Chapter 229

Tessa’s POV

I didn’t leave for my father’s farm until the next morning. I spent the entire day cleaning alongside the cleaners Joseph hired, to keep my mind off everything. Joseph called me when he got to the mountains, and we talked for a long while that night.

I thought about telling him how I was going to my father’s farm to tell him in person that we were getting married. But I decided against it, not wanting to worry him while he was so far away and busy with vampire work stuff.

I did, however, text Ruby and told her of my plans, she responded with the “thinking” emoji and then added, “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Me: He’s my dad, Ruby. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him while he was here, and I wanted to tell him about my engagement. I’ll be back on Monday.

Ruby: Okay, but text me periodically so I know you are still alive.

Me: What do you think is going to happen? He’s my father. He would never hurt me. Not like that. You don’t have to worry.

I shoved my phone into my pocket and grabbed my bag. I ordered a rideshare to take me to the train station and it was waiting outside by the time I finished packing.

It only took about 30 minutes to reach the train station. But I swallowed down that fear and said goodbye to the rideshare driver before tipping him and leaving the car.

I walked over to the ticket master who was a young guy who looked as if he’d rather be anywhere but there.

“Hi, I purchased a ticket over the phone. Tessa Campbell,” I told him, trying my best to give him a kind smile.

He said nothing; he just turned to his computer and typed something on the keyboard. A second later, I heard the printer going off.

He turned to the printer without leaving his chair and pulled out a ticket, sliding it across the counter and toward me.

“Have a good trip,” he muttered.

I smiled my thanks to him and grabbed the ticket before going into the subway. I walked down the steps, feeling my nerves get the best of me.

I decided to keep my baggage with me because it was only one bag this time. I handed my ticket to the man at the entrance of the train, and he punched it with a hole puncher before handing it back to me.

“All aboard!” He yelled and then the horn of the train sounded.

I stepped onto the train and easily found my seat. I didn’t purchase the box seat this time, only a normal seat out in the open.

I took out my phone and brought up my message thread with my father.

Me: Leaving now. Will be there around 6ish.

He responded with a thumbs-up emoji.

I placed my phone in my bag and stared out the window. Within minutes the train was moving, and the city was whipping past me. It was a small city, but it was very beautiful. When I first moved to the city, I thought it was going to be a difficult adjustment. I was scared I wouldn’t be able to adapt to the city life. But then I met Ruby and she made everything so much better for me. I would be forever grateful to her for that.

She made the adjustment period feel like it was nothing.

As much as I loved country life and I loved the animals I cared for, especially Ivy, I don’t think I could go back to that kind of life full-time. I loved the city and everything it had to offer. I loved the busy lifestyle and the late-night stores. I loved the opportunities the city provided me with and that everything was practically within walking distance.

I was excited to start a new journey in New York with not only the love of my life and future husband but my best friend as well.

I stared down at the ring that remained on my finger. It glistened under the illuminating light of the train, and I couldn’t help the smile on my face.

My heart was swelling with so much pride and love that I thought it was going to explode from my chest.

“What a beautiful ring,” a woman said as she walked by. She was rolling the food and drink cart and paused at my seat.

“Oh, thank you,” I said, still unable to wipe the smile off my face.

“When is the wedding?” She then asked.

“I’m not sure, yet. He just proposed last night,” I told her.

Her eyes lit up from my words.

“Congratulations,” she breathed. “Want a snack and drink? It’s on me.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, raising my brows.

“Of course,” she said fondly. “I’m a sucker for new love.”

“Okay, I’ll take some pretzels and a Sprite,” I told her.

She nodded and grabbed me a bag of pretzels and a can of Sprite.

“Enjoy,” she said sweetly. “And congrats again.”

I smiled and thanked her as she continued on her way; then, I leaned my head against the window and allowed my thoughts to go wild.

The rest of the train ride felt like an eternity long. As the train came to a stop, the same woman who gave me the snack and drink returned to take my trash. I thanked her and waited for the queue to leave the train.

Once the conductor spoke on the speaker that it was safe to exit, I grabbed my bag and made my way toward the train doors. I stepped outside and basked in the cool air. I stretched my body, feeling my bones aching and then I walked through the subway until I reached the steps that led to the front of the train station.

By the time I walked outside, I saw my father leaning against his car with his arms folded across his chest and looking a little uncomfortable.

I smiled and made my way toward him.

“Hey,” I said to him.

He smiled in return and held out his arms for me to walk into them.

I hugged him without hesitation.

“I’m glad you came,” he said, holding me tightly before releasing me. “How was the trip.”

“Long and exhausting,” I replied honestly.

He nodded and went to grab my bags. I kept my hand behind my back, not wanting him to see the ring just yet.

“Let’s get home, Penny cooked dinner. I’m sure you are hungry,” he said as he put my bag in the trunk of his car.

My stomach growling was response enough and he laughed.

I slid into the passenger seat of the car as he slid into the driver’s seat.

I was glad that he hadn’t seen the ring on my finger yet; I wanted to wait until after we talked about everything to tell him about my engagement. I could have taken the ring off, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so.

My father and I talked for a little bit. It was mainly small talk; I told him about the after-party and how it was a huge hit amongst my peers and he seemed genuinely happy for me. He apologized for his part in making my last few days miserable.

It was a nice small talk, and it was much needed.

It didn’t take long to get to the farm and when we pulled up, I frowned when I saw a couple of cars, I didn’t recognize parked out front.

“Who’s over?” I asked.

My father didn’t say anything, but when I looked at his face, he looked a little saddened.

My chest tightened and that nasty feeling returned to the pit of my stomach.

“Dad?” I asked, my voice coming out as a whisper.

“I shouldn’t have kept any of this stuff from you, Tessa. I thought I was protecting you, but clearly, it only did the opposite. I was wrong from the beginning and because of my mistakes, it drove you into the arms of a monster,” my father said, brushing his fingers through his hair.

My gut intuition was screaming at me now; it was so loud that I could practically hear it in my head.

“Dad… what are you talking about?” I asked, unable to keep the nervousness out of my voice.

He sighed and opened his car door.

“Just come on,” he said softly. “I need you to trust me.”

That was the problem, I was having trouble doing just that.

There was a part of me that was compelled to text Joseph and let him know where I was. It was a strong urge that screamed at me from the inside and the feeling was unreal.

My father got out of the car just as Penny and a familiar-looking woman walked out of the house. I knew her as Mrs. Davis.

Penny had a concerned and confused look on her face when she saw me.

“Tessa?” She asked, seemingly puzzled by my arrival.

She had to have known I was coming here. My father had to have told her, right?

“Tess, you remember Patty Davis, don’t you? The owner of the town bakery,” My father introduced.

“Of course,” I said, furrowing my brows together. “I did grow up here after all.”

Although, I didn’t see Mrs. Davis often, of course I knew who she was.

“It’s good to see you again, Tessa,” she said fondly.

“What’s going on here?” I asked with an uneasy feeling sitting in the pit of my stomach.

My father and Patty looked at one another, quietly, before looking back at me.

“There’s a lot that needs to be explained to you,” Patty said, stepping toward me. “For starters, your father has been keeping you away from us. But he has agreed to finally allow us a chance to know you.”

I furrowed my brows together.

“Know who?” I asked. “What are you talking about?”

She sighed.

“We will explain everything later,” she said softly. “But for right now, we are going to take you back. I know you probably won’t want to come willingly because your father tells me you’ve been mind-controlled by a vampire.”

My heart plummeted to my stomach from her words. What was she talking about?

“You are going to thank us for this someday. I promise,” Patty said, clasping her hands together. “I’m sorry it had to come to this.”

“Why are you—”

Before I could finish that sentence, I felt another presence behind me and my entire body froze as a pair of unfamiliar arms closed around me, trapping me in an unwanted embrace.

I didn’t have much time to react before I felt a sting in my neck; I gasped at the sensation, and I stared up at my father whose eyes were wide. He whipped his gaze to Patty like he was about to curse her out or something. As if this wasn’t his doing.

“Things will make more sense soon,” she assured me. “I promise.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. My vision became blurry, and my body was incredibly weak. If this stranger wasn’t holding me up, I would have fallen by now.

“I’m so sorry, Tess…” was the last thing I heard my father saying before everything went black.