by Alexa Verde
“You’re much smarter than I am. There are still many things I don’t understand here.” Julia moved closer to Blake still, her heart hammering in her chest. “For example, the motive for Hank Gallagher’s murder. I understand why you wanted to kill me. I started digging into the murders and could also recall seeing your earring in the room where my father had died. I understand why you killed Seth. He suspected you’d killed Gallagher. I understand why you shot at Blake. You incited him to take revenge against Gallagher for stealing Blake’s mother’s recipes. But instead Blake only became suspicious of you.”
“You’re doing well so far. I raised you well. It’s really a pity I have to kill you.” There was genuine regret in Barbara’s voice as she raised the gun again.
Julia resisted the urge to take a step back, her breathing shallow. Instead, she shifted toward Blake again. Where was Ivan? If she survived this, she had so many things to tell him. “But even I don’t have answers to all the questions. Why did you kill Gallagher?”
“Twenty-two years ago, he helped me to cover an accident, passing it as suicide. He was one of my many admirers, and I told him I’d tell his wife he cheated on her with me. He could lose his wife and his company. He helped me. Maybe he still had some feelings for me; I don’t care. But when he was close to dying, he decided to come clean. I couldn’t let it happen.”
“I see.” Julia swallowed hard. She knew she was trekking on thin ice. Her fingers trembled, and she wanted to bolt for the gun, but she couldn’t risk it. She carefully moved several more inches toward Blake. She had a gut feeling there were some questions she shouldn’t ask. But she needed to know. “Why did you kill my father?” Pain racked her at the memory.
“It was an accident!” Barbara’s eyes widened, and for the first time, her voice took on a note of defensiveness. “I loved him. I came to his place in your mother’s absence and told him his wife was going to leave him for another man. It was a lie, but I hoped he’d leave your mother for me. I mean, why wouldn’t he? I was rich and beautiful. But instead he got angry at the news. He grabbed me and started shaking me.”
Barbara stopped as if the memory was difficult for her. But she didn’t lower her gun any more.
Blocking her emotions in regard to the story about her father, Julia used that moment to step toward Blake. Soon she might have a chance to snatch his weapon. But would she have enough time to fire before Barbara did? It was highly unlikely.
Julia said a prayer again.
“I pushed him away,” Barbara continued, a hurt expression on her face. “I had to get away from him! But he fell and hit his head on the corner of the table. I panicked. I was very young then. I couldn’t let my reputation, my life be stained by such an accident. I couldn’t afford the scandal. I was already a doctor, a well-respected person in Rios Azules. So I called Hank…. I cried and then blackmailed him. If Hank didn’t decide to talk after over two decades, I wouldn’t have to do all this. I don’t want to kill you. I loved you like a daughter.”
“I loved you like a mother. I trusted you!” Julia did her best to ignore the pain in her heart. She had to concentrate on Blake’s gun. She had to survive.
She had to see Ivan again…
Her insides trembled, and it wasn’t the best time to realize she’d fallen in love with Ivan. She desperately wanted to live to tell him that and maybe even have a family, a future with him. She had so much to tell him, but she might never have that chance.
“I know you won’t believe me. But I’m sorry it has to end this way.” There was a note of sadness in Barbara’s voice.
It was now or never.
It might take Julia longer to grab the gun than for Barbara to fire. But by the way Barbara’s expression hardened, Julia knew she was out of time.
Dear Lord, please help me. Amen.
***
His heart thumping in his ears, Ivan jumped out of the patrol car. Spurred on by his instincts and Julia’s text, he sprinted toward her house.
He had to make it in time.
He couldn’t lose Julia. He simply couldn’t.
Ivan had talked to his dad on the phone about ten minutes ago. His father had admitted Dr. Barbara Smith had incited him to follow Julia and harm her. Then Ivan had received a text message from Julia about the teardrop earring.
Ivan had prayed all the way to her place.
His weapon drawn, Ivan stormed inside Julia’s house. Chills ran down his spine.
A man was lying on the floor, bleeding.
With Julia at gunpoint, Dr. Smith turned to Ivan.
Chapter Fifteen
“Drop your weapon. Now!” Ivan took aim.
Dr. Smith fired at the same time Julia ducked to the floor and he shifted to the left. He had to rescue Julia!
His training took over. Aiming at center mass, Ivan pulled the trigger without giving Dr. Smith a chance to fire another shot. Dr. Smith cried out in pain and dropped her gun.
Ivan slumped in relief at seeing Julia alive, but he had to block his emotions and do his job.
He said a quick prayer of gratitude.
Ivan kicked the gun on the floor aside and glanced over Dr. Smith’s bleeding shoulder. He’d help her, but first he needed to neutralize her in order to assist the wounded man on the floor, who also seemed to be in a much worse condition. Ivan read the Miranda rights to Dr. Smith and handcuffed her.
Meanwhile, Julia dashed to the guy and checked his pulse, then sighed with relief. “Blake is alive! But he lost a lot of blood. I’ll call an ambulance and do my best to stop the bleeding.”
“I already called an ambulance.” As if to confirm his words, a siren wailed in the distance. “I learned the hard way that wherever you are, it’s good to have an ambulance nearby.”
“Thanks.” There was a trace of sarcasm in Julia’s voice. She hurried to the bathroom and came back with a heap of towels. She threw several to him.
He pressed towels to Dr. Smith’s shoulder, who groaned but didn’t move. Utter shock settled in her eyes, as if she hadn’t expected to lose. The towels were getting soaked fast. While keeping an eye on Dr. Smith, he saw Julia from the corner of his eye.
Julia pressed towels to Blake’s chest. “Stay with me, Blake, please stay with me,” she whispered, pleading notes in her voice. “Help is near.”
“Dear Lord, please save Blake and keep him safe in Your care,” Ivan whispered.
Paramedics rushed inside Julia’s cottage. Ivan explained the situation quickly. Blake and Dr. Smith were taken on gurneys in two different ambulances.
Ivan was torn. He needed to accompany Dr. Smith, then rush to the police station to write tons of reports because not only had he fired his weapon, he’d wounded someone, too. But he was reluctant to separate from Julia.
“I’ll go with Blake.” Julia made the decision easier for him. “I’ll go to the police station to give a statement as soon as I know he’ll be okay.”
“Okay. Thank you.” He gave her a lingering look, eager to tell her so much.
But it wasn’t the time or the place. He slid inside the ambulance with Dr. Smith.
On the way to the hospital, while the paramedics were setting up an IV with fluids, a million thoughts rushed through Ivan’s mind.
His heart squeezed in his chest. He couldn’t wait to be back with Julia. There was no way he could let her go now.
The moment he’d seen her standing at gunpoint, the moment he’d almost lost her, he’d felt such utter terror like never before in his life. His training had served him well then, overcoming his emotions. But now he had to admit the simple truth.
He loved Julia.
He loved her very much.
He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
Ivan had no doubt in his mind he wanted to marry her. But would she want the same? Unwelcome doubt crept inside him. She’d needed him while her life was in danger. But would she want to be with him now, when the danger was over? She’d said she had feelings for him, but just how
strong were those feelings? Strong enough to overcome her fears?
Aidan met him at the ER and took over guard of Dr. Smith, who was rushed to surgery.
Ivan headed to the police station, getting mentally ready for a talk-down from his boss. After all, he’d gone against his boss’s wishes, continued the investigation, hadn’t informed Chief about every step, and worst of all, had ended up shooting a civilian. And he had a wounded witness, too.
As Ivan threw the patrol car in Park near the station, he clenched his teeth. His career was probably over. Most likely, the chief would consider just placing Ivan on leave too small of a punishment for him. Ivan squared his shoulders, hurrying inside the station. He didn’t regret what he’d done.
Julia was alive, and there was a chance Blake would make it, too.
Thank You, Lord.
To Ivan’s surprise, his boss met him with a smile on his face.
“Good job, Vargas. The Rios Azules Police Department just solved three homicides and prevented two. News spreads fast. I already received a call from Mrs. Gallagher, thanking me for finding her husband’s killer. Your father called, too. Oh, and the mayor! I even got a call for an interview a minute ago!”
“Congratulations, Chief.” Ivan figured it wasn’t a good time to remind his boss he hadn’t wanted Ivan to investigate the murders in the first place. “Ms. Morrison played a crucial part in the investigation.”
“Sure, sure.” Chief waved at him. “I do have to place you on leave. It’s protocol. And I want reports on my desk now.”
“Yes, sir.” Ivan headed to do the reports.
After working on and turning in a mountain of paperwork, Ivan stepped outside the police station.
So far, Julia was nowhere in sight.
Where was she?
His heart grew heavy with dread. He knew her better than to believe rumors about her. Julia Morrison wasn’t a ruthless heartbreaker. But he also knew her enough to realize she had a fear of abandonment after losing so many people she’d loved.
Suspicion made his gut tighten.
Was she walking away already?
***
Julia breathed out a sigh of relief as she left the ER and headed to the exit. Ashley had told her Blake’s wound wasn’t fatal, and his condition was stable enough for him to be transferred to McAllen to have emergency surgery. The surgeon on staff at the local hospital was occupied with Barbara’s surgery.
Relief gave way to a bereft feeling as Julia thought how much Barbara would be missed at the Rios Azules hospital. How could one person be a good doctor and a cruel murderer? Such talent wasted on the senseless killings of people to cover up an accident that had happened so many years ago.
Julia should feel joy. She was safe at last. But instead her heart was heavy. Now there was no reason for Ivan to stick by her side. She didn’t need to be protected any longer.
But she needed Ivan. She needed him badly.
As Julia stepped outside the hospital, she took a deep breath of fresh air.
She loved Ivan.
She loved everything about him, his quiet strength, his constant support, his readiness to defend her. For the second time, she lost her heart to Ivan Vargas. No, she was wrong. She’d never taken her heart back. She’d fallen for him when she’d been fifteen and had simply done her best to forget him all these years.
The patrol car drove into the parking lot, parked, and moments later, Ivan strolled to her. Her breath caught in her throat.
While her life wasn’t in danger anymore, one thing never changed. His parents hadn’t wanted her in Ivan’s life then and they wanted her in his life even less now.
Julia suppressed a shudder, despite the sunny day. She’d lived most of her life without parental affection and wouldn’t put Ivan through the same experience. As for his profession… Ivan was an honest cop, a good cop, who most likely one day would become the chief of police. He deserved it, deserved the admiration of the Rios Azules community, and she didn’t need to ruin it for him any more than she already had.
“I’m so happy you’re okay. I was scared to death I was going to lose you.” Ivan grinned when he approached her and drew her into his arms.
“Thank you for rescuing me.” Her heart beating wildly in her chest, Julia allowed herself one more tender embrace from him.
Then she gathered all her willpower and made a decision. He needed his family and his job more than he probably needed her. And surely his parents needed him, even if they didn’t show it well, and the Rios Azules citizens needed a good, honest cop like Ivan to defend them.
Her heart was screaming for her to tell him how much he mattered to her, but her analytical mind told her to do differently. She’d trained herself to follow her mind instead of her heart many years ago. Tears burned the backs of her eyes, but she blinked to keep them at bay.
Because she loved Ivan, she needed to choose what was best for him. The best for him was for her to walk away, no matter how heart-wrenching it was going to be.
Fighting for resolve, she eased out of his embrace before she could change her mind. “We need to talk.”
He frowned. “That doesn’t sound good.”
Gathering her courage, she walked to the small park behind the hospital and entered the gazebo. Ivan followed her to the gazebo.
“Before you say anything, please hear me out.” His eyes were shadowed by worry, but there was also a sparkle in them she hadn’t seen before. “When Dr. Smith held you at gunpoint, I realized something. I can’t imagine my life without you. I just… can’t. I love you.”
Joy filled her entire being at his words, and for a moment she forgot her decision.
Ivan loved her!
She felt dizzy, eager to throw herself into his arms.
This was her dream come true. But she wasn’t his. She’d never be.
Julia took a step back and shook her head. “It’s not love. You’ve had an adrenaline rush for the last several days that made your heart pound. You associated it with me because we spent most of those days together. And you have good memories about our teen years. That’s all.”
“I know what I feel.” His eyes darkened.
She looked down. Her heart was breaking into a million tiny pieces. It was much harder to walk away from Ivan this time. She couldn’t imagine being happy without him. Her mind told her that eventually she’d heal, but at the moment it didn’t lessen the pain inside her.
Ivan took her face in his palms. “Look at me, Julia. Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t feel the same way about me as I feel about you.”
She looked up at him. She couldn’t lie to him. “I can’t say that.”
“Then I don’t understand what’s going on.”
Being so close to him made her breath shallow. She wanted to stay with him so badly. But she shouldn’t. “I’m sorry, but I can’t explain it to you.”
Julia couldn’t reveal the truth about the words his father had spoken to her when she’d been fifteen. Now the situation was even worse. His parents wouldn’t accept her, ever. She couldn’t risk Ivan defying his father. Besides, eventually, Ivan would probably see the importance of his family and walk away from her, anyway. She was used to people leaving her, but it didn’t make it easier.
“Julia, if you need space to sort out something, I’ll give you space. If you need time to think about what’s going on, I’ll give you time. But I won’t repeat the mistake I made years ago. I won’t let you go again. You’re the one for me. You were always the one for me. I just didn’t realize it before. I love you with all my heart. And I pray that one day you’ll feel the same way.” His eyes shadowed, he turned around and walked away.
Julia collapsed onto the bench inside the gazebo. She did feel the same way Ivan did. Why did doing the right thing hurt so much? She hid her face in her hands and let her tears flow.
At the sound of heavy footsteps, Julia stopped sobbing and looked up, hoping it was Ivan coming back.
Instead, it was his fath
er.
A myriad of emotions flashed in his dark, like Ivan’s, eyes: regret, guilt, resolve. But her heart softened at not seeing hatred in them anymore. She wiped tears from her eyes and glanced at him expectantly.
“Hello, Julia. I’d like to talk to you,” Mr. Vargas said slowly, as if struggling with himself.
What could this be about? The last time they had a conversation in private, it had mostly consisted of insults to her.
Julia lifted her chin. She wasn’t a shy teenager anymore and could hold her ground.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Vargas.” She gestured for him to enter the gazebo and waved him to take a seat.
The older man sat down at the edge of the bench and avoided her gaze. “I… I don’t know how to say this.”
Julia didn’t utter a word. She figured she’d let him collect his thoughts.
“I’m… so sorry.” His hands trembled.
“Mr. Vargas, I understand your attitude toward me,” Julia said in a calming tone. Yes, she’d felt resentment and even fear toward Ivan’s father before. But now it was rather compassion. He’d lost his son. She couldn’t even imagine the depth of his pain.
“You understand?” His eyes widened.
“Years ago, you told me to stay away from Ivan because you wanted a better person for him. It hurt me very much, but I can understand your motives. You looked out for your son. You were afraid I might break his heart. And after Seth’s death…” She drew a deep breath. It was still difficult for her to talk about him. She could only imagine how painful it might be for his parents. “Seth was your son. Of course you couldn’t help feeling anger toward me, presumably the source of your pain. But don’t worry about dealing with me any longer. I broke up with Ivan minutes ago.”
She expected him to be glad about the news.
Instead, Mr. Vargas’s expression pained. “Oh, no. My poor Ivan. I have to tell you something…” He paused.
Several long moments passed.
