Love Rents A Room
Chapter 135: A Way Forward

Chapter 135: A Way Forward

Liam knew, after what happened in the security room, that trusting the cops would be a mistake. The system was compromised, corrupted. If they wanted justice for Joanne, they had to take matters into their own hands.

So, he made the calls.

To the truckers in and around town, the ones who knew the roads better than anyone else. The ones who could block them.

It was illegal, but if the cops weren’t going to stop Tom, they would.

Tom cannot leave this town tonight.

The weight of the night pressed on his shoulders as he drove home, one hand gripping the steering wheel, the other clasped tightly around Fiona’s. He hated the idea of leaving her alone. If Tom was desperate enough to hurt Joanne, he wouldn’t hesitate to hurt Fiona either if it meant securing his escape. The thought gnawed at Liam, tearing him in two.

Should he go after his brother? Or should he stay to protect his wife?

Fiona’s voice broke through his storming thoughts. "Did you hear anything about Joanne?"

Liam exhaled sharply. The cops were everywhere, yet no one knew who was on whose side. Chaos ran rampant. He didn’t know what to trust, who to believe. But Joanne—she was a fighter. She wouldn’t be taken down by a pathetic coward like Tom.

He hoped.

"Not yet," he admitted, his jaw tightening. "Jeffrey’s not answering."

Fiona hesitated before asking, "Do you think he told his grandfather about what happened?"

Liam let out a breath. "I hope so. Even though Joanne wouldn’t like it."

"She’d worry about Philip’s health," Fiona murmured.

"Exactly."

She went quiet for a moment before adding, "Jonathan Meyer is helping. But do you think he can stand against Congressman Campbell?"

Liam scoffed. "I don’t trust him to see this through. Meyer has his company to worry about. Going up against a politician? That could wreck his stock prices. Besides—" he glanced at Fiona "—why would he risk everything for Joanne? He’s not her family."

Jonathan had dated Joanne, sure. But in the end, he walked away. He had no obligation to protect her. Unlike the Winchesters.

Fiona hummed softly, lost in thought. Liam could tell she wanted them all—Winchesters, Meyers, everyone—to stand by Joanne’s side. But life wasn’t that simple.

After a long silence, Liam asked, "Do you want me to drop you at your parents’ house? You should pack your things and—"

"I’m going with you," Fiona cut in firmly.

Liam sighed. He knew it was dangerous for her to be moving around, especially with all this stress. But arguing with Fiona? That was a battle he’d never win.

Instead, he sent out one last message to the truckers. Find Tom. Don’t let him slip through.

Because tonight, Liam wanted to end his brother. Until they found him, he decided to stay with his wife. She was his priority.

Fiona glanced at him, her eyes searching his face. He didn’t know what she was looking for—anger, sadness, regret? Maybe all of it. She wanted to be with him tonight. The situation called for it.

Her small hand rested on her belly, and without thinking, Liam covered it with his own.

"I’m sorry about your brother..." she whispered.

Liam let out a slow breath. Was he sorry? Maybe a little. Maybe for the idea of a brother he wished he had, not the one he actually did.

"I sure as hell wouldn’t leave him alone with my daughter," he muttered.

He sounded sure. Cold. But Fiona heard the unspoken sadness beneath his words.

Her fingers curled around his. "Our kids won’t grow up alone, Liam. They’ll have Joanne. They’ll call her ’Aunt,’ and her children will be their cousins. We have family."

Liam swallowed hard. He turned his face away, pretending to focus on the road.

Fiona giggled. She knew she’d touched his heart.

"Look at me," she teased. "Honey... look at me... Are you blushing?"

"Stop it," Liam grumbled, his ears burning.

When they reached home, he didn’t let her walk. Instead, he lifted her into his arms, carrying her inside as she squealed in protest. He kissed her—again and again—pouring all his gratitude, his love, his relief into every touch.

He had her.

And that was enough to keep him grounded.

-----

Jeffrey sat in the cold, sterile waiting room, his body rigid with tension. The minutes dragged, each one heavier than the last. Every time the doors to the OR swung open, his heart lurched—only to sink when it wasn’t the news he was waiting for.

His hand trembled as he scrolled through his phone, his finger hovering over his grandfather’s number.

He needed to talk to someone. He needed something—someone—to hold him up.

He hadn’t felt this helpless since he was a child.

Losing his father had been the first time life had ripped something precious away from him. After that, no matter how much the world pushed him down—when his grandfather sent him away, when he lost everything—he had always had his anger to fuel him, to keep him standing.

But now...

Now, there was nothing to hold on to. No rage, no defiance. Just agony.

Joanne wouldn’t want him to call. He knew her too well. She wouldn’t want to worry his grandfather. That was the kind of person she was—proud, stubborn. The kind who carried her burdens alone, who never sought help even when she should.

He respected that about her.

And yet, he couldn’t be like that.

His pride was different. He didn’t want to hide behind the Winchester name, didn’t want to glide through life with borrowed power. He wanted to stand on his own. Build something that was his.

But was now really the time to prove that?

Would it help her? Or would it cost her even more?

His grip tightened around the phone as doubts gnawed at him.

Then, his mind flashed to her smile. The way she had looked at him that morning, pure trust shining in her eyes.

She believed in him.

I can do this.

His eyes flicked back to his phone. He scrolled through his contacts—past his grandfather, past everyone else—until he landed on a name.

His lips curled into a slow smirk.

He had a plan.