Heart Unbroken (The Potter's House Books Book 3)

by Alexa Verde

  On the way home, she paid close attention to the rearview mirror. But so far, there was no tail. The pressure on her chest eased up a little.

  She parked in her driveway, keeping a watch of her surroundings. Then she turned off the engine and dashed to her house. She tried the door.

  Locked.

  Emma glanced around. Everything seemed to be exactly the way she’d left it. Her heart beating fast, she entered her house carefully, locked the door, and turned on the light.

  The house seemed empty.

  Just like my heart.

  She missed Rodrigo. She missed him so badly. Happiness was within her reach, and she’d let it slip through her fingers like the sand at the beach.

  Crouching, Emma went through her tiny apartment, for the first time thankful it had only one bedroom and bathroom.

  Still empty.

  And no scary inscriptions anywhere.

  That night, she tossed and turned until the first timid rays of sunshine reached her from behind the blinds.

  She’d spent the night thinking, going over different scenarios. As she brushed her teeth in the morning, her phone beeped with an incoming text. She winced. Another threat?

  Still with the brush in her mouth, she hurried to her phone.

  Rodrigo’s name was on the screen.

  Her heart warmed up. He missed her, too.

  And she really didn’t want to push him away. Maybe after he ran for reelection...

  She opened the text.

  Gnat and Carl have alibis for the time of my shooting. I thought you might want to know.

  So official.

  Her heart did a slow tumble in her chest.

  Now she’d really done it. She’d pushed him away forever. But at least she didn’t need to feel guilty for Rodrigo getting shot.

  Or...

  Did she?

  A loud sound made her flinch. The window in her living room shattered. Emma dashed to a brick that was now lying on carpet.

  There was a piece of paper tied on the top. Something was typed on that paper in big, bold letters. She squatted to see better.

  IT’S TIME.

  Chills ran down her back.

  A thought formed in her mind of the person who could wish her ill.

  How hadn’t she realized it before? It was simple, so simple.

  It was all her fault.

  She called Rodrigo on the hands-free phone and told him of her suspicions.

  His reply was short. “On it. Be careful.”

  If her suspicions were right, she knew who’d be the next target. “Protect my son. Please, protect Junior.”

  “We will. Stay where you are.”

  Emma grabbed her purse and shot out the door. Thankfully, Dylan’s place was rather close to her apartment complex. “Thanks. I’ve got to go.”

  “Don’t do anything stupid.” Worry rang in Rodrigo’s voice.

  Depended what he meant by stupid.

  “Bye, Rodrigo.” Her heart squeezing from premonition, she disconnected from Rodrigo as she jumped inside her car. The tires squealed as she rushed toward Dylan’s house.

  She tried to call Dylan on her hands-free phone and then call Joy. None of them answered. Her heart sinking, Emma floored the gas pedal. She needed to make it to Dylan’s house in time.

  She had to!

  As her car ate up the miles, she watched her rearview mirror closely to make sure she wasn’t followed. So far, no tail.

  Emma made a sharp turn. The tires squealed again.

  What seemed like an eternity but was probably only minutes later, she parked near Dylan’s house. Maybe she was wrong. She hoped with all her heart she was wrong.

  It was crazy to think he’d want to harm Junior. She had nothing but suspicions and intuition to go on.

  Her phone rang. She wasn’t surprised when she saw an unknown number.

  “Emma Hughes.” Her voice trembled as she answered.

  “It’s time to pay,” the familiar voice said. “I can see you through the window. And I have a surprise for you. Come inside, unarmed. Because you know what’s going to happen if you don’t obey my instructions.”

  “Mommy!” Junior’s voice came on the line.

  Her heart jumped into her throat. “Junior, don’t be afraid. Everything is going to be okay.”

  She was already too late.

  No, wait.

  The man was hurting so badly he needed to lash out and hurt her. He knew she was coming, and he’d make her suffer.

  He’d make me watch my son die.

  Emma shuddered.

  “So, Emma Hughes, how does it feel when your heart is bleeding?”

  Joy screamed somewhere in the background, “Emma, don’t come!”

  Then the line went dead.

  Emma dashed out of her vehicle as she called Rodrigo. “He’s at Dylan’s house. He’s going to shoot Junior, maybe Joy, too. I guess Dylan left for work.”

  “We’re on the way. Don’t you dare go in there. Do you hear me?” Emotion coated Rodrigo’s voice.

  She remembered Rodrigo’s words in the rain, right before he’d gotten shot. She tried the door. Like she’d expected, it was unlocked. “I love you, Rodrigo. I’ll love you till my last breath.”

  Emma prayed with all her might.

  Then she went inside.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  EMMA’S HEART WAS CRUSHED WHEN SHE saw Joy tied in a corner and Harry pressing a gun to her precious boy’s head.

  Emma drew a shaky breath. Though terror claimed her entire being, she had to keep a clear mind through all this. The lives of several people depended on that, including that of her son.

  She lifted her hands, fingers spread out. “Harry, I came unarmed. If you’re angry with me, shoot me. Why kill innocent people?”

  “Because it’s not enough punishment for you.” There was an unhealthy glimmer in Harry’s eyes. With grayish hair and lines marring his face, he looked like he’d aged decades since the last time she’d seen him in Chicago. His son’s death had done this to him.

  Still keeping her arms up, Emma moved closer. She needed to buy time before law enforcement arrived. “Junior, don’t be afraid. It’ll be okay.”

  “That’s what you think.” Harry’s laughter was bitter.

  “I’ve never done anything to you.” Emma slowly continued getting closer. From the corner of her eye, she saw Joy work on her ties.

  A lot of people underestimated plump and kind Joy, who’d been through a number of dangerous situations in her life.

  “You killed my son!” Harry growled. “He started using drugs because of you.”

  “He was already a drug addict by the time I met him. You just never noticed then.”

  Emma took another careful step. Joy slid along the floor in Harry’s direction, too.

  “Liar!” Harry screamed. “It was you! It was because he fell for you. He was vulnerable. And you used it.”

  “We were only friends.” Emma ground her teeth. “I did my best to talk him into going to rehab.”

  Obviously, Harry was hurting so badly, was so angry that he needed to lash out at somebody.

  “Who are you trying to deceive? You, a junkie, talking my son into going to rehab. Right.” The man snorted. “Anyways, enough empty words. I want you to feel what I felt.”

  “Is that why you shot at the sheriff?” Another step, a small one. So close! “Or were you trying to kill me?”

  “The sheriff was just in my way. You’ve never cared who you’ve hurt. You didn’t even come to my son’s funeral!” Harry’s voice rose.

  “I didn’t know Caleb died.” Guilt slammed into her. But she had to keep moving.

  “No, you just didn’t care. But now you care, don’t you? You care about your son a lot. Well, time is running out. I gave you much more time than I should have.”

  Fear grasped her heart with ghastly fingers. “I understand your grief, and I’m sorry about what happened to your son, but...”

  A bitte
r laughter was his response. “No, you’re not sorry. But soon you’ll be. It’s time.”

  “Don’t do it!” Emma was shaking inside.

  Joy gave her a tiny nod.

  The sound of a motor outside made Emma flinch. Harry glanced in the window’s direction. At that moment, Joy launched to Harry and jerked Junior away. She jumped back, fear for Junior obviously tripling her agility.

  Emma leaped forward and interjected herself between Harry and Joy with her son.

  “You’ll pay for this!” Harry’s mouth twisted as he pointed his gun at her.

  Emma stepped back. She knew what would come next.

  A shot thundered in the air. She staggered from the impact but didn’t fall yet. She had to remain a human shield between Harry and Joy with Junior until help came through the door.

  Another shot.

  Sharp pain erupted inside Emma. As she slid down, she sensed movement. Law enforcement officers charged inside the house, shouting.

  Fire...

  Harry fell on the floor with a surprised look on his face.

  Somebody yelled something to her, but she couldn’t hear.

  Rodrigo?

  Maybe.

  Maybe not.

  Pain, so much pain... She couldn’t hold on to consciousness any longer.

  “Mommy!” Junior’s voice was full of panic, but there was no pain in it.

  “Junior, you can’t go there!” Joy screamed somewhere behind her.

  Her son was fine, and so was her friend.

  A split second before the world went black, Emma knew at least one thing she’d done right in her life.

  RODRIGO PACED THE HOSPITAL hall. Now their roles were reversed again. He’d been the one waiting outside while Emma was in surgery.

  Two bullets.

  From close range.

  The weapon was a low-caliber gun, but it didn’t help much.

  It was a shocker she was still alive.

  Worry slashed him inside, leaving him breathless.

  Logically, she couldn’t survive. But he couldn’t, wouldn’t listen to logic. Rodrigo wiped cold sweat from his brow. Emma had to make it.

  Rodrigo prayed like he’d never prayed before.

  He prayed for a miracle.

  Joy got up from her chair and marched to him. “Sit.”

  Rodrigo’s nerves were raw. “I’m not a dog,” he snapped at her.

  Joy’s eyes softened. “You make me dizzy with the constant pacing. Please sit down with me, and we’ll pray. Emma will pull through. She overdosed several times and still recovered.”

  Rodrigo slumped into an empty chair. “She took two bullets. Two! The second one went into her shoulder. The first one went into the place where her heart is.”

  As soon as he said it, everything in front of him darkened.

  “Have faith. Let’s pray.” Joy paused.

  Rodrigo couldn’t utter a single word.

  “I’ll lead in a prayer,” Joy whispered. “Dear Heavenly Father, please save Emma. Please guide the surgeons. Please bring her back to us well and healthy. We love You, Lord. Amen.”

  Cody and Mari arrived soon with hamburgers and coffee, but Rodrigo was unable to swallow a single bite or take a single sip. His throat was too closed up for that. Then several other people from Rios Azules filed in and introductions followed.

  Rodrigo didn’t care. Now he understood better the words she’d told him when he’d been recovering after his surgery.

  At this point, he could accept it if he never saw Emma again. As long as he knew that she was alive somewhere.

  Playing with her son. Listening to the whisper of the ocean. Making one of her delicious dishes. Praying. Smiling. Breathing.

  Living.

  It would break his heart to stay away from her, but he could take that kind of pain.

  But to lose someone so close to him again...

  He didn’t know how to deal with that. He’d gone through long hospital waits with Corina. Corina hadn’t made it.

  Rodrigo prayed again and again.

  The next several hours were the longest and the most difficult in his life. When the doctor finally came to them, a tired expression in his eyes, Rodrigo could hardly believe they would learn the news. He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the news.

  “Who’s the family of Emma Hughes?” The doctor looked around.

  Joy jumped to her feet. “This is her fiancé. And we’re her friends, so we’re family.”

  Fiancé?

  Joy glanced in his direction. “Close enough,” she mouthed.

  “How is Emma?” Rodrigo swallowed hard, hoping he could still talk about her in the present tense.

  The doctor shook his head, as if in disbelief.

  Rodrigo’s heart sank. It took him a moment before he could speak again. “Did she... survive the surgery?”

  “Yes.” The doctor nodded. “We extracted the bullet from her shoulder. It will take Ms. Hughes some time to recuperate. But thankfully no vital organs were touched.”

  The shoulder. That was the second shot.

  What about the first one?

  When no explanation came, Rodrigo stepped forward. “What about the other bullet? The one she took in her chest?”

  That shot should’ve been the fatal one. It became dark in front of Rodrigo’s eyes again, and it took some time for his vision to clear.

  The doctor studied him. “Oh, that one. Well, can’t say I’ve seen anything like that before. Some kind of steel medallion stopped the bullet. Apparently, she wore that medallion in the front pocket of her shirt. The bullet still did some damage, but not nearly as much as it could’ve done.”

  The words slowly registered in Rodrigo’s mind.

  Joy gasped near him. “That’s the medallion you gave Emma. She told me that she decided to always wear it in her front pocket because it would be close to her heart.”

  The tears in Joy’s and Mari’s eyes nearly undid Rodrigo. “Does that mean she’ll be okay?” He was afraid to believe his ears, afraid to hope. He’d hoped until the last moment that Corina would pull through, and she hadn’t.

  “We’re looking at a long recuperation period, and there are no guarantees, of course. But yes, we expect her to fully recover.”

  The doctor talked about the recuperation period, wound care, home health agencies, but Rodrigo could barely hear him.

  Thank You, Lord. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

  A wave of joy swept him up and carried him away.

  Later, when he was allowed to see Emma, he rushed to her bed. He took her thin hand as something prickled behind his eyes. He blinked fast.

  “Don’t you ever leave me like that.” He squeezed her fingers, careful not to disturb the IV lines.

  “How’s Junior?” Her voice was weak.

  “Dylan has him. Joy checked on him many times. Your son seems to be okay.”

  A half smile tugged on her pale lips. “What about Harry?”

  Rodrigo stared at her, dumbfounded. She worried about the person who’d threatened her son and nearly killed her! “As far as I know, his surgery was a success. He’ll face charges after he recuperates.”

  “I’ll need to make sure he knows I forgave him.”

  Emma Hughes was an incredible woman.

  Rodrigo took in the sight of her, euphoric to still have her in his life. “I know now what you meant when you said this. I have to know that you exist.”

  Her smile widened. “Ditto.”

  He said it again and again, “I have to know that you exist.”

  THE NEXT DAY, RODRIGO hurried to Emma’s bed as soon as visitors’ hours started. “How are you?”

  There was a little more color in her face, making his heart warm. “Better.”

  He took a seat near her bed. “Good. This time, I’ll take care of you. I don’t want to hear any objections.”

  Emma’s faint smile became a tad brighter. “Really, you’re going to be my nurse?”

  “Seems to be my turn. An
d may I remind you, I was a very obedient patient. I count on the same on your part.”

  “Hmmm, that’s not the way I remember it.”

  “You shouldn’t be talking much. You need your rest.” He ached to run his fingers through her hair, to have the tactile confirmation that she was here, that she was alive.

  “And you need to go back. Associating with a junkie won’t help your reelection.” Sure enough, instead of talking less, she talked more, and not about a pleasant topic.

  “I’m not going to run for reelection.” All the issues of the outside world seemed so small and insignificant at the moment. The main thing, Emma was alive.

  The memory of the conversation with Cody appeared in his mind. What if Emma had overheard it?

  “You should,” Emma whispered. “You love your job. You’re great at it. You make a difference in people’s lives.”

  “I spent a lot of time thinking while you were in surgery. And I realized that some things I love even more than my job. I’d like to help in church, the way Corina and I wanted to do. Corina started ministering and helping families affected by drug addiction. It’s time I continued that legacy.”

  “Wow,” Emma whispered. “You’re really too good for me. I hope you have some bad habits.”

  “Would it help that I tend to leave the top off the toothpaste?” Rodrigo grinned.

  Emma sighed. “Not much, but it’s a start.”

  “Corina wanted to build a nonprofit treatment center one day. I think that day has come. I’d like to name it in her memory.” There was a movement in his chest. The decision felt right.

  Emma’s eyes brightened. “I want to be a part of it and help you at the center. It would mean so much to me. But we’d have to take out a significant loan.”

  “Not necessarily. I made sure Corina had a huge life insurance policy on me due to the dangers of my profession. She said it would be only fair to have the same life insurance policy for her and named me as a beneficiary. I argued about it because she always led a healthy lifestyle and her profession wasn’t dangerous.” His throat constricted.

  Emma touched his hand. “You miss her, don’t you?”

  “A lot. I always will. But I’m at peace now. I turned my grief over to the Lord.”