Page 43 of A Lonely Road (Spruce Hill #2)
The knife clattered to the floor as his hands left my body so abruptly that I stumbled forward. Jake swooped in to grab me before I fell, clasping me tight to his chest, but a distinctive buzz and the thud of Shawn hitting the tiles sent my gaze flying back toward the kitchen.
Like a grim avenging angel, my father stared back at us, holding a taser in one hand.
“Get Nora outside,” he ordered as he knelt down beside Shawn.
Jake didn’t need to be told twice. His arms wrapped tightly around me as we rushed out onto the front porch and down the walk. When we reached the driveway, he turned me to face him, searching my features frantically before his gaze dropped to my wounds.
“You’re bleeding,” he whispered. Not only that, I was shaking so hard my teeth were chattering, so he pulled me back against his chest, tucking my face into his neck. “Oh, Christ. I’m so sorry, Nora. So, so sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault. I thought he was going to kill you.” My head moved from side to side against him as a choked sob escaped my throat.
Jake drew back to look at me incredulously, though he didn’t let go of me. Even if he’d wanted to, my fingers were clenched in his shirt. I couldn’t let go of him, not yet. Not ever.
“Kill me? You’re the one bleeding, honey. I shouldn’t have left. I should never have left you alone, not until that bastard was in police custody.” His voice broke when he said, “That wasn’t Scarpella.”
“It was Shawn,” I whispered. “He wanted to kill us all. ”
The trembling had nearly stopped, but he yanked me back against him, ignoring the blood that smeared across his white shirt.
I smoothed my hands across the stained fabric and shook my head again.
What felt like a lifetime in there must have been only a few minutes, just enough time for Jake to speed home from The Mermaid.
“It’s okay. We’re okay. I’m fine, Jake.”
The words tumbled out of me like a chant, like a prayer. He looked close to tears himself, so I snaked my arms around his middle.
“We’re okay,” I whispered again, as though if I said it enough times, it might finally sink in.
“We’re okay,” he murmured into my hair. Then he gave a hoarse, shaky laugh. “Jesus Christ, Nora, your dad really does have a taser.”
Then we were both laughing, crying, kissing, clinging tightly to one another as the riot of emotions paraded through us.
Three police cars with flashing lights pulled up out front just as my father marched Milton out of the house, his hands bound behind him with what looked like a dishcloth.
Chief Roberts took one look at the three of us, narrowed his eyes at the blood streaking across my skin and Jake’s shirt, and passed Milton to Detective Hanson for arrest.
“I’ve got an ambulance on the way,” he said with a nod toward me. “You folks up for giving statements?”
All of us nodded, but I frowned and said, “I don’t need an ambulance. It’s only a scratch. ”
Three pairs of eyes stared me down.
Neither my father nor Jake gave an inch no matter how I protested, so I threw up my hands and agreed to let an EMT clean me up while the two of them gave their statements.
Reluctantly, Jake handed me off into my father's arms while he went inside with Chief Roberts.
When the ambulance pulled up and Casey hopped out of the passenger seat, I narrowed my eyes at her, even though part of me was glad not to have to face another stranger right now.
“Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just doing my job,” Casey said with a wink, then her expression sobered as she glanced toward the house. “Everyone okay?”
I nodded. “Jake's inside talking to the police, but they insisted I get checked out first. It’s really just a scratch,” I said stubbornly, but my dad made a sound of disagreement.
“Let the professional look you over. If she says it's just a scratch, we'll back off.” He pressed his lips to the top of my head and gave me one last squeeze. “I'll be inside if you need me.”
Though I managed a smile before he headed toward the house, it faded once his back was turned. I cocked my head as Casey threw open the doors at the back of the ambulance and gestured for me to sit. “I didn’t know you were an EMT.”
“Yes ma’am. Sam dropped me off at home after we left here earlier so I could head in for my shift. I can’t say I expected to be back so soon, though.”
There was no mistaking the relief in Casey’s hazel eyes as she looked me over, even underneath her suddenly professional demeanor. She pulled on a fresh pair of gloves and gently wiped away the blood from my neck before dabbing at it with antiseptic.
“This morning feels like a lifetime ago.” I flinched when she moved to the cut across my chest. “Shit, that stings.”
Casey gave me an apologetic smile, but there was no mistaking the hard edge that appeared in those hazel eyes.
When I raised a brow in question, she shrugged a shoulder and said, “You’re one of us now.
We take care of our own. And Jake might actually kick my ass for touching your boob, so it’s a double whammy of annoyance.
None of which is directed at you, of course. ”
I laughed, though I hadn’t felt like there was any humor left inside me even a second ago. “Of course. Don’t look now, but he’s on his way over here. I’ll try to keep him from berating you for groping me,” I offered. My gaze locked with Jake’s and the smile on my lips widened a little.
“Hey,” Jake said softly as he sat beside me. “I see you’re in good hands over here.” His arm slid around my shoulders and he pressed a kiss to my temple.
“The cut isn’t very deep, so you don’t need stitches, but that’s a sensitive area. Watch for signs of infection, keep it clean, and take it easy for a few days,” Casey said, leveling a pointed look at Jake.
He grinned until his gaze dropped to my chest, then his jaw clenched ever so slightly. I caught the flash of lingering fear in his eyes and leaned my head close to his as Casey taped a square of gauze across the wound. Jake’s arm, strong and supportive, tightened around me when I winced slightly.
After dabbing once more at the tiny cut on my neck, Casey added, “This one’s already scabbing over, so I’ll just put a little bandage on it.
Make sure you keep it clean, smear a bit of this on it a few times a day.
” She applied the adhesive bandage and handed us a few tiny sample packs of antibiotic ointment.
Jake clasped her hand in gratitude and Casey pulled him into a swift hug. “Thank you, Casey,” he said quietly.
He looked exhausted, as though fear had etched lines of weariness into his skin. With our arms around one another, Jake and I stood to let Casey close the doors of the ambulance. Before leaving, she set a hand on each of our shoulders and squeezed.
“Take care of each other,” she told us, “and for god’s sake, text your family if you don’t want them all rushing over here. Sam’s going to want to hear it from you, not me. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, but if you need anything, just let me know. We’re here for you. For both of you.”
My eyes filled with tears of a different kind as I nodded my thanks, then we stood together at the end of the driveway to watch the ambulance pull away from the curb.
You’re one of us now. We take care of our own. We’re here for you.
It was like a litany of love, tangling around my heart like vines, blooming like the sweetest flower in my chest.
“Are you ready to talk to the chief?” Jake asked .
I could barely stand the thought of letting go of him, but the sooner I gave my statement, the sooner this nightmare would be over. “Yes. Milton is gone?”
“Carted away to be locked up. Good riddance,” he muttered.
Before we returned to the house, I buried my face against his neck. “I ruined your shirt,” I mumbled.
His soft laughter steadied me enough to draw back, then he cupped my face in his hands and gazed tenderly down at me. “I have others. You’re really okay?”
I nuzzled my cheek against his palm. “I’m really okay, Jake. I promise.”
“Nora, I’m ready for you,” the chief called from the front door.
Jake walked me over to the porch, pressed a warm kiss to my forehead, then sat down on the steps next to my father as I went inside with Chief Roberts.
It was time to lay this nightmare to rest.