Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
Devon faced down the man who’d shot him. The man who’d tried to kill him and Aurora both.
Beck Neuman.
The man who now held a gun to Aurora’s head.
“You’ve got nowhere to go, Neuman. It’s over.”
They’d seen Nadia when she climbed the stairs up the cliffside. Chase had grabbed the woman, and Nadia had made up a whole story about how Beck Neuman was holding Aurora hostage. As if she herself were just another victim.
They’d deal with Nadia Wolfson later. Chase would make sure the woman didn’t go anywhere. Max’s team and half the police in West Oaks were currently speeding toward this location. Backup might be minutes away, but Aurora was in danger now.
Devon took a step closer. The man jabbed the gun at Aurora’s temple, making her scream. A red scratch appeared on her skin. Devon swallowed down his rage.
“Drop your gun,” Neuman said in a harsh, scratchy voice. “Or she dies.”
“If she dies, then you do.”
Devon was trying to remain calm and professional. But the other man’s eyes bored into him like he could spot every source of weakness.
“I saw you with her before. I saw the way you looked at her. You won’t risk her life. All you have to do is put down the gun.”
“Devon, don’t,” Aurora cried. “He’ll kill you.”
Devon’s shoulder ached with the same knowledge.
He searched for a hole in Neuman’s defenses.
But the other man was well-trained, too.
He was keeping Aurora in front of him as a shield, their bodies pressed against the cliffside railing.
There was no way Devon could shoot Neuman without risking her.
And even if he managed to hit Neuman, the man might still plummet over the side of the cliff, taking Aurora with him.
“Decide,” Neuman rasped. “I’m going to count down from three.”
Devon had run out of options. Dammit, he had no choice. “If I do, will you let her go?”
“Same moment your gun drops. Not before. Three…two…”
He couldn’t save both Aurora and himself.
Neuman’s lips drew together to count down to one. Devon’s hands loosened on his weapon.
At the same moment, Neuman’s gun lost contact with Aurora’s temple, shifting to point at Devon.
Aurora screamed and threw herself into Neuman. The killer lost his balance, and they both tipped toward the cliff.
Neuman was teetering at the railing, about to go over. He clamped onto Aurora’s arm, still trying to aim his gun with the other hand. Aurora grasped behind her for the railing, horror on her face.
Devon fired two quick taps at Neuman’s chest. The man’s body convulsed, arms flying wide and letting go of Aurora's arm as Devon sprinted forward.
He grabbed hold of her waist just as Neuman flipped over the railing.
The man didn’t cry out as he fell. They only heard the surf thundering against the rocks.
Devon untied Aurora’s hands, then lifted her into his arms. She was crying and holding him tight around the neck.
“You came for me.”
“Of course, I did. I’m sorry it took me so long.”
He carried her back toward the safety of the guesthouse.
Sirens wailed nearby. “You nearly gave me a heart attack when you knocked him off balance. You almost fell.” Devon hadn’t felt anything but a low simmer of anger during the confrontation, but now his pulse was speeding so fast he thought he’d pass out. “I doubt Max will be happy about that.”
“Who cares about Max?” Aurora touched his face. “I couldn’t let Neuman hurt you again.”
“Thank you.” He smiled, wiping her tears. “I guess that means you’re not mad?”
“You idiot. I never was.”
“Maybe I should’ve talked to you before I quit my job and left yesterday?”
She laid her head against his shoulder. “Just don’t do it again.”
“Don’t worry,” he murmured. “I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“Promise?”
He hadn’t been so great about keeping promises lately. But this one, he was determined not to break.
“Yeah. I do.”
Max was one of the first to arrive, right behind the initial group of squad cars.
“Aurora!” He ran toward his sister.
She let go of Devon. They’d climbed up the cliffside stairs and now stood in front of the white stucco house.
Max swept her into a hug. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m okay. Thanks to Devon.”
The moment Max set her down, she reached for Devon again, hooking her arm around his waist.
“Whitestone,” Max said stiffly. Devon braced himself. But his boss held out a hand. “Thank you for saving her.”
“Yes, sir. Nadia Wolfson was responsible for a lot of this. But the police are taking Jennifer Scoville into custody as well. She’s at the house next door.” Aurora had already told the officers that Jennifer kidnapped her from the courthouse.
“And Beck Neuman?” Max asked. Sylvie must’ve told him the guy’s name.
“Dead.”
Understanding passed between the two men. Max nodded. “I can’t describe how grateful I am that Aurora’s safe and sound.”
“Grateful enough to give him his job back?” she asked. “Because you’re so full of shit, and you admit it now?”
Max eyed his sister. “Possibly. I can acknowledge when I’m wrong.
“What about saying you’re sorry?”
“Devon and I will discuss it later.”
Devon figured that was as good a response as they’d get, so he cut off the subject. “Lana’s here. She’ll probably want to talk to Aurora.”
The police made their arrests, ambulances came to check for injuries, and the coroner’s van arrived to deal with Neuman’s body, though Devon guessed it might take some time to find it in the water.
After hours of interviews at a police station, they found themselves back at the Bennett Security office. Aurora was across the room talking with Lana and Max. She would still have to give her official testimony against Crane and Madden and the others at some point. But not today.
Occasionally, her eyes darted over to Devon’s, like she was making sure he was still close.
“Your exile didn’t last long.” Sylvie had snuck up on him. “All you had to do was single-handedly save the boss’s sister.”
“It wasn’t single handed. Couldn’t have done it without you.”
Sylvie shrugged, smiling like she couldn’t disagree. She held open a box of pizza, but Devon shook his head. He’d already eaten some, though he hadn’t tasted it. He was too exhausted.
“And I don’t have my job back yet. Max deferred that discussion till later.” Though Devon’s former boss had, in fact, apologized for underestimating Devon and Aurora both.
“Isn’t the real question whether you want it?”
She was a smart one, this Sylvie Trousseau. “All I know is that I want to be with Aurora.”
Sylvie nudged him with her elbow. “Good thing Aurora seems to want that, too.”
He nodded. It was a really, really good thing. The best.
Finally, Aurora finished with Lana and Max. She smiled at Devon, heading over.
“Hey,” Sylvie whispered to him, “if you and Aurora want to sneak away, I won’t tell.”
It was tempting. Devon had driven his car back here, so they had a getaway vehicle. Devon had also checked in with his mom and Ruby, promising that he’d return his mother’s cell phone as good as new.
But he didn’t plan to go back to his family’s place tonight. Aurora could meet them another time.
Tonight, they still had a lot to discuss. They’d need to do that alone.
“What about Bennett’s surveillance cameras in the parking garage? They’ll see us leave.”
“I could never tamper with those. How dare you even suggest it?” Sylvie winked. “I’ll talk to you later. You get some rest… Or not.”
“I’ll owe you.”
“You’ll pay me back, eventually.” Sylvie walked away backward. “I have no doubt about that.”
Aurora reached him and slid her hand into his.
“You want to get out of here?” he asked.
“As long as nobody’s chasing after us? Then yes. I definitely want to get out of here.”