Chapter 18 Retail Therapy Savannah The wipers squeaked across the windshield in a steady rhythm, but even that couldn’t drown out the pounding in my head. The town looked different at night—blurred neon signs, sleepy storefronts, familiar streets that seemed to mock us with their silence. “Dean,” I said, for the fourth time. “We’ve been driving around for hours. Don’t you know anyone she might be staying with?” My voice cracked from exhaustion, eyes scanning the dimly lit streets of New Hope like we were on a scavenger hunt for a ghost. The car’s heater hummed quietly, the only warmth between us. We'd checked bars, diners, the bowling alley, that one dingy nightclub with the blinking sign, even the creepy church on Grove Street that used to scare Chloe as a child. Nothing. He didn’t answer right away. Just gripped the steering wheel tighter and made another left. “She’s out there somewhere, Sav,” Dean’s jaw flexed, “She’s emotional. Vulnerable. We can’t give up. I don't want her falling into the wrong hands.” I folded my arms. “She fell into yours, didn’t she?” His eyes flicked toward me—just a beat too long—before returning to the road. “She’s very fragile,” he said. “She meant no harm. Alyssa had no right to humiliate her like that.” “She’s not a lost puppy. She’s a grown woman with a mouth that causes mayhem. And maybe, just maybe, she's doing this for attention.” He shifted gears. “Chloe’s not like that. She’s—she’s a really good person, okay? Alyssa shouldn't have come at her that way.” “She used Emily to get the attention of a bridal magazine. What is good about that?” “Chloe is emotionally fragile. She was just trying to cope in her own way. Don't we all handle pain differently?” Yeah, Dean. We sure do. I guess I'll go live with a couple of fake tears on your wedding day too. I turned to him, stunned. “Cope? You’re unbelievable. She almost wrecked our family and now she’s pulled a disappearing act—and you’re defending her?”“She didn’t mean any harm. Look, Emily’s awake. She’ll be discharged in the morning. Lizzie said your fiancé handled the situation with her father.” That made me pause. “He did?” How did Roman get Gerald to back off so quickly? That lawyer of his, Penny, must be good. Dean nodded. “He’s your mighty fiancé, right? He fixed it. So everything Chloe was accused of? Gone. Now you all should let her breathe in peace.” “Still doesn’t explain her vanishing and having everyone in a chokehold.” Dean’s tone turned sharp. “Exactly. Which should tell you something. Maybe she was pushed too far.” I stared at him with disgust. She truly has him wrapped around her evil fingers. My stomach turned. I stared out the window, silence thick between us, the headlights bouncing off rows of parked cars. “She’s missing. And if anything happens to her…” he trailed off, his jaw tight. “I’ll never forgive myself. Or Alyssa.” I swallowed hard. “You really love her, don’t you?”His silence was louder than any confession. “She’s a great person, Sav. She doesn’t deserve what happened to her.” “And I do?” I whispered. His voice softened. “Sav—” “You broke my heart, Dean. Then you got cozy with my sister. And now you’re in my presence, defending her like she’s the goddamn sun. How dare you?” He flinched. Good. Let him feel something too. He hesitated. “I didn’t mean it that way.” “You didn’t have to.” I looked at him then, really looked. “You dumped me via text. A single sentence. And now you have the audacity to sit here, mooning over my sister like I never even existed.” “I didn’t mean to hurt you. But it was for the best.” “For you, maybe.” I leaned back in my seat, fists clenched. “We’ve moved on, right?” Dean nodded, eyes still scanning the streets. “Well, that’s where you’re wrong,” I murmured, smiling faintly. “I didn’t move on, Dean. I upgraded.” Dean didn’t respond. He just clenched the steering wheel tighter like he aimed to break it, jaw taut, eyes narrowed on the road. I didn’t expect a comeback. That wasn’t a line that needed answering. Fifteen minutes later, we pulled into the lot of a high-end mall on the edge of town. I had asked him to swing by just on a hunch—Chloe was vain, and if she was upset, there were only two things she did: cry to Dad or blow money she didn’t make herself. We walked in. I scanned the boutiques, my sandals sliding across the glossy marble. Dean was a step ahead of me, hyper-focused, protective, like he was scouring a war zone. His hands running through his hair wildly. Then I heard the high, carefree laughter. Chloe. I pressed my lips together and glanced at Dean. “There,” I said quietly. Dean followed my gaze. Relief washed over his face. “Thank God.” He was already moving before I could stop him. I just sighed and followed behind. She stood in the middle of Valentina, draped in a maroon silk gown, twirling in front of a mirror like she was auditioning for a perfume commercial. Several shopping bags were already at her feet. Her hair was not pulled back in that soft bun from earlier anymore— she let it down now in full waves. Makeup minimal but still flawless. She looked anything but emotionally wrecked. For fuck's sake, she was freaking glowing. “Oh, look who finally decided to find me,” she said, spinning to face us, lips curling into a smug smile. “Took you long enough. I was beginning to think no one cared.” Dean rushed to her like a man coming up for air. “Are you okay? Jesus, Chloe. What the hell were you thinking running off like that?” “I needed space,” she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “And some new shoes. I’m healing through retail therapy.” “You’ve had us combing half the city,” I said, arms folded. “And?” She arched a brow. “I knew you’d find me. You always do. Besides, I wasn’t exactly hiding.” Dean’s brows knitted. “You left the hospital upset. What did you expect?” Chloe shrugged and picked up one of the bags. “To be left alone.” I stepped forward, trying to play it cool. “We were worried about you, Chlo. You kinda stormed off. Dad was about to call security.” Chloe scoffed, “How dramatic.” Dean ignored the snark. “Are you okay?” Chloe arched an eyebrow. “Does it look like I’m bleeding?” Dean took the bags from her arm and kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t ever do that again, okay?” She melted a little, her fingers looping through his belt, pressing her body to his. “I won’t… if you promise to spoil me rotten when we get home.” I forced a smile. “You look... like you’ve been retail-therapied.” Chloe gestured at her bags. “I’m treating myself to everything I can’t emotionally afford. Want a pair of heels? They’re doing buy two, get one free. Don't you just love the sound of that?” Dean’s mouth twitched like he wanted to laugh but didn’t dare. I tilted my head.“You came here alone, Chlo?” I asked casually. She blinked. “Yes.” It sounded rehearsed. I narrowed my eyes slightly but said nothing. “Cool. Let’s get you home, yeah?” “I don’t want to see Alyssa.” Dean took one of her bags. “Then come home for dessert. Or to punch me. Either way, let’s go.” She hesitated, but eventually relented. “Fine. But I'm only going with you because I’m out of hands.” I turned away before I could roll my eyes into another dimension. They walked away, tangled together like the perfect couple. That’s when my phone buzzed. Roman. “Hey,” I answered quickly, stepping away from the PDA show. “Please tell me you’ve got something.” “I handled Emily’s father,” Roman said. His voice was composed. “He won’t be a problem anymore.” My breath caught. “Wait—what do you mean handled? Like legally or...?” “He won’t bother her again. That’s what matters,” he said. “The rest… we’ll talk when you get back. It’s not a phone conversation.” “Did you find anything? Any skeletons?” There was a pause from his end. A long one. Then Roman replied, voice clipped. “Let’s just say some closets should never be opened. I’ll be at the house when you get in. Lizzie will stay with Alyssa until Emily's discharged in the morning.” I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. “I'm on my way.” The line went dead. I turned and—bam. Smacked straight into someone’s chest. “Sorry, I—” I looked up and the words got stuck in my throat. “What are you doing here?”