not going anywhere, Willow. This is our home and yours. We won’t be forced out by some punk with an attitude problem.”

Marilyn takes his hand and nods. “We will stand by you.”

Theodore and his wife, Andrea, both nod in agreement. Slowly but surely, everyone around the room joins in—nodding, muttering their agreement, smiling up at me in an attempt at comfort.

My chest tightens with emotion. “You’d all do that? For me?”

“You’re our family,” Miranda says simply.

Doc kisses the side of his wife’s head. “And we protect our family in Briar Valley.”

Rachel takes Doc’s other hand and gifts me a small smile. “We’ll stand by you until the end of the line, Willow. This fight isn’t just yours now. It belongs to all of us.”

Everyone hums in agreement, still filtering through the stages of shock and grief at the violence we’ve all witnessed. Their land burned last night too. It doesn’t just belong to me.

I have to wipe my cheeks and plaster my strong, Lola-like expression of unflappable leadership back into place.

“Thank you all for being our family. For looking after me and my children. I never expected to find this when I came to Briar Valley, but I have no regrets. It was the best decision I ever made.”

They all smile back—accepting and full of love.

“So thank you,” I repeat, my voice thick.

Walking to the back of the room, the three pieces of my heart seal the moment. Killian beams up at me while the twins both watch on with matching looks of adoration.

I turn back to Walker. “As for what happens now… we do what we’ve always done in our lives. We rebuild.”

Hugging his children tight, he nods back. “We rebuild.”

Harold kisses his wife’s cheek. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

She chuckles. “Or even the second.”

Stepping from the front of the room, everyone turns back to their food or begins to disperse. I find a quiet corner to move to, and the guys meet me there so we can press together.

“Good job, princess.” Killian firmly kisses me on the lips. “They needed to hear that.”

“I just told the truth.”

“And not everyone would have the strength to do that,” Micah says, sliding his fingers into mine. “But you do.”

“Lying to them won’t help.”

Walking into the schoolhouse with his shoulders hunched, Ethan is followed closely by Hyland and Warner. The remaining members of the Anaconda team are all here to respond to last night’s events.

Ryder flashes across the room to fuss over him, but Ethan brushes him aside, his eyes laser focused on us. We gather in the quietest corner of the room, away from listening ears.

“Willow,” he greets.

“What’s the latest?”

He hesitates, a hand raking through his hair. “Perhaps we should discuss this alone.”

Before Killian can snarl at him in his usual animal-like way, I hold up a hand to stop him. “They’re as involved as I am now. Whatever you have to say, we all need to hear it.”

Ethan nods. “We’re going to make a move on Sanchez.”

“Wait, what?”

“We think that we’ve located the properties in Florida and Tijuana using Elaine’s intel. If he’s hiding out there, we will arrest him and take him into custody.”

Anticipation floods my system. I knew they were searching for the houses, but it seemed like such a long shot.

“Do you really think he’ll be there?”

“I can’t make any promises, Willow. But we’re going to try.”

“When?”

“We’re splitting up and flying out tonight,” Warner answers solemnly. “I’ll be taking Florida.”

“And I’m heading to Mexico,” Ethan says. “If he’s there, he’ll be arrested for his crimes and extradited back to England. We’ll get him, Willow.”

“What about Hyland?”

Ethan’s eyes stray over to his man, stationed by the door with a gun strapped to his hip. He watches everyone like a hawk.

“He’s clean,” he confirms.

“How can you be sure?”

“We were thorough.”

Tentatively, I nod. “I’m trusting you, Ethan.”

“I know. We’ll be leaving him here for your protection. You can trust him, despite everything that’s happened. He’s a good man.”

I swallow the need to point out that we thought the same about Tara. Any protection is better than none. Last night’s events have proven how exposed we are.

“We’re going to make this right,” Ethan vows. “I promise to earn your trust in us, Willow. We’re not all like Tara.”

“I appreciate that.”

Killian looks less than impressed with the offer of protection, glowering at him so fiercely, I’m surprised the skin doesn’t melt from his bones.

“We have to go back to London to prepare.” Ethan briefly touches my arm. “We’re going to send some extra muscle to help man the perimeter for you too. Will you be okay?”

“We don’t need your help.” Killian doesn’t let me respond.

Ethan gestures outside at the smoking wreckage. “Clearly, you do. These men and women are highly trained. Put them to use.”

With a final squeeze, Ethan backs away to speak to Ryder, who looks like he’s freaking out about the Mexico trip. I watch the pair begin to argue for a moment before looking away.

“I hate that guy,” Killian rumbles.

Zach rolls his eyes. “You hate everyone.”

“Not true.”

“Isn’t it? You’ve been telling me that you hate me since we were eight years old. Ethan’s a good guy, Kill. He’s trying to help.”

“We have to let him do his job,” Micah chimes in.

“I don’t have to fucking like it, though.” Killian harrumphs. “Like, at all.”

Stomping off, he leaves me with the twins. Zach moves to my back and bands his arms around me from behind, his chin resting on top of my head as he strokes my belly.

“You know… it’s our birthday next weekend.”

“Wait, it is?” I gasp.

“Yep.” He pops the P dramatically.

“Why didn’t I know that? We didn’t celebrate last year.”

“We don’t tend to celebrate.” Micah shrugs, toying with my fingers. “Birthdays just remind us of Dad.”

Zach nods, his eyes filled with sadness. I hate seeing their pain. This day should be a happy occasion for them both, not filled with grief.

“We should celebrate!” I declare.

Neither looks convinced. Pinning them both with my best stern glare, I put my hands on my hips.

“We’re celebrating.”

“What kind of celebration?” Micah wrinkles his nose.

“There’s nothing I want more than to be here with you,” Zach protests.

“Like every other day? Not a chance. How old are you guys going to be?”

“Twenty-seven years young.” Micah pulls me into his chest. “If we’re going to celebrate, I don’t want to do it here. This place is full of bad memories.”

“Then where?”

“We could get a hotel in Highbridge,” he suggests.

Zach frowns. “Is it safe?”

“We can take the last remaining cheerful twin with us.”

Bursting into laughter, we all look out the window at Hyland, currently getting his ear chewed off by Killian outside. He looks far from cheerful, being yelled at again.

“I don’t know if this is such a good idea.” Zach worries his lip.

I stroke a hand over his bicep. “Leave Killian to me, I’ll win him over. A break will be good for us.”

“Even after what happened last night?”

“Because of what happened last night,” Micah intervenes. “We’ve lost so much already. I just want one normal night for once.”

I rub where there’s a pang in my chest. “I don’t want to leave Arianna again, though. Not after everything.”

“Bring her, then. I’m sure Aalia would be happy to babysit for a night in a fancy hotel.” Zach winks at me, getting on board with the plan. “We don’t want her to overhear anything.”

Feeling myself flush, I turn to hide in Micah’s chest. “Tell your twin he’s making a hell of an assumption that there will be anything to hear, especially in my current state.”

Micah’s chest vibrates with a chuckle. “You’re not getting lucky, Zach. Sorry, man.”

“Dammit.” He snaps his fingers. “So close. Shouldn’t have knocked her up.”

“Zachariah!” I splutter.

His eyes twinkle with mirth. “Only joking.”

“Don’t make me set Hyland on you.”

Zach bursts into laughter. “I’m so scared.”

“He’s clearly very eager to get back in my good books. I’m sure he’d happily dole out a beating.”

“Sounds kinky.”

“It really won’t be.”

Kissing the tip of my nose, he playfully ruffles my hair. “That’s what you think.”