Tour Stop, Excerpt & Giveaway: Separated by Jessica Frances

“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to figure out who is threatening you.” Even I hear the frustration in my voice.

Why can’t this one just be easy? Why can’t I have this cleared up for Conner so he doesn’t have to keep suffering?

“I know you’re doing your best.”

“But it isn’t good enough.”

“Rocky,” he breathes my name, and I hate how much I love hearing it caress his lips. “Unless you can read minds, then I’m not sure there is any catching whoever it is. Everything they’ve done so far has led to a dead end.”

He’s not wrong. There was zero evidence to be found on his car that could lead us to anyone. The generic black spray paint could have come from multiple stores in any town or city. There was nothing unique about it, and whoever did it had worn gloves, since there were no foreign prints and the few smudges indicated as much. Of the very few security cameras in the area, nothing caught a thing out of place. And no one saw or heard anything.

The one thing I was able to narrow down from a witness recalling Conner’s vehicle without the vandalism is that it happened sometime during the night after eleven, which gave the perpetrator a blanket of darkness to keep themselves hidden from easy view.

“Still, this is my town, and I hate that someone is trying to drive you out of it.”

“According to you, I’m not staying anyway, right?”

My heartrate picks up immediately, dread settling inside me, despite expecting this. “Is that your way of saying you’re leaving?”

“I have no plans to leave anytime soon, Rocky. I like it here. Well, apart from being threatened and living in fear; that is.”

I’m not sure I’m ready to face Conner leaving, mainly because I know it means facing a lot of things I’ve been ignoring, but I’m unable to feel any relief, because outrage boils through my bloodstream that he’s being made to live in fear.

“I don’t care how long it takes; I’ll make whoever is doing this pay. I’ll bring them to justice.” I have to take several deep breaths to calm down.

Conner doesn’t comment, but when his hand brushes mine, the connection is enough to ease my anger.

“I’m glad you’re staying.”

I hear a rustle as I assume he turns to face me. My eyes haven’t adjusted to the darkness enough yet for me to know for sure.

“I’m staying. Not even death threats have run me out of here. It makes you wonder what else I would have been willing to stay for.” There’s heat behind his words, an anger that is justified.

“You’re saying that I misjudged you as someone who would just travel through town and leave me?”

“Yes.”

“And, are you also saying I’m too late now?”