Read Resisting the Moon: A Royal Shifters Novel Online

Authors: L.P. Dover

Resisting the Moon: A Royal Shifters Novel (32 page)

Hadley

“Y
ou gonna be okay by yourself?” Gabriella asked.

Nodding, I hugged her and Paxton both. “I’ll be fine. Thank you for trying to catch the guy who did this. You risked your life,” I said to Paxton.

He shrugged. “I just wish I’d caught the fucker. Let us know if there’s anything we can do.”

I nodded. “I will. But I think you’ve done more than enough for me at this point. I really can’t thank you enough.”

They made their way to the door just as my phone started to ring. It was Felicity. Everything had moved so fast, all I could tell her after the accident was that Nick was in the hospital and that she had to get there. I dreaded having to explain the details.

“Felicity.”

“What the hell is going on? What happened to Nick?” she demanded, her voice rough. I could hear squealing tires in the background.

I had cried so much, I didn’t think it was possible to shed another tear. My mind was numb and my whole body hurt. “Someone broke into my house and shot Nick and Scott. Scott didn’t make it. They told me to run, and . . .” I stopped and threw a hand over my mouth. The guilt came rushing back. I hated myself for putting them in that situation. “They told me to run and I did. Scott would be alive if it wasn’t for me. And who knows about Nick,” I sobbed.

“It’s not your fault. Nick will be okay. We have to believe he’ll be okay.” We cried together until the police chief, Robert Wilson, cleared his throat.

“Felicity, call me as soon as you find anything out about Nick. I have to go.”

We said our goodbyes and I turned to face the chief.

“I know this is a difficult time for you, but I need to ask you some questions,” he said. Robert was a middle-aged man with salt and peppered hair and almost a head taller than me, which was pretty tall considering I was five foot ten. I looked up at him and nodded.

“Okay. But I should probably call my dad before this gets onto the news.”

He shook his head. “No need. I called him already.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “Does he know about Scott?”

He sighed and when I opened my eyes, he nodded. “He was a good friend of your father’s, just like I am. George and I go way back, Miss Rivers. And with everything that’s happened, I have a solution to keep you safe. Now follow me. We have a long night ahead of us.”

“You’re moving me
where
?” I gasped, shooting to my feet. Robert sat back in his chair while I paced his office.

Before he could respond, my father spoke up first, his deep voice resonating out of the telephone speaker. “I’m sorry, pumpkin. I know this isn’t want you want, but we have to keep you safe, at all costs.”

“I understand the concern, but why do I have to go all the way to Wyoming? Why can’t I stay in California, somewhere closer to home?”

“Because,” Robert interrupted, drawing my attention, “we need you in a safe place; where no one will recognize you, and no one would look for you. Even your father isn’t going to know exactly where you’re going.” He leaned forward, his gaze serious. “With that being said, no one can know of your location, not even your friends. Understand? You will be going dark until we catch this bastard.”

My gut clenched and I nodded, tears springing to my eyes at the thought of not seeing Nick, or going to Scott’s funeral. My mind shifted to Scott’s family, and the pain they’d be going through. I wouldn’t be around to tell them how sorry I was. Then there was Nick, who was going to be fighting for his life without me to help him through. He’d always been there for me, and now I’d be leaving him in his greatest hour of need.

My dad sighed and the sound startled me. “Not to mention, sweetheart, your tour will have to be put on hold.”

I gasped, I’d totally forgotten about my upcoming commitments across the country.

“There’s just no other way. Once word gets out to the media, your fans will understand. You’ll be too easy of a target if that bastard knows where to find you.”

Exhausted, I sat in the seat across from Robert. “When do I leave?”

“Tomorrow morning, once all your papers go through. You’ll no longer be Hadley Rivers. We’ll have to give you a new identity.”

Nodding, I wiped at the tears sliding down my cheek. I would be abandoning everyone I cared about, while they dealt with my mess. “How long will I be gone?”

Robert shrugged. “Hard to say. Obviously, if we don’t have luck finding the cocksucker, we can’t keep you hidden forever. But you’ll just be putting yourself at risk if you come back too soon, and without a plan in place.”

“I understand.” I couldn’t stay away forever, and I definitely didn’t want to ever step foot in my house again. The memories were too powerful. I’d never be able to walk in my kitchen and not see Scott and Nick laying in pools of blood. “Where will I be staying tonight? I can’t go back home.”

“You’re coming with me,” Robert explained. “My wife already has the guest bedroom ready for you. Deputy Savage is at your house now, grabbing some of your things. It should be enough until you get to Wyoming.” He looked down at the phone and cleared his throat. “George, I think that about wraps it up. I’m going to step out so you two can talk.”

“Thanks, Robert. I appreciate you taking care of my daughter.”

“Anytime.” Robert grabbed his keys and stepped out of the room.

As soon as the door clicked shut, I picked up the phone and sat there; the enormity of the situation hitting me all at once.

“Hadley, you there?”

I took a deep breath. “I’m here. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up from this nightmare.”

“Don’t beat yourself up. It’s not your fault.”

“Does Scott’s family know?” I asked, swallowing hard. He didn’t have a wife or kids, but he still had parents and siblings who loved him.

The line grew quiet before he came back on. “Yes. They’re upset, but they knew the risks.”

“Will you please tell them I’m sorry?”

“Yes, pumpkin, I will. Now why don’t you go home with Robert and get some rest. You have a long day tomorrow.”

That was an understatement.

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Resisting the Moon

L.P. Dover

Editor: Victoria Schmitz at Crimson Tide Editorial

Cover Designed by: Sara Eirew

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