Chapter 248

Tessa’s POV

My father quickly stood up, wiping the tears from his eyes as Penny walked into the room.

“Rick, what is going on?” she asked, worry clear in her voice. “Have you been in here all night?”

“What are you doing awake so early?” My father asked her, placing his hands on her shoulders; she looked at him like he had lost his mind and then her eyes flashed to me and then Esmeralda.

“Who is that woman?”

“I’ll explain everything later,” my father said, keeping his tone as low as possible. “Just give us a few more minutes and a promise we will talk.”

Penny shook her head, and I could see the panic on her face. I was too frozen to say or do anything. I was seconds away from having a nervous breakdown; I still had so many questions, but I wasn’t sure I could handle having any more information. I wasn’t sure my brain could handle it.

Sensing this, Joseph stood to his feet, still keeping his hand tucked into mine.

“I think we’ve talked enough for today,” Joseph said, his voice stern as he looked at my father and then down at Esmeralda. “We’ve given Tessa a lot of information and now that she’s out of that Coven, I think it’s best I took her away from here. Maybe bring her home so she can rest and let this information process.”

My father’s eyes narrowed, and I thought for a second that he was going to protest. It was no secret that he couldn’t stand Joseph and he didn’t want him anywhere near me. Just as he opened his mouth to say just that, he looked at Esmeralda who only raised her brows at him.

Then he shut his mouth and to my surprise, he looked at Joseph and nodded.

“You’re right; this was a lot and I’m sure she’s exhausted, I know I am,” my father said, glancing at Penny who was staring at him with her brows pulled together. “I think Penny and I should have a discussion in private anyway.”

“I still have so many questions,” I found myself saying, my voice hoarse. “But I don’t know if I have it in me to ask anything more…”

“There will be time for that later,” Joseph said, looking down at me. “Let this information process for a little while and then we can regroup and talk more about this.”

He ran his fingers down the side of my face, and I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes and reeling in his closeness. He was right; I really wanted to get some rest. I wanted to get away from this farm and gather my thoughts. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to sleep, but I’d like to try. I was in mourning over so many things. Over the grandmother and mother, I never got to know… over the life that was taken from me, and the coven that turned nasty and toxic.

My body trembled as I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold myself together. I stepped right into their trap and my mother’s death would have been for nothing.

I didn’t realize my father was walking toward me until he was standing in front of me. He reached down and grabbed a hold of my hand, pulling me to my feet. I stared up at my father, tears filling my eyes and causing his image to become a blur. He had tears in his eyes as well and I could see the sorrow in his expression.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered as he cupped my face in his hands. “I hope one day you’ll be able to forgive me for all I had done and all the secrets I had kept. I only ever wanted you to be safe. I promised her I would keep you safe.”

Tears spilled out of my eyes, and I chewed the inside of my cheek to keep myself from sobbing right in front of him.

He wrapped me in his arms and held me tightly and honestly, I liked the feeling of it. I liked hugging my father and for a second, I actually felt safe again. I felt like a little girl who only wanted her dad. It was familiar and warm; it was nice.

When my father pulled away from me, he looked at Joseph. I tensed, worried about what might happen. They didn’t get along and I wouldn’t put it past my father to try something. But to my surprise, my father smiled and held out his hand for Joseph to shake.

Without hesitation, Joseph took it, and they shook hands.

“Take care of her,” my father said, keeping his eyes on Joseph’s.

Joseph nodded.

“Always,” he replied.

My father smiled again and then looked at me.

“You can trust him,” my father shocked me by saying. “Your mother did.”

I looked at Joseph and he gave me a small smile with a head nod. I went to Joseph and wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his chest and basking in the warmth and protection he brought me.

My body knew from the start that I could trust him; I didn’t need anyone to tell me otherwise.

“I’m still so confused,” Penny breathed. “What is going on?”

“There's a lot you need to know, Pen. We will sit down together and talk,” my father assured her, reaching his hand out to grab a hold of her.

“I’ll stay behind, and we can talk together,” Esme said, smiling at her.

We all nodded in agreement. I didn’t want to leave my father, but Joseph was adamant that we should get out of this town and away from the coven as quickly as possible. They explained that the potion I drank before leaving the Coventry was meant to keep me from being tracked and take away any spell that could have been placed on me to keep me in the territory.

I hugged my father again; then, I quickly hugged Esmeralda, thanking her for everything.

“We will be in touch very soon,” she told me.

I smiled through my tears and nodded to her.

I waved goodbye to Penny and took Joseph by the hand, allowing him to guide me out of the house. When we got into Joseph’s car, I felt like I could finally breathe and sit with all that I knew.

I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing out of my eyes and Joseph allowed me to feel the many emotions that flowed out of me. We drove mainly in silence, and it was nice not having to fill in the void with conversation. He knew that I was done with conversations, and I just needed to sit with the knowledge that was given to me.

I rested my head on the window and watched as the small town grew smaller in the distance. Tears escaped my eyes at such a fast pace. My body shuddered with each sob that escaped my lips.

I was thinking about the life that waited for me back in the city; the life that I abandoned for the last couple of weeks. I thought a lot about Ruby as well and how worried she probably was about me. I doubted anyone told her where I was and that I was okay; my stomach tightened at the thought. I don’t even know where my cell phone went.

A groan escaped my lips, gaining Joseph’s attention.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know where my cell phone is,” I murmured, frustration consuming me. “Ruby is probably worried sick.”

“I can get you a new phone,” he told me, reaching over to me and resting his hand on my lap. I placed my hand on his, and he entwined our fingers. I instantly relaxed from his touch. “And we can reach out to Ruby and let her know that you are safe.”

I nodded, smiling over at him and feeling a sense of relief.

I’m not sure at what moment I fell asleep, but the next thing I knew I was being wrapped in the warmth of Joseph’s arms and lifted out of the car. I was way too groggy to pay any attention to it though. I rested my head against his chest and allowed him to carry me out of the car and into his familiar home.

I could instantly smell his powerful scent as we entered his house, and it wrapped around me like a warm blanket. I sighed, basking in the scent and feeling safer than I had in weeks.

I opened my eyes only slightly to peer up at him. He looked determined and so very worried as he took me into his bedroom and laid me on his bed.

I didn’t want him to let me go so I kept my arms around his neck, even when he put me into his bed and put the blankets over my body. He looked down at me with a timid frown and I leaned up and pressed my lips against his.

He melted into my kiss, deepening it and parting my lips with his tongue, searching me curiously and carefully.

When we pulled apart, he whispered against my lips, “I love you, Tessa.”

“I love you too, Joseph,” I whispered in return.

Then sleep consumed me, and my body went completely limp.

…..

Joseph’s POV

I couldn’t sleep at all. My only thought was keeping Tessa safe. After my memories resurfaced in my mind, the only thing I could think about was how special Tessa truly was and that she was always going to be in danger.

I wanted nothing more than to keep her safe. I ran my fingers down the side of her face, and she wiggled into my touch. I couldn’t help the smile on my lips as she slept peacefully by my side. I felt better knowing we were far away from the Coven, but I still had an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach.

While Tessa slept, I went into my office and made a call to Chief Mulligan asking if he could hook Tessa up with a new phone. I didn’t explain much of anything to him, and he knew me well enough to not ask any questions.

Tessa slept for a long while; her body needed it, and I was glad that she was able to rest after the night she just had. Hell, after the couple of weeks, she just had.

After I made the call to Chief Mulligan, I went back to bed with Tessa, wrapping her in my arms and sleep soon took over. But not much.

By late evening, my phone went off and when I looked, I was surprised to see Tessa’s father’s name appear on my screen.

Rick: Can we talk?