Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
TUCKER
I took the last turn onto the jobsite gravel, my headlights sweeping across the clearing like searchlights. Knowing Hazel was out here, alone, after being assaulted by a guy I knew was unstable, was enough to short-circuit every survival instinct I’d honed over years in the fire service.
For one sickening second, I saw nothing.
Then—movement.
A figure emerged from the trees, limping, and my heart clenched.
Hazel.
I’d know her anywhere, even in the dark.
I threw my truck into Park before the tires stopped rolling, flung open the door, and hit the ground running. My boots pounded the dirt as she staggered forward.
I caught her. “Hazel,” I breathed, pulling her into me, wrapping my arms around her like a human shield. She was shaking like a leaf in a wind tunnel, sucking in air like she’d been running, skin cold and clammy, despite the warm night.
My arms tightened as I pulled us into the shadows, scanning the perimeter. Nothing but darkness. No motion lights. No sound but the pounding in my ears and the panicked rhythm of Hazel’s breath.
Caleb had said the cameras picked him up, but where the hell were the exterior motion sensors? Why the fuck hadn’t they kicked on?
“You’re safe now. I’ve got you,” I murmured into her hair, pressing my lips to her temple. “Where is he?”
“I lost him.”
“But he’s still here?”
“I don’t know.”
I slipped an arm around her waist, taking on most of her weight as we moved toward my truck. Once I got her behind the wheel, I handed her my flashlight. “Lock yourself in.” I pressed my keys to her hand and cupped her face. “Stay low. Don’t open that door for anyone but a Colburn.”
She opened her mouth to protest, so I kissed her. Hard. “Please,” I said against her lips. “I can’t think when you’re in danger. I’ll be back, I promise.”
“He’s armed himself with tools,” she said. “He’d make a shit pro pitcher, but still, be careful.”
That was my girl. I shut the door. “Hit the lock.”
I waited until she did, then turned and went hunting.
I found Ricky behind the building, trying—and failing—to start his truck.
“You motherfucking fucker,” he yelled, slamming his fist on the steering wheel.
I yanked the door open and hauled him out.
“What the fuck—”
I shoved him against the truck, one hand around his throat. Not tight. Yet.
His eyes went wide. “Hey,” he said when he recognized me, lifting his hands. “I don’t want any trouble.”
“Too late. You put your hands on Hazel.”
“I did not! Did she say that? Where’s that bitch—”
I squeezed his throat just enough to cut off that word.
“Christ, you’re all feral, you know that?” he rasped. “I’m going to sue the shit out of you! Take you for everything you’re worth.”
Sirens wailed in the distance. Seconds later, red and blue lights swept over the trees. I backed up a step but kept my eyes on Ricky.
He started to come at me, but when I straightened, he thought better of it and sagged back against his truck.
“She had it coming,” he said. “You all had it coming.”
Ryder and Caleb rounded the corner.
“Tucker!” Caleb barked.
“I didn’t do nothin’!” Ricky shouted.
“You put your hands on Hazel,” I ground out again, fury burning through every syllable.
“Prove it.”
Cops surrounded us in a flurry of flashlights and commands. Once they saw it was me, I explained fast while Ricky yelled about conspiracies and collusion.
I didn’t stick around. I ran straight back to my truck—and Hazel.
Penny and Emma were with her.
The second Hazel saw me, she launched herself out of the truck and into my arms.
“They got him,” I said.
She nodded and then unraveled. She buried her face in my chest, her entire body shaking.
Emma and Penny stepped back, giving us space.
“I’m sorry,” Hazel gasped. “I don’t know why—”
“Adrenaline letdown.” I cradled the back of her head in one hand, the other gripping her waist, shifting her against me so she didn’t put weight on the leg she was favoring. “Just keep breathing.”
“D-don’t let go.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
She shuddered, like she wasn’t getting air. Which she wasn’t, because she was holding her breath.
“Deeper, Haze,” I said, inhaling with her. I waited as she matched me, breath for breath, until her body finally started to calm down.
“D-does this happen to y-you?”
“Used to. My body’s better at processing it now. Keep going. I’ve got you.”
Eventually, her breaths steadied. I peeled off my sweatshirt and wrapped it around her. She lifted her head, her blue eyes locked on mine.
“You did good,” I whispered, my lips near her temple. “I’m so damn proud of you.”
“He said I ruined his life. That I took his kid from him.”
“You didn’t. Don’t take that on. That’s his guilt talking, not the truth.”
“I just wanted to build something that didn’t fall apart,” she said softly.
I cupped her cheek. “You are. Hazel, you’re the strongest person I know. You show up. You fix things. You fight for what matters. Even when it’s hard.”
Police lights stuttered over her face. On the other side of the house, Ricky was still railing at the world.
Hazel held on to me like I was the only thing anchoring her. “I didn’t want to call you,” she said. “Didn’t want to need you.”
A rueful smile tugged at my lips, even if my gut was a mess of anger and fear. “Thing is, you’ve got me. Whether you want me or not.”
Then I kissed her.
Not rushed. Not needy. Just steady. Grounding. The kind of kiss that said, You’re not alone anymore.
“Think this is going to stick this time?” Penny asked.
“It better,” Emma said.
Behind them, Ricky was being loaded into a cruiser, still yelling nonsense about collusions and schemes.
Caleb stepped in and stole Hazel from me, hugging her tight, bending a little to look into her eyes. “You okay?”
“I’m great,” she rasped.
An ambulance arrived, and I took Hazel from my brother. “Let’s get you checked out.”
“I’m fine.”
“Of course you are.”
“It’s just my ankle.”
“Then let’s get just your ankle looked at.” I set her at the back of the ambulance, watching as her ankle was wrapped and she gave her statement to the officers, never letting her get more than two feet from me.
Caleb leaned in. “Unless you want the whole town talking about how the Star Falls Legend just worked its magic on a third Colburn, you might wanna fix your face.”
I turned my head and pinned him with a glare.
He smiled. “That’s the one.”
The officers found photo evidence on Ricky’s phone, enough to charge him with B and E and attempted burglary, on top of assault.
They drove him away. Hazel watched, guilt flickering across her face.
“Don’t do that,” I said quietly. “Don’t feel bad for Ricky.”
“I don’t.” She shook her head. “Did you know he lost his wife and kid?”
My heart pinched at the regret on her face. “I didn’t.”
She was silent for a beat. “I know my miscarriage was different. But it doesn’t change the fact that we’ve both lost something.”
The difference was, only one of them had turned that pain into a weapon.
Ryder was talking to a cop, looking ready to chew nails and spit fire, but the second he saw Hazel, his expression softened as he moved in for a one-armed hug, handing her a water bottle. “You good?”
“Sure,” she said, all bravado. “Just another day in the life, right?”
He gave her a grim smile. “Next time you want to prove how badass you are, maybe just show off the scar from when you beat Caleb in that framing contest freshman year, even after you accidentally shot your hand with your nail gun.”
Hazel smiled, and it was everything.
Ryder hugged her again, then looked at me.
I nodded. I was good too, because other than a twisted ankle that she needed to keep her weight off for a few days, she really was okay.
A miracle.
Especially when I thought about all the things that could have happened to her tonight.
Bill showed up, and without a word, he hugged Hazel like he might never let her go. “This was on me,” he muttered. “I didn’t see it coming. I’m so fucking sorry.”
Hazel pulled back, frowning. “How was this possibly your fault?”
He shook his head, eyeing our surroundings as if searching for more danger. “When you fire people, shit happens. Even when they deserve it.” He ran a hand down his face, looking tired and haggard.
But Hazel was done, drained, and I wanted to get her out of there. “Come on, Tough Girl.” I took her hand.
“Where we going?”
“Home.”