59. Chapter 59 - Rosalyn
He squeezed me so hard before we got in the truck I thought he would crush me.
But it still wasn’t enough to get the shakes out of my system. When all that was left was the bloodstain on the floor, it felt like every molecule of energy in my body just exited.
“We get the easy job now, baby.” Cade grips my hand. “We stay back out of danger.” His thumb rubs along my wedding band as he stares out of the windshield. “Did I mention how proud I am of you?” The corner of his lips rise. “You’re my hero.”
The radio blazes with garbled words, some I recognize from last time as the men approaching the house speak in code to each other.
“I don’t feel very brave.” I still feel nauseous over the fact I pointed a gun at someone.
I shot someone.
There’s a part of me that’s glad we’re parked far enough away I can’t see anything. If I saw John or Eli getting killed, I’d probably puke.
“Being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid.
” He lifts my fingers to his lips. “It’s when you can lock it aside and still do what needs to be done.
” He flutters kisses along the tips, then turns to press another to my palm.
“That’s what you did.” His soft gaze finds me.
“Ros, you stood up for the people you love.”
My belly rolls again but not as badly.
There’s a part of him in me now. Us. And he’s right, I’d do anything to keep our child safe.
Maybe all those years I took whatever was thrown at me because someplace deep told me if it was me being punished, someone else wouldn’t be.
Was that it all along?
Another eruption of animated words bursts from the walkie talkie making me tense in Cade’s grip.
Then the phrase I’ve been waiting for comes through. “All clear.”
Wade’s knuckles against Cade’s window nearly has me jumping out of my skin.
“Good news, we got ‘em.” His broad grin pulls up his red whiskers. “Follow me.”
He disappears only to be replaced by his sheriff truck flying past.
Cade wastes no time shifting into drive and punching it to catch up.
When we pull up the long driveway, three armed men in all black wearing riot gear stand over two lying in the dirt.
“It’s them,” I gasp.
“Ros?” Cade shifts to park and leans closer. “Do you want to get out or stay in the truck?”
I shrink into my seat. “They’ll know it was my fault,” I whisper. “I’ll stay.”
“I’m going to be right in front where you can see me, okay? You can hit the horn if you need me to come back.” He cups my cheek. “You did it, baby.”
It’s a strange rush of emotions and adrenaline watching my husband join the sheriff to approach John and Eli.
My brothers, except they aren’t. They’re the last of the nightmares that have plagued me my entire life.
My captors. That’s all they are now. The final tethers to a past that no longer defines me.
There’s no sympathy or remorse as I watch them get jerked to their feet, covered in dirt. I don’t feel any need to run to Eli’s rescue as he screams, red-faced, at Wade who shoves him into the holding cage in the rear of his rig.
John pauses, staring directly at me, his icy blue eyes narrowing as if to tell me he knows.
But the fear isn’t the same. I don’t feel the need to run and fawn at his feet.
Now it’s only the underlying dread that one day I’ll have to point my gun at him.