“Me too,” he muttered, then took flight, leaving his heart behind him.
Chapter 32
The beam from dozens of flashlights cut through the woods not long after, heralding the arrival of emergency services. Tracy pointed the police in Ray’s direction and was more than happy to turn over the unwieldy gun, then stood by wringing her hands while the paramedics checked Scott over and prepared him for transport. She’d seen dozens of bodies in her years of work and never been as unsettled as she was now.
“How is he?” she asked when they had him loaded on a gurney and an intravenous started.
The female paramedic looked familiar and Tracy realized where she’d seen her; Jenny had brought her to their book club group one night.
“He’s going to be fine. A little stiff and sore for awhile, but nothing he can’t handle.” She smiled her reassurance, then turned back to the patient. “Hang on, we’ll have you out of here soon.”
Scott nodded, his gaze fuzzy now that the painkillers were kicking in. His head flopped sideways so that he could see her. “I’m sorry, baby. All my fault.”
Tracy hurried forward, worried he was going to tip himself off the stretcher. She grasped his hand, careful of the tubes, and held it to her breast. “Don’t. It’s no more your fault than it is mine. Just let the medicine work. We’ll talk later, okay?”
His head did a slow roll. “So many unnecessary deaths.”
Hank, Lucas, Scott’s sister, Natalya. The man being led away in cuffs had a lot to account for. Tears threatened, but she blinked them away. Crying could wait until later when she was alone.
The paramedic tucked a blanket around Scott’s body. “We need to go.”
Tracy nodded and leaned in to give Scott a lingering kiss. “I love you,” she whispered.
His gaze softened. “Say it again.”
Her chest tightened. She felt like she was having a panic attack, but then he squeezed her fingers and raised them to his lips and she was lost.
“I love you so very much,” she said loudly and clearly, not giving a damn who heard her this time.
He raised his hand to the back of her head and pulled her close. “You and me, babe. It’s going to be great.” His mouth was warm and mobile and she closed her eyes the better to take in the exquisite touch.
The other paramedic cleared his throat. “We’d better leave. The police are waiting.”
Tracy reluctantly lifted her head. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Scott’s brows lowered, but there wasn’t much choice. The trail was too narrow for anything more than single file. They moved out and Tracy went to follow, then thought of Dustin.
She glanced around and found him looking small and scared by the edge of the trail, a police officer close by. Scott’s coat dangled off his shoulders and gave him a lost waif look with the sleeves dangling to his knees.
“You ready to go home? I bet your mom’s going to be happy to see you.” She smiled and held out her hand.
He gazed up at her, but didn’t move, his eyes worried. “Am I going to be in trouble?”
Tracy’s heart tugged for the poor kid. It wasn’t fair. In one ill-fated moment he’d gone from being a child in a happy, healthy family to a young man tasked with picking up the pieces of their lives. It was a huge responsibility. And one Tracy planned to be a part of.
She leaned over and gave him a swift hug, grimacing at the bruising already occurring around his neck. “I don’t really see that happening, but I promise to be there with you to help explain, okay?” They may have only just met, but the events of the last few hours had built a bond she hoped would last a lifetime.
Cold fingers wrapped around hers, the jacket bunched up his arm. “I’m ready.”
A stream of light broke through the clouds and lit the path before them.
* * *
Mike and Lucas floated in silence above the scene playing out far below. Lucas felt a complex mix of gratitude and loss as Scott disappeared from view carried on a stretcher and followed by Ray in cuffs, a police officer on either side gripping his arms. He ached to be down there with his best friend. It was almost like losing a limb knowing they might never talk again. And Ray… the betrayal cut deep. They had trusted him and loved him like a father, and he’d repaid that with robbery and death. If not for Ray, he would still have a life.
He glanced at the hostile man by his side. They all would.
“Where were you?” he asked. “Your kid was in trouble and you were no where to be found.” He half hoped Mike would take another shot at him. The tension was so thick between them already, something had to break.
Mike’s gaze remained fixed on his son as he talked to the woman, then took her hand and followed the others down the trail. When everyone was gone and the forest was silent, he turned and faced Lucas.
“I went back to the Transition House. Do you want to know why?”
Lucas stiffened. There was something in the other man’s expression that warned him he wasn’t going to like where this conversation was heading.
“What did you do?” There was no reason for him to go back to the cabin. The only one there was… Natalya.
Lucas leaped forward, his hand wrapping around Mike’s neck. “Where is she? What have you done, you son-of-a-bitch?”
Mike made no effort to protect himself. He just looked at Lucas over the grip around his throat and sneered, “You think you know pain and loss? Try losing a child.”
Lucas loosened his hold and Mike reared backward, his wings ghostly in the night sky. “That’s right, asshole. It wasn’t enough that you took me away from my family. You also caused the death of my unborn child in that accident.”
He veered away, his back rigid.
Lucas cursed Ray to hell. What a fricking mess. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, man, I’m sorry.”
Mike’s laugh was harsh as he swung around. “Not yet,” he said, cryptically. “But you’re going to be.”
He took wing, spiraling upward. His final words, when they floated down, stopped Lucas’ heart.
“An eye for an eye, my brother. You took what’s mine. Now I have what’s yours.”
Afterword
Reviews are the lifeblood of any successful author. Without you, we can’t be heard.
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Thank you,
Jacquie Biggar
Jacqbiggar.com
About the Author
Jacquie Biggar is an author of the romantic suspense series, Wounded Hearts. This is Jacquie’s first book in the paranormal genre.
Jacquie lives in paradise along the west coast of Canada with her family. She loves reading, writing, and flower gardening and swears she can't function without coffee, preferably at the beach with her sweetheart.
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