Free Settling Scores (Piper Anderson Series) by Danielle Stewart Page A

they turned to head back to the car, Willow looped her arm in his, a necessity to keep from falling. This was the wave Josh had talked about that might bowl her over, and nothing had even happened yet.
    “Willow,” Tony called pulling their attention back toward the building, “you’re tough. You were back then. I remember.”
    A small sniffle escaped from Willow as she sent back a halfhearted wave.
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered, taking in a raspy breath. “I’m sorry I didn’t go inside. I just need more time.”
    “Don’t apologize to me,” Josh consoled, stopping at the passenger side of the car to let Willow in. “The fact that you didn’t go inside right now is a good sign. It means you’re not recklessly plunging into this as if it doesn’t have repercussions. You have to listen to your heart. You’ll know when you’re ready and if you never are, that’s okay too.”
    “It’s not okay Josh,” Willow shouted, pounding her fist into the car. “Those girls might still be out there. I might be the only person who can find them.”
    “Careful, that’s a rental,” a voice called out sending Willow’s hand shooting to Josh’s bicep, her nails digging in.
    “Bobby?” she heard Josh say and she tried to focus on the people moving toward them.
    “What are you doing here?” Willow demanded with a sharp edge to her voice. Bobby’s voice had rattled her and it made her reaction harsher than she meant it.
    “Willow, please, let us talk to you,” Piper pleaded as she stepped around the car toward them.
    “Did you know they were coming?” Willow asked throwing daggers at Josh with her eyes. She wasn’t meaning to sound so brash but they’d startled her at a moment when she already felt uneasy.
    “I didn’t know,” Josh answered, tossing his hands up in innocence. “I swear.” He looked like he knew the consequences if she didn’t believe him.
    “We’re here to help,” Piper tried again, placing her hand on Willow’s shoulder.
    “I don’t need your help. Didn’t I make that clear in Edenville?”
    “Hold on,” Bobby said, his tone firm. “Do you think it was easy for us to just take off and come up here? Like we don’t have lives of our own?”
    “No one asked you to!” Willow called back, matching his tone. “I am trying to do something here. Something you wouldn’t understand. I don’t need you here.” Having Josh around was one thing. He’d proven he was willing to quietly support her, but she doubted Bobby and Piper could make the same commitment. They’d never agree with what she was trying to do and they’d likely try to get her to give up. She didn’t need that energy around her right now.
    “We’re not here for you,” Piper said, softening her voice and pulling Willow’s eyes back to her and away from Bobby. “We’re here for Jedda. He’s going mad worrying about you. If we didn’t come he would have and he can’t do that right now. You know that.” Piper raised an eyebrow, imploring Willow to agree.
    “He is?” she asked, her voice quiet and childlike. “He wanted to come up here? I thought he was still pissed about the way I left.”
    “He’s not pissed. He was ready to pack his bag. He’s worried and you know how hard it would be for him to come back here. You know, because you’re going through it too. We’re here so he doesn’t have to be. Can you understand that?” Piper asked, her face soft, her voice lulling Willow into an understanding.
    “I guess so, but there isn’t anything you can do. There’s no point in you being here. You aren’t going to convince me to stop this or to go home. I have things to do here.”
    “I get that,” Piper said, trying again to touch Willow’s shoulder, to connect. “I’ve been there. We’re not going to force you to do anything but Bobby and I can help. You just have to let us.”
    The silence between all of them was thick, no one sure where to turn the conversation next. Was Willow’s lack of