“But, Dad…” Nicole grabbed his arm. “We just got here. I think we should wait. Bailey may need us.”
“Stop pretending, Nicole,” Bailey said, heat rising like fire inside her. “Don’t pretend to care about me. I know what you’ve done.”
“Excuse me?” Nicole said. “Bailey, are you okay?”
“I know what you’ve done. I know you’ve been feeding information to Rosa Sikes. You’re the person fueling her fire. You’re the reason she’s airing negative and false information about me.”
“Bailey, you’re mistaken. Nicole wouldn’t do that,” Linda said.
“Would you, Nicole?” Stanley asked, his eyes focused on her intently.
“Why?” Bailey asked. “Just tell me why you’d do something so heinous to me? Why would you want the world to believe such lies? You actually tried to convince people I killed Dex.”
“As far as I’m concerned, you did,” Nicole said.
Bailey’s eyes widened in disbelief, and she held up her fist to show her permanent scars. Light reflected off the white spirals that circled her wrists from when she’d been tied up for days in that camp trailer. “How could you say such a thing after what he did to me?”
“Just stop! We all know what you’ve been through, poor, poor Bailey. You have no idea how this has affected everyone else. You don’t know what we’ve been through—or you just don’t care.” She pointed a finger at Bailey. “You have no idea what you’ve done to me.”
“Nicole,” Linda said on a gasp. “You didn’t do what she’s saying, did you? Please, tell me she’s mistaken.”
“What I’ve done?” Bailey said. “Nicole, I’m sorry about Dex, but come on. You know I didn’t maliciously hurt you like you’ve done to me. I didn’t know about you. I didn’t know Dex was married.”
Before Nicole could say another word, James stopped her. “That’s enough. We need to get Dad home.”
Alex’s face was sheet white, and Bailey had to wonder if it was a good idea for him to be discharged. James took his other arm. “Dad, come on. I’ll help you to the car.”
Alex stepped forward and faced Bailey. “We’re leaving tonight. Go home and pack a bag.”
“Excuse me?” Ryan said.
Alex glared at him. “This isn’t about you. Stay out of it.”
“Alex…” Bailey wasn’t sure what to say. He’d been through a lot, and he was distraught over the news he believed to be true, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t make her own decisions. “I’m sorry, but I’m not leaving with you.”
“I can’t argue with you right now. Just go get your stuff. We’ll meet you at the rental.”
She agreed he didn’t have the strength to fight, but that didn’t keep her from speaking up. “I’m not leaving with you. The FBI has been scrounging around my mother’s hou—”
“That woman was not your mother.” His lip curled, and she felt like she needed to take a step back, but she didn’t.
Ryan’s chest pumped out a little, too, and Bailey laid her hand on him to keep him quiet.
“That woman was my mother. I’m sorry you believe what that warrant says, but I’m afraid I need some solid proof before I’ll believe it.”
“Bailey, I think you should stay with us until we get that proof,” Linda said, her arm firmly locked around Alex’s.
“I’m sorry, Linda. I’m not leaving. I have too many responsibilities to just pack up and leave when Alex demands it.” Her eyes traveled over to Nicole. “Besides, I won’t be with someone I can’t trust. It’s clear Nicole believes I purposely set out to hurt her when the opposite is true. I never intended to hurt anyone.”
“Fine, let’s go,” Alex said.
“Dad, come on. Don’t leave like this.” Stanley stood between Alex and the parking lot, trying to slow Alex’s progress as he walked away. “I think we need to stay and talk about this. All of it.”
“You have no idea what these people have put me through,” Alex said, pushing him aside to continue to the car.
Bailey thought about stopping them, running after him, and apologizing. If it was true, if her mother had done what they were accusing her of, Bailey didn’t think she would be able to forgive her either. The look on Alex’s face after reading that warrant would haunt her.
After standing stock-still for a couple of minutes, she rushed out the door, wanting to say goodbye again, but they were already gone. Her friends followed her out. When she turned to face them, they were all staring at her. It looked like they were waiting for something, an explosion or a breakdown, but Bailey was too numb. She didn’t have the energy for it.
“Thanks for being here.” She scanned their worried faces, then held her hands toward them. “You can breathe. I’m okay.”
They simultaneously dropped their shoulders and came at her, all talking to her at the same time.
“Bailey, I’m sorry…”
“Do you need a drink?”
“Are you ready to go home?”
“Have you eaten today?”
She rubbed her forehead. “Guys, I’m fine, really. I’m just tired. I need to go see what they’ve done to the house.”
They all nodded, still staring at her.
“Please, stop looking at me like that.” She pointed to Lucas and Wade. “Get back to the club.” Then she pointed to Mae. “Go home and get some rest. You’re way overdue for a day off.”
“We’re going with you,” Lucas said. “You might need help getting the house back in order.”
“Listen, I love you guys. Thank you for always being here for me.” Her voice wavered, so she took another deep breath. “I really am fine.”
“I’ll call you if she needs you,” Ryan said.
It took everything she had to keep from weeping as she hugged them each goodbye. Where would she be without them? How had she ever thought she could find a better family than the one she had right here in South Lake Tahoe?
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
They arrived at the house just in time to catch Sharpe. He was saying goodbye to
