Page 7 of In Death, Love Survives

What more is there to Wolfe that Ryan knows and I couldn’t find online?

“What troubles you?” he asks.

“Just a long week.” Not a complete lie.

A few awkward beats pass.

“How did it go with Walker?”

I hadn’t realized I was looking at my wine glass while lost in thought. Ryan’s smile is firmly in place as he brings up the very person I can’t stop thinking about.

“He didn’t come back after the first session. I’m sure he’s fine then.”

Ryan nods thoughtfully as he takes another drink.

“Be careful around him.”

Was he thinking about Wolfe this whole time too?

“I won’t be around him. Like I said, that was it.”

“That’s for the best. All the therapy in the world couldn’t help someone like Wolfe Walker.”

I give him a sour expression.

“I just mean, he’s beyond your help.”

“No one is beyond my help,” I retort.

“Nova, I know you have a huge heart. It’s one of my favorite qualities about you, but Wolfe belongs in jail. He’s a monster.”

I take a deep breath as I tap my nails on the table.

“I don’t believe that.”

“Well, I know some things,” Ryan says.

Oh, well, now we’re getting somewhere. Maybe I won’t have to ask after all. What does he know? Maybe a few sips of beer will make him spill.

“Like what?” I try to ask innocently.

Ryan twitches his mouth in debate.

“What I’m about to tell you has to stay between you and me. Got it?”

“Yes.”

“I’m serious. I could lose my job.”

Yikes, okay, this is what I want to know.

“What is it?”

Ryan glances around the bar, ensuring no one is close enough to overhear the conversation.

“Wolfe is being held here temporarily. He’ll be transferred soon to a private facility. There’s so much off the record that he’s done, it’s wild.”

“Like what?”

“He leads a club about a hundred miles north of here. They’ve run everything on that side of Montana for years. Even with him here, he’s still in charge.”

My eyebrows furrow together.

“How do you know this?”

“Crawley told me.”

“It just doesn’t make sense,” I say.

“It’s the truth.”

Wait, a club? That just doesn’t add up.

“What do you mean by a club? That could be so offensive, Ryan. I don’t even know where to start with how wrong this whole conversation is.”

Ryan scoffs and takes another sip of his beer.

“He’s the president of the Saddle Creek Road Riders Motorcycle Club. He’s not exactly a prestigious doctor like we are.”

“You still shouldn’t talk like that.”

“Fine, I’m sorry, okay?”

My shoulders tense as I try to come to terms with this mess of a conversation. This week has shed light on a side of Ryan that I haven’t seen before and certainly don’t like.

“The point is, Walker is going away for good. Where no one will be able to find him when he leaves. So you shouldn’t worry about therapy.”

What in the world is he saying? They are going to take Wolfe away to some other prison, where no one will be able to find him? That is just behind comprehension. We don’t do that here.

“How is that right?”

“It’s not, but it’s not up to you and me.”

I lean back in the chair and sit there in disbelief. There’s some part of me that needs to figure out a way to help Wolfe, even if it’s only by giving him the tools I have ahead of time to be prepared.

My stomach feels like it’s in knots. I know that won’t be enough. I can’t just sit back like Ryan and pretend that it doesn’t matter.

Frankly, Ryan is acting like it’s for the best. It’s gross and sickening to listen to what he’s saying and be around him with the way he’s acting. If only I could leave without it jeopardizing my job.

“Enough about Walker. I didn’t want us to finally get together only to talk about work.”

I feel like I’m on another planet with this conversation. He’s the one bringing work up.

I try to smile at Ryan as if I’m not dreading the small talk he’s about to inflict after that start. Thirty more minutes and I can leave. I just have to make it until then without thinking about Wolfe and how to help him.

“Alright, how about you tell me what you do for fun?” he asks.

“Sure, why not?” I answer with a small smile.

“Or you could tell me about your childhood,” he suggests.

Nope. There is no way I will be doing that.

“You go first.”

“Alright,” he says with a chuckle.

Ryan starts to chat about his upbringing and doesn’t seem to notice that I’m not actually conversing back.

Even despite this awkward start to the night, the way Ryan makes me feel is unsettling. It’s the complete opposite of the way I’ve been feeling around Wolfe.

It doesn’t make any sense.

Part of me has always tried to pretend like it’s not the case, but I know Ryan has some type of romantic feelings. This excuse for drinks was exactly what he needed.

The passes he’s made have always teetered between whether he’s just being friendly or trying to get in my pants.

It’s always bothered him that I haven’t shown the same level of interest that he gets from many of the other female employees we work with. There’s just nothing romantic about the way I feel for Ryan.

On paper, Ryan is an obvious romantic candidate. He’s a doctor, smart, charming, and good-looking—all positive qualities. Yet right now, as he goes on about himself, all I feel is unease in his presence.

“Nova?” he asks.

Getting out of this daze, I feign lightheadedness.

“Sorry, it’s getting late.”

Ryan looks at his watch and then back at me.

“It’s eight.”

“Right. I just… I really don’t feel well. Thanks for tonight, but I’ll have to head home.”

“Oh, okay. Want me to drive you?” he asks, confused by the sudden change. There’s no way he realizes that he’s been talking to himself for this long.

“No, no, it’s okay. I’ll see you Monday.”

“Monday,” he repeats.

“Maybe we can do this again,” I suggest, only it tastes like bile burning in my stomach. He grins at the idea.

That smooths the situation over as he widens his smile even further.

“That’d be great. Let me know when you get home. I’ll take care of this bill.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I say as I start to pull out cash.

“I insist.”

I pause my search, knowing that he’ll be persistent.

“Thank you.”

We both get up, and Ryan pulls me into a hug. His chest feels solid, more so than I was expecting. This hug doesn’t feel warm like a hug should. Instead, it feels cold and stiff.

Ryan pulls away and holds onto my shoulders.

“Can I admit something?”

“Sure.”

He lets out a long breath.

“I really want to kiss you.”

“You do?”

“Yeah, is that so hard to believe?”

“I mean,” I stammer.

“Maybe we can do this again. Only it can be a real date. And I’ll get an opportunity to.”

“Maybe,” I say.

He grins again.

“I’ll settle up here. See you Monday.” He places a small kiss on my cheek. I want to wipe it off immediately but refrain.

“Thanks.”

I pull out of his hold, grab my purse, and start to leave the bar.

As soon as I’m outside, the rush of wind against my face is welcomed. I shut my eyes tightly to regroup.

I know I don’t have much practice when it comes to the opposite sex, but it has to feel different than that. It should feel like goose bumps prickling on my skin and butterflies in my stomach.

I let out a steadying breath, one of my tricks to feel like myself.

I need to get back to my work. This weekend, I’ll do some more digging on Wolfe Walker and his past to try and figure out a plan for the future.

Opening my eyes, I walk toward my car.

It’s dark out, but the bar we went to is popular on a Friday night. The parking lot is starting to fill up, and people are walking past me. The brightly lit area makes me feel safe, at least.

Pulling out my keys, I start to unlock my car before I reach it. That’s when a figure appears next to it.

I come to a halt immediately.

“Don’t be afraid,” the voice commands.

It’s raspy, but it sounds like it’s from years of smoking cigarettes and not a natural twang.

“Who are you? What do you want?” I ask while staying still.

A woman and a man pass by, looking concerned by my behavior. I give them a tight smile as they walk past.

“A friend of a friend.”

“Who?”

The man steps forward out of the shadows, and I can see him clearly now. He has tattoos covering his body, and he’s wearing a simple all-black outfit that screams trouble.

He’s much younger than I assumed, maybe a few years older than I am.

“I’m not going to ask you again,” I say, trying to sound strong.

Smoke surrounds us as the man laughs. He ashes his cigarette and takes another puff.

“Sweetheart, I promise you this.”

Another puff.

“This friend we share only wanted to ensure your safety tonight.”

“Well, I’m fine… outside of this.” I gesture between the two of us.

He laughs darkly.

“That guy in there. He didn’t harm you?”

I tilt my head back.

“Harm me? He’s my boss.”

The unknown man snickers.

“Looks like he wanted something else.”

I cross my arms over my chest.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I don’t really care what he wants outside of a professional relationship.”

The man nods as he takes another smoke.

“If that’s all, can you please back away from my car?”

The man approaches and is now mere feet away.

“The name’s Caleb. Take my number in case you need help.”

I throw my arms out in frustration.

“ Help ? Why are you speaking in riddles? I’m a psychiatrist. That’s all. I don’t get into situations where I need help.”

“You must not get what a looker you are. That man in there…” He points toward the restaurant with his cigarette in hand.

“Yes?”

“He wants you. It’s just a matter of time before you have to put a stop to it. Who knows how he’ll react.”

“I can handle my boss.”

“Has he told you what he knows?”

I still.

“About?” I ask softly.

Caleb tosses the cigarette butt on the ground and puts it out.

“Watch your back, sweetheart. The people locked up aren’t the only dangerous men in that prison.”

“Is that a threat?”

Caleb shakes his head as he pulls out another cigarette from the pack in his pocket.

“Nah. I’m going to be your guardian angel.”

“Why? Why won’t you tell me anything?”

“Not my story to tell.”

I place a hand on my hip and wait.

“Have a good night,” he says as he turns his back to me and walks away, cigarette in hand, illuminating the sky.

“Good night,” I say with a sigh.