41
Evan strained to hear what had happened outside. There’d been two shots, and a man had shouted in pain.
The police?
But then he heard Dale calmly talking. He couldn’t make out the words, but clearly Dale wasn’t injured or scared. And there’d been no more shots. It hadn’t been a police response.
Then who?
Probably an innocent guy checking out the light at the powerhouse.
Another victim for Dale.
Evan’s bound wrists had been handcuffed to a pipe. Currently he lay with his cheek on the cold floor, watching Zack, who was cuffed in a similar position across the room. The boy sat upright, his face dirty from dust and tears. Evan hated the despair in his gaze.
I probably look the same.
He was so tired. Evan closed his eyes. He’d let Zack down. Dale was going to kill them. Here he was ... a veteran law enforcement officer defeated by an asshole. He was incapable of even saving a child.
I’m sorry, Rowan.
He pictured her face as she’d grinned at him while petting Thor. At least Thor would take care of her, comfort her when Evan was gone. Their strong love had been cemented for years.
It eased Evan’s worry.
The door scraped the floor, and Evan forced his lids open. Rowan stood at the door.
He lurched up to a sitting position, staring across the room. “Rowan?” He blinked several times to clear the instant moisture that’d flooded his eyes.
“Oh, thank God,” she said, her gaze locked with his. She abruptly stumbled forward. Dale had shoved her in the back and now stood with his gun at her head. Her hands were behind her back, already bound with a zip tie.
I’ll never be able to look at another zip tie.
“Sit,” commanded Dale as he pushed her into a corner.
Her back against the wall, Rowan slid down to the floor, her gaze never leaving Evan’s.
“Isn’t this great?” Dale asked Evan. “The love of your life showed up. All alone—well, not alone. Her brother is dead in a bloody puddle outside.”
Malcolm.
The agony on Rowan’s face confirmed Dale’s words. She finally looked around the room, her face brightening as she spotted Zack, but then her mouth opened in shock.
Evan understood. The boy was dirty, bloody, and very thin.
“Are you okay, Zack?” she asked. He nodded.
Her gaze came back to Evan’s, and he tried to communicate through his eyes.
I couldn’t keep him safe, Rowan.
It’s not your fault, Evan.
It was as if her voice spoke in his head.
“Now we can really get a party started,” said Dale. “Your girlfriend will liven things up.”
Evan stiffened, images of what Dale could do to Rowan flashing in his head.
But fury filled Rowan’s face. “The police know everything that has happened, Sid,” she said. “Sophia talked. Cynthia talked. Even JB talked. There’re no secrets anymore.”
Why did she call him Sid?
Dale didn’t correct her.
That must be the name he uses now, since the media hounded him after he killed his lover’s husband.
“Funny,” said Dale (Sid?), clearly enjoying her anger. “I don’t see the all-knowing police here. Just you.”
Rowan looked at her feet.
Why would she come without the police?
“I should have never relied on that family,” said Dale. “Useless. Both of them. Especially JB. He couldn’t do anything right, that idiot. Had to show off and make trouble. Deserved what he got. Those two never thought before they did anything. This is all their fault.”
Evan bit back a retort.
It’s always someone else’s fault. Never Dale’s.
“Pretty sure this is your fault,” snapped Rowan. “I know you shot—”
Dale backhanded her across the face, and her lip started to bleed. Horror filled her gaze as she slowly turned back to him. She seemed to shrink into her corner.
“You need to learn how things are done here,” Dale told her. “Your lover boy has learned. Even the kid understands the rules. First of all, don’t talk back. Let’s make that don’t talk at all . Perhaps a little pain will help you remember rule number one.” He hit her again.
Evan strained against his cuffs. Sudden liquid warmth on one hand indicated he’d sliced his wrist. Again.
Rowan’s head hit the floor. She lay motionless for a long moment, her terrified gaze finding Evan.
Anger shot through his veins.
For days he’d been mentally prepared to kill Dale if given the opportunity. He’d hoped to get the man’s gun. But now Evan knew he could strangle the man with his bare hands and have no regrets.
“Now,” said Dale. “Let’s play a little game.”
Oh, fuck.
Dale grabbed one of Rowan’s feet and dragged her across the room to Evan, leaving her just out of his reach.
“Please stop.” Zack was crying. “Don’t hurt her!”
“Well, isn’t he brave?” Dale said to Evan with a wide grin. “He’s more concerned about her than you are.”
Evan forced tears to appear and hung his head. “She’s all I’ve got. I love her more than life itself. Let her go and I’ll do anything for you.”
Feed his ego.
“Evan!” Rowan exclaimed.
She doesn’t understand the game.
“Hmmm. You’re making my job harder, Bolton.” Dale tapped his chin with his gun as he acted deep in thought. “I thought I’d worked out a schedule for creating the most enjoyment. But now I’m not sure.”
He’s relishing this. Rowan’s presence has pumped up his pleasure.
“First I’d planned to kill the boy and make you watch.” His eyes glittered in the dim light. “And then second, I’d do the same to your girlfriend as you watched ... lengthening your pain before I finally turned my gun on you.” He pretended to contemplate. “But maybe I should keep you alive for another twenty-four hours so you could relive it again and again.”
Evan held his breath, his gaze locked with Rowan’s.
Is this it?
“But I find I’m struggling to outright kill a kid.” Dale shrugged. “I guess that means I’ve still got some heart left. But that leaves only one solution.” He crouched and ground his gun barrel into the back of Rowan’s head. “Tell Bolton how much you love him and will miss him.” He turned to Evan, genuine pleasure and anticipation on his face.
He’s going to do it.
Terror filled Rowan’s gaze. Then acceptance.
And he felt her love flow to him.
“No!” he shouted. Adrenaline raced through his veins; fear flooded his brain. “Rowan! Don’t—”
A red mist exploded, showering Evan in warm fluid, forcing his eyes shut.
Zack’s screams filled the building, and Evan’s lids flew open, sticky with goo and debris.
Dale was on the ground. The left side of his head completely gone.
Rowan stared up at Evan, shock in her eyes, blood spray and gray matter covering her hair. She blinked several times, and he realized none of the blood was hers.
Dale didn’t fire.
Evan’s gaze went to a window. Noelle stood outside, her weapon still aimed through the metal grate.
He closed his eyes in relief.
It’s over.
Rowan looked behind her at Sid’s body and what was left of his face.
Oh my God.
Then she awkwardly lunged into Evan’s lap, pressing her filthy cheek against his, both of them with their hands still secured behind their backs. She had to touch and feel with all her body that he was real.
He whispered that he loved her, and she cried as she said she loved him too.
“Are you two hurt?” asked Noelle from directly behind her.
“No. Not really,” said Evan.
Rowan could only shake her head. I was a split second from dying.
“Hang on,” said Noelle. “I’m cutting your zip ties.”
Rowan’s arms were released, and she flung them around Evan.
He’s okay. Everything is okay now.
“You need to scoot over, Rowan, so I can reach Evan’s hands,” Noelle said gently.
Rowan shifted, but her arms stayed locked around Evan’s neck.
He’s alive. We’re alive. I’m never letting go.
Suddenly he squeezed her back, and she nestled into him as closely as possible, taking several shuddering breaths.
Malcolm.
Her head shot up. “Malcolm!” She whirled around to Noelle. “He’s outside. His leg—”
“We found him,” said Noelle. “He told us you placed that tourniquet.”
“He’s alive?” she squeaked.
“Oh God. You thought he was dead?” Sympathy filled Noelle’s face. “EMS is on the way. I sent two deputies back up top to grab a stretcher to get him out of here. I think he’ll be okay.”
Rowan turned to Evan. “I’ve got to go see him.”
How can I walk away from Evan right now?
“Go. I’ll be right here,” he said with a half smile.
She took a good look at him. His face was so thin. “He needs EMS too,” she told Noelle. She looked past the detective and saw two deputies talking to Zack. His hands had been released and he was rubbing his eyes.
Thank God he’s okay.
“Poor kid,” whispered Evan. “I don’t know how he’ll recover from this. I haven’t been able to tell him his mother was murdered.”
“Sophia’s not dead,” Noelle and Rowan said together.
Evan stared at them, stunned. “But Dale told me ... oh. That asshole!” He ran a hand through his hair. “Thank God I didn’t say anything to Zack.”
“He goes by Sid now,” said Rowan. “We found out that he was one of your cases—”
“But he got off,” finished Evan.
Rowan blew out a breath. “I’ll be right back.” As she headed to check on Zack, she heard Evan ask Noelle if she had anything to eat.
“Hey.” Rowan knelt by Zack and set a hand on his shoulder. “You okay?” The deputies backed away.
There was no expression in his eyes. “Yes. Did he hurt you?”
“No. I’m fine.”
Just some blows to my face.
“You’re going to be fine too,” she said. “We’ll get you to see your mom right away.”
“She’s back?” Tears streamed. “You found her?”
The deputies didn’t tell him yet?
“Yes. She’s at the hospital ... resting. She’s fine too.”
Zack pressed his fists against his eyes. “I thought she was gone forever.”
Rowan gave him a long hug, and a deputy brought over two emergency blankets, wrapping one around her and the other around Zack.
I can’t wait for their reunion. They’ve been through so much.
“I’ll be back in a minute, Zack,” she said, pushing to her feet. She caught the deputy’s eye and tipped her head at Zack. The man immediately knelt in her place.
Several portable lights had been set up outside, and she spotted her brother surrounded by police. They’d moved him to a stretcher and were about to take him up the hill.
I didn’t think I’d see him again.
Being forced to walk away while Malcolm lay on the ground had ripped her up inside.
I’ll never forget that feeling.
“Wait!” She pushed through the group, grabbed her brother’s hand, and touched his face, needing to feel under her fingertips that he was still present.
“Hey, sis.” He was very pale. “They said everyone survived?”
“Yes. Both Zack and Evan are okay. Thin and battered but okay.”
“Good.” Malcolm closed his eyes. “Thin and battered can be fixed.”
He would know.
“His leg?” she asked a deputy.
“Bleeding’s stopped, but he lost a lot. We need to get a move on.”
She squeezed Malcolm’s hand. “I love you.”
“Love you too, sis.”
She watched the men start up the hill with her brother between them.
This could have ended so much worse.
“I told you to wait for police,” Noelle said behind her.
Rowan whirled around, ready to defend her actions, but stopped at the sorrow in Noelle’s gaze.
“You did good, Rowan,” said Noelle. “In your place, I probably would have done the same.”
“Thank you for saying that. I knew I shouldn’t have left ... but I couldn’t stop myself. And thank you for saving my life. I’m sorry you had to ... stop Sid.”
If I had listened to her, she wouldn’t have been forced to shoot someone.
Noelle nodded. She looked broken.
Guilt flooded Rowan. Evan had shot a man the previous summer. His emotional and mental recovery was still ongoing.
Because of what Rowan had done, Noelle’s life would never be the same.
My fault.
“I’m sorry,” Rowan said again, feeling it in every cell of her being. “I’m so sorry.” Too many emotions swamped her, and she started to cry. Noelle enveloped her in a hug, and Rowan felt the detective’s tears.
“I’m sorry too,” Noelle whispered.