CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE #2
Cold air rushed in like salvation. I swallowed gulps of it, choking from the deep breaths.
And then his hands were on me.
“Naomi—hey—hey—”
I collapsed into him, every ounce of strength gone. My brain and body wanted to cry in relief, but I had sweated out all the tears and just continued to inhale as deeply as I could, shaking in his embrace.
He held on like he wasn’t ever letting go again and gently dropped us to the cedar porch just outside the sauna. Sweeping my damp hair off my face, he turned my cheek, so I faced him. “You’re okay.” It wasn’t a question. “I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
I swallowed past the dryness in my throat and buried myself deeper against him. “Kyla … she—”
“Shhh, we know. We saw on the security cameras.” He pressed a kiss to the top of my sweaty head. “I’m so sorry. So, so sorry I brought that woman into your life.” He rocked us a little, holding me tight to him. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.”
Sirens filled the air, and Jagger, who’d been standing by quietly, glanced up and beckoned people over with his hand.
Within seconds, multiple sets of footsteps echoed thunderously on the ground as Gabrielle, Damon, Austin, Honor, Mabel, Maverick, Tom, Danica, and the rest of the McEvoys came into view.
Immediate relief creased all their faces.
Lennox opened his arms, and my kids, as well as Mabel, came rushing forward.
They kneeled on the ground beside him and hugged me.
“Mom, I’m so sorry I sent you home to get my clothes,” Austin said, his face against my shoulder. “This is all my fault.”
“No, buddy,” Lennox said sternly. “This isn’t your fault at all.”
I met Lennox’s eyes, the guilt in them gutting me. “It’s not yours either,” I whispered.
He didn’t appear convinced.
“You’re okay, Mom?” Honor asked, her eyes full of concern as her gaze roamed my body from head to toe.
Justine Brazeau, Bennett McEvoy’s partner and one of the local doctors, came running up, her medical bag in her hand. “I would like to check her out, please,” she said softly.
My kids and Mabel stepped away first, but Lennox seemed reluctant to let me go.
“I’ll be okay,” I told him, giving him a reassuring smile.
Nodding, but still riddled with guilt in the way he was looking at me, Lennox moved to the side so Justine could give me a once-over. Just as she was placing the blood pressure cuff around my upper arm, Officers Everett Jacobs and Myla Bruce, flanking Kyla, came to stand in front of us.
Kyla wore a snarl until she saw Lennox. Then it was like she wasn’t in any trouble at all and figured he could fix all of this.
“Dad,” Mabel whispered.
Damon held out his hand to her, and she went to him.
“Len—”
“You don’t get to say his name,” Myla said, jerking Kyla’s arm.
“No,” Lennox cut in, not taking his eyes off Kyla. “Let her talk.”
Kyla seemed to be almost vibrating with excitement. She tugged on her restraints a bit, but couldn’t take her eyes off Lennox. “Tell them,” she pleaded. “Tell them that I did this for us.”
Lennox stood up, pure, unadulterated hate blatant on his face. He stepped down from the porch, but kept his distance from her.
Kyla softened, just a fraction. “You came.”
“For her,” he said. Flat. Final. He glanced over at me.
Kyla’s head shook. “No. No. Not for her. She was in the way. I was doing this for us. So we can be together. I love you.”
Lennox’s voice was eerily calm. Chilling. “You never loved me. You used me.” Then he nodded at Myla.
“Kyla Tupper-Murchie, you’re under arrest for violation of parole, kidnapping, breaking and entering, and attempted murder.” She then proceeded to read Kyla her Miranda rights as Officer Jacobs hauled Kyla out of view toward their police car.
“You love me!” Kyla screamed. “You love me. I know you do. I did this for us. We can be together. We’re meant to be together.”
Justine broke a few instant ice packs and had me place them on the back of my neck, my chest, and across my abdomen.
They were helping to cool me down. But now I was starting to shiver since the wind off the water was cool and I was still soaking wet.
“Lots of fluids,” she said. “Stay out of the sun for a while. You’ve definitely got heatstroke, but after about twenty-four hours, I think you’ll be okay.
” She wrapped her stethoscope around her neck and stood up, giving me a reassuring smile. “You’re tough.”
I didn’t feel tough, but I croaked out a “Thanks.”
“Here.” Justine pulled a bottle of water out of her medical bag, opened it, and handed it to me.
I chugged it greedily, most of the water dribbling down my chin and chest. It was empty in seconds, and I took a deep breath. My throat was no longer as raw, and my lungs were less charred than before.
Vica, Wyatt McEvoy’s wife, came running through the trees, a blanket draped over her arm and a water bottle in her hand.
“She will be cold, si?” she asked, unfolding the black and blue Mexican blanket.
“All the wet and the wind.” She handed Lennox the blanket, and he draped it around my shoulders.
I shivered a little as I fought off the waves of nausea and ignored the spots and floaties in my vision.
“H-how did you find me?” I asked, doing less chugging on this water bottle and just sipping it.
“It was Mabel, actually,” Lennox said.
“Actually, it was Damon,” Mabel corrected. “He told me about that guy who attacked Chloe Voss, Dom’s wife,” she glanced at Dom, who nodded, “and that he hid out in Bonn Remmen’s house. I suggested maybe that’s where Kyla took Naomi.”
“Team effort,” Lennox said softly, gazing at his daughter with pride.
“We saw her bring you here on the cameras,” Clint said, which is why we all ran here at once.
“There are cameras here? Already?” I asked, a rush of panic filling me. Oh god. What had they seen on them? Did Lennox and I give them a porno show twice a week? How come nobody told me about the security cameras?
“We turn a few off when …” Raina said, smirking. “You’re good.”
“When what?” Honor asked, confused, glancing between all the adults.
“Never mind, honey.” Gabrielle wrapped a protective arm around my daughter.