Chapter Twenty-Four
Carys landed hard on the unforgiving earth. She’d seen an opening a few seconds ago, so she’d taken it. Blood loss or not, she wasn’t letting Silus leave with Rue. She would have to be unconscious or dead for that to happen.
Something cracked. Her wrist?
Thank the stars for adrenaline. For the moment, the pain was negligible. So, she took advantage of the momentary reprieve and crawled on her knees and one good hand toward Silus and Sharon. She was putting up a good fight, but he was stronger and meaner.
Blaize dove over top of her, scoring a direct hit with Silus’s midsection and one-arming him.
Sharon was now out of the way and stumbled a couple of steps to her left and then caught herself on the vehicle. She managed to stay on her feet.
Silus was a flurry of fists and kicks. The only reason he was landing any punches or kicks was because Blaize was in a weakened state. Carys had no doubt he would easily take care of Silus in a fair fight.
The amount of blood on Blaize’s shirt was concerning. Plus, he’d been exerting himself. He was far from full strength.
Sharon dropped by her side, essentially blocking her from helping Blaize. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Rosie turned. “We can lock the doors and call 911. Let’s get inside the house.”
“I’m not leaving him.” Carys’s tone must have been finite because Rosie shrugged before turning her attention toward Sharon.
“Hurry. Before he—”
“I’m staying right here, Rosie. These people took care of my girl. I’m not leaving them when they need me.” The sincerity in Sharon’s tone touched a nerve with Carys. And she appreciated Sharon not turning her back.
“I’m going,” Rosie said.
“Do you what you need to do.” Sharon reached for Carys’s hand.
The woman bolted toward the house.
“Thank you,” Sharon said, helping Carys to her feet. “Let’s stop this guy together.”
“Let’s go!”
Blaize was holding his own, but when Carys saw an opportunity to slam the opened door into Silus’s head, she took it.
He immediately went limp.
Blaize took the opportunity to roll the man over, forcing him face down while he hoisted Silus’s hands behind his back.
Carys couldn’t go any longer. “I need to sit.”
That was all she could get out of her mouth before she plopped down, back against the vehicle, and then blacked out.
SIXTY SECONDS WAS all it took for everything to change.
A flood of activity happened as law enforcement and EMTs roared up to the scene.
But all Blaize could focus on was Carys, leaning with her back against the car, limp.
Her eyes were closed, and from his position it looked like her breathing was shallow.
Fighting exhaustion, fatigue, and a wave of nausea so huge it threatened to bend him in two, he yelled for someone to take over so he could go to her. With every fiber of his being, he needed to see that she was alive.
The stress knot in his chest tightened as a deputy took over. Blaize rolled onto his back, needing to catch his breath and gather enough strength to stand up so he could walk to Carys.
“Sir, I need to examine you. Okay?” an EMT with the name Andrew sewn onto his pocket asked after coming into view.
Blaize shook his head as he forced himself to sit up. He saw stars. The world spun faster.
“Hey, let me help you,” Andrew said. “I’ll get you fixed up and feeling better in no time.”
A stretcher was already being brought over by another EMT—Andrew’s partner, no doubt.
Another worked on Carys, blocking his view.
Blaize craned his neck in an unproductive attempt to get eyes on her. He attempted to stand up, landed hard on his backside, and bit back a string of curses.
“Whoa, there,” Andrew said, immediately jumping into action to keep Blaize from slamming his head on a tree trunk. “What are you trying to do?”
“Carys,” he said, again vainly attempting to get a visual on her. “I need to know her status.”
“I can check if you promise to sit tight.” The EMT looked resigned.
“Promise.”
Andrew studied Blaize for a long moment, like he was deciding if he could trust the answer. “Okay. I’ll be right back. Stay here.”
“Got it.”
He jogged over and took a knee next to the EMT working on Carys. It was all Blaize could do to stop himself from following. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Silus regaining consciousness while being cuffed. A deputy was espousing Silus’s rights, including the one to remain silent.
Silus spit dirt out of his mouth as he was hoisted up. He glared at Sharon, who stood a few feet away with Rue in her arms. Her attention was on Carys.
“You bitch,” Silus ground out as the deputy led him away and toward the back of his SUV.
“Mind your language when you’re speaking to a lady,” the deputy said.
Silus scowled. He was going to be locked away for a very long time once all his crimes came to light.
Unfortunately, Sharon would face justice too. It was a shame the lengths she had to go to in order to feel safe from Silus. She’d protected her daughter, though, and Blaize would see to it Rue knew her mother.
Thinking clearly while he didn’t know if Carys would live or die wasn’t an option. He would figure the rest out later.
Andrew came jogging back. “I’ll give you the update if you let me check out that arm of yours.”
“That’s blackmail.”
“I know.” He shot a look of apology. “It’s also the only way I’ll convince you to let me help.”
“Fine.” Blaize rolled up his shirt sleeve.
Andrew went to work as Carys was lifted onto the stretcher. A neck brace caught his attention. And, of course, the blood. There was so much blood.
Rosie had joined Sharon, both giving statements.
From this distance, he heard Sharon admit to the sheriff she’d been the one to attack Carys’s vehicle the other night, thinking she would scare her into running away from the car and leaving the baby.
Sharon would then take her daughter and disappear.
She’d made up the name Stephanie Cross, stitching together a new identity after learning she was pregnant.
One that wouldn’t raise flags for a life that didn’t yet exist. If everyone believed Sharon was dead, no one would come looking for her after she grabbed her child and ran.
The fiery crash had been a setup. Desperate, she’d taken advantage of a stranger’s misfortune and accelerated the plan.
The woman perished at some point overnight.
Sharon had come across the deceased person on a park bench, and then seized the opportunity.
It had all happened so fast. The moves had been meant to ensure Rue’s safety.
Sharon had also been the one to break into Carys’s place to poke around.
“Can you hurry?” he asked, hearing the impatience in his own voice.
He winced as Andrew put pressure on the wound.
“Sorry about that,” Andrew said, working his magic.
“It’s fine.” Blaize might have said the words, but if he lost Carys, nothing would ever be fine again. She needed to know how he felt.
Would he get the chance to tell her?
CARYS BLINKED HER eyes open. Her first thought? Blaize. Her second? Rue.
“Hey.” Blaize’s masculine voice sent ripples of awareness through her.
She exhaled. “You’re here?”
“Right here,” he said, squeezing her hand. It was then she realized he’d been holding it.
She was groggy and felt disconnected to her body until the warmth of his hand brought sensation back. “Where’s Rue?”
“She’s safe.” He was quiet for a moment, then said, “Kit told me about the medication she needed, so Raiden picked it up. Thank you for asking her, by the way.”
“I’m just happy that worked out.” She reached for water with her free hand, her mouth was as dry as dirt in a draught and her tongue felt like sandpaper.
A few sips of water helped. Moving hurt like hell.
“I can get whatever you want,” he said, studying her as she winced. “You don’t have to move.”
“Water’s good,” she said as she looked at him. Really looked at him. Dark circles cradled his eyes. Had he slept at all? “How long have I been out?”
“Thirty-seven hours and…” He checked his watch. “Forty-two minutes.”
“I lost a whole day?”
“You’ve been in and out since surgery.”
“Right.” She had a vague memory of needing to remove bullet fragments out of her upper thigh. “What about Sharon?”
“She turned herself in this morning. She’s been staying at the ranch, helping out. The sheriff said he would release her with an ankle bracelet until her court date since there was an abusive situation. We worked out a deal for her to keep an eye on Kit in exchange for room and board.”
“That’s a relief,” she said. “It seems like you’ll get the help you need while you focus on the ranch. That’s great.” Was this the end of the road for the two of them? Because her heart squeezed so hard she could barely breathe at the thought of losing him. “Everything is working out for the best.”
“Not everything.” He locked gazes with her and butterflies released in her stomach.
“Carys, we’ve only known each other a short time, but it feels like so much longer.
Like we met before in some alternate space and time and we’re reconnecting now.
” He paused a beat. “I don’t want you to feel any pressure, but I’ve fallen hard for you.
I have never felt this deeply or connected to anyone else.
What we have is special to me, and I don’t want to lose you.
I’m in love with you, Carys, heart and soul.
And I would very much be honored if you would consider marrying me. ”
Carys’s mouth dropped open.
“You don’t have to decide today or anytime soon,” he said when she couldn’t formulate words adequate to express her emotions.
Had he misread her? Because she loved this man.
“I just wanted you to know how I feel. No, I needed you to know how I feel and what my intentions are.” His thumb drew circles in her palm, and it was the most tender, most sensual act.
“I can’t imagine spending another day without you, but I’ll wait until you’re ready. I’d wait an eternity for you.”
“You won’t have to, Blaize,” she said, finally able to find the words.
“Because I’m head over heels in love with you.
I think I was from the moment we met. It was like some deep-down part of me recognized you, and I’ve felt the pull ever since.
The more I’m around you, the stronger the force.
I love you, Blaize. And I want to do forever with you. ”
A hot tear streaked down her cheek. He thumbed it away.
“But there’s one condition,” she said. “And then you have my full heart and soul.”
“Name it.”
The fact that he didn’t hesitate gave her hope.
“I want to be foster parents to Rue until Sharon gets out of trouble and back on her feet,” she said.
“Already done,” he said. A smile toyed with the corners of those full, sexy lips. “Does that mean you’ll put up with me for the rest of our lives?”
“You couldn’t chase me away if you tried.”
Carys had found the one place she felt like she belonged. She found her person.
“There’s one more thing,” he said after pressing a tender kiss to her lips.
“More surprises?”
“I hope this is a good one,” he said, pushing up to standing.
She cocked her head to one side. “What are you up to, Blaize?”
“I tracked down your father. After being with Rue, seeing what a parent goes through, I decided he should know what happened to his daughter.”
“And?” She didn’t want to give away the sudden blossom of hope inside her that the relationship between her and her father could be reconciled.
“He dropped everything and drove here,” Blaize said. “He’s been sitting out in the hallway ever since. Do you want to see him?”
Those words sprouted wings in her soul.
“Yes,” she said.
“Hold on.” Blaize stepped to the door, cracked it open, and waved.
A few seconds later, her father walked into the room. His steps were tentative. His gaze unsure.
“Hi, Dad.”
He broke down into tears. “My baby girl. I’m so sorry for the way I’ve treated you. But I’ve missed you every day since you walked out the front door with that beaten-up suitcase. Can you ever forgive me?”
Carys smiled through tears. “Already done, Dad. Come sit with me for a while.”
The two most important men in Carys’s life were right in front of her, so close she could reach out and touch them.
So, she did.
“Thank you for coming, Dad.”
“This is long overdue, my girl,” he said. “And I have a lot to make up for, if you’ll let me.”
“Everyone deserves a second chance if they’re serious about making amends.”
Blaize moved beside her and took her by the hand. In that moment, she knew she’d found home. And she planned to hang on to him for the rest of her life and whatever came next because if she lived a hundred lives, she would want every one of them to be with him.