Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Pain radiated through Adam’s body—everything hurt, even his toes.
Despite the seat belt holding him in place and the airbags deploying, the bone-jarring crash had been severe enough to cause some injuries.
His knees had connected with the dashboard after it was shoved toward him.
The left side of his head had struck the driver’s window, shattering the glass, and his hands and arms ached from being wrenched against the steering wheel.
A wave of dizziness overcame him, and he closed his eyes, willing it to go away.
Though he didn’t think anything was broken, he probably had one helluva concussion.
Blood dripped from his chin, and reaching up, he traced the trail along his cheek to somewhere above his hairline. His hand came away red and sticky.
What happened?
Obviously, there had been an accident, but what had he been doing right before it? Where was he?
A moan beside him had him glancing over.
Bart Sherman was semiconscious but alive and moving a little.
Adam felt around near his hip and found the release to unclip his seatbelt.
His gaze darted around the cab’s interior, searching for either of their cell phones so he could call 9-1-1, but a scream pierced the air, sending chills down his spine and causing the hair on the back of his neck to stand up.
And just like that, his memory came rushing back.
Sage!
That was why he’d crashed. She’d run into the middle of the road, and he’d swerved to avoid hitting her.
“Let go of me! Help!”
“Shut up!”
The deep, threatening male voice erupted a volcano of fury within Adam—something he’d experienced only once before in his life and had prayed he never would again.
He reached for the gun that had been on the bench seat between him and Bart, but it was gone, probably thrown beneath the dashboard during the crash.
He didn’t have time to search for it. He had to get to Sage.
“Let go!” Her growled order told him she was strong enough to fight for her life at the moment, but how long could she keep it up?
Pulling the handle, Adam tried to shove the door open, but no matter how hard he pushed, it wouldn’t budge.
His only other choice was the broken window.
Gripping the upper frame, he ignored the shards of glass still caught in the rubber lining as they dug into his palms and hoisted himself partway out.
Contorting his body, he pulled his legs through the confined space and half-jumped, half-fell to the ground.
His head spun, and his dinner threatened to come back up as he stood and stumbled forward. Sage’s screams and the bastard’s bellowing urged him on.
“Ow! Get back here!”
“Let! Me! Go!”
Rounding the truck, he saw them in the middle of the road.
Seth Chapman was trying to pick Sage up, but her fierce struggle made it difficult.
Four angry red scratches ran down his left cheek, and for some bizarre reason, bright green paint was smeared across most of his face.
Adam had no clue what that was about, nor did he care at the moment.
Chapman wrapped one arm around Sage’s upper chest, and his other hand clutched a huge hunting knife at her waist.
A crimson haze filled Adam’s vision as he used the side of the truck bed to steady himself.
“Chapman! Let her go!”
The man paused as if surprised anyone had survived the accident, and it gave Sage the split second she needed. Lifting her leg, she scraped the hard heel of her boot down his shin while ducking her chin and sinking her teeth into his forearm with everything she had.
Chapman roared, releasing her and shoving her forward, forcing her to let go. Adam’s heart leaped into his throat as the man swung the knife wildly. Sage tripped and fell to the ground as the blade sliced through the air mere inches from her head.
Without hesitation, he lunged at Chapman, tackling him to the pavement. The knife flew from his hand and skittered across the road. While Chapman outweighed him by a good fifty pounds, Adam’s muscle memory from years of training in Krav Maga, boxing, and wrestling kicked in.
They rolled across the pavement, each trying to gain the upper hand.
Fists, elbows, and knees connected as sweat and blood poured from their bodies.
Chapman snapped his head forward, aiming for the middle of Adam’s face, but he saw it coming and jerked his head aside at the last second.
Instead of his nose taking the blow, pain exploded through his chin, fueling his wrath.
Rolling on top of the bigger man, he wrapped his hands around his throat and squeezed with all his might.
Chapman gasped and clawed at Adam’s hands and arms to no avail.
His eyes bulged, and his face darkened to crimson as his legs kicked against the pavement.
His struggles gradually weakened, but Adam didn’t let go.
He couldn’t think.
He couldn’t feel anything but rage.
A female voice yelling his name penetrated the edges of his mind, but it was a single gunshot that had him whipping his head up in alarm.
Sherman stood next to Sage, the gun in his hand pointed toward the woods. Blood dripped from a laceration on his forehead and stained his white T-shirt as he put a supportive arm around her.
“Let him go, Westfield. It’s over. Let the law give him what he deserves. Don’t let the devil do this to you again.”
His gaze went to Sage’s pale face. Understanding filled her eyes as she pleaded with him. “Let him go, Adam. I’m okay. We’re all okay. Don’t do this, please.”
Dropping his chin, he stared at the pathetic man beneath him. Chapman still gasped for air. Adam had been moments away from killing a man for the second time in his life.
“No.” Shaking his head, he released his grip. Chapman sucked in a ragged breath as Adam pushed off him and stood. He glared down at the man. “You’re not worth it.”
Sirens wailed in the distance as Adam staggered toward Sage, who rushed into his arms. Holding her tightly, he glanced at her neighbor, who now had his cell phone in one hand and the gun aimed at Chapman, just in case. Sherman gave him a solitary nod, silently telling him he’d done the right thing.
Pulling back from Sage just enough to cup her face in his hands, he inspected her for injuries. She had bruises and scrapes, although nothing appeared serious. His gaze met her tearful but relieved one.
“Thank God you’re okay. I don’t know what I would’ve done if something had happened to you.” His voice caught as the words he’d been afraid to say finally came out. “I love you, Sage.”
She gasped as tears rolled down her cheeks. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she buried her face against his chest. “I love you too.”
Lying in Sage’s bed, Adam held her close.
It was past 10:00 a.m., but she was still asleep—she needed it after last night.
They’d returned home just before dawn after being evaluated at the emergency room, then released to head to the sheriff’s department to give their reports.
It had been after four in the morning when they finally got home, but Maddie and Evan had been waiting up for them.
The children had fallen asleep on the couches in the living room but awakened and needed reassurance that their mother was okay before going back to bed.
After the older couple left for their cottage, Sage had taken Adam’s hand and silently led him to her bedroom.
They’d removed their dirty, bloody clothes and crawled into bed.
As he’d taken her into his arms, determined never to let her go, the emotions she'd held back for hours had finally overwhelmed her. Not wanting the children to hear, she cried as quietly as she could while Adam stroked her hair and murmured words of comfort. He’d told her how proud he was of her and how she’d saved herself.
Their declarations of love rolled over and over in his mind. There had been no hesitation in her response, nor had she seemed surprised when he’d said the words.
He’d never imagined he’d say them to a woman, but once he had, he’d known they were true.
He was madly, completely in love with Sage.
Where they’d go from here, he wasn’t sure, but he knew it would be at each other’s side.
When she was ready, he’d broach the subject of marriage.
He wanted nothing more than to make her his wife.
Beside him, Sage stirred and snuggled closer. Her eyes blinked open, and for several seconds, she simply gazed at him.
“Good morning,” he murmured.
A small smile appeared on her face. “You’re still here.”
“Where else would I be?”
She reached up and ran her fingertips along his cheek. “After everything that happened last night, I just need to feel alive again. Make love to me.”
Maddie had assured them they wouldn’t be disturbed until they emerged from the bedroom, letting them sleep as long as they needed. Not for the first time, Adam was grateful for the woman’s take-charge attitude.
He drew Sage closer and kissed her. “Whatever you need, my love.”
Her arms slipped around his neck as she kissed him again, and for a little while, the rest of the world disappeared.
Later, Sage rested in his arms as the late morning sunlight filtered through the blinds. Neither of them was in a hurry to leave the safety of the bed or face everything waiting for them outside the bedroom.
He ran his hand along her arm. “Are you okay?”
Lifting her head, she kissed him. “I will be as long as you never let me go.”
The corners of his mouth ticked up in a grin.
“Well, I guess that means you’re going to be just fine because I don’t think I’d ever be able to let you go…
not without ripping out my heart and giving it to you to take with you.
” He brushed a strand of hair from her face.
“I love you, Sage. You’re the light in my life that’s been missing all these years. ”
“And I love you.” She gently cupped his whiskered cheek. “I never thought I’d say those words to another man after Mark died. But then you walked into my life when I needed you most. I don’t know if it was divine intervention or not, but I’ll thank God every day for sending you to me.”
She kissed him again. They knew they had to get up soon, but for a little while longer, they remained wrapped in each other’s arms, content to be there.
Adam couldn’t fathom what he’d done to deserve the woman beside him, but he knew he would never take her or her love for granted.