Page 176 of Capturing You

He hadn’t known whotheywere, but somehow, she had. And she’d known they were coming. And she’d escaped.

She’descaped.

He didn’t understand.

Now, he gripped her tightly, afraid that if he let go, she’d disappear again. All the bad things would happen again.

Except he wasn’t eight years old, and she wasn’t eighteen, and the killer lay face down in the dirt behind them.

He looked at the spot, just in case Leo decided to rise from the dead.

Apparently, that was a thing now, considering Rosie was here.

Forbes was confused and elated, and angry and brokenhearted. It was too many emotions for him to deal with.

Brooklynn’s hand slipped over his good shoulder an instant before she pressed something to the bleeding wound on his back. It hurt, but he didn’t care. She was safe and alive. Rosie was here?—

Nothing else mattered.

If he could just keep these two women close, right with him, forever, then all might be well.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE

Brooklynn pressed her sock over Forbes’s wound.

It seemed he’d all but forgotten he’d been shot. He was fixated on the woman in his arms.

Rosie. His sister, back from the dead.

There was going to be a story there. Brooklynn prayed they’d be around to hear it. She couldn’t help scanning the woods, fearing another enemy might pop out to shoot them.

But the cavalry had finally arrived. The lights of emergency vehicles, along with men’s shouts, told her they were safe now. Surely, any remaining enemies were hightailing it away.

“Brooklynn!”

The man’s shout had Forbes backing away from his sister. He twisted to look behind them. “Who was that?”

“I’m not sure.” And she wasn’t, but she had a feeling. “Rosie, can you hold onto this? Try to stop his bleeding? I’ll go see.”

“No, don’t.” Forbes reached to grab her, then winced. “Stay here where it’s safe.”

“It’s safe, Forbes.” Surely the entire Shadow Cove Police Department wasn’t crooked. And there were firemen and paramedics and EMTs.

She squeezed his opposite shoulder. “I’ll be right back.” She pushed to her feet and jogged through the forest to the edge of the yard.

Firemen aimed water at the house, but from where she stood, the old beauty was done for.

Her heart broke just a little to see the amazing structure, in the Ballentine family for over a hundred years, crumble in flames.

“Brookie!”

She turned in time to see Lenny running toward her. Her normal reaction to him was quickly squelched as he approached.

“Are you all right?” He looked her over, head to toe, then swiped a thumb across her cheek. “Is this soot?” His volume rose. “Were you in there?”

She kept herself from shrinking away from his touch and his raised voice. “I’m fine, Lenny.”

“What happened? Did he get you into this? Ford Baker? I ran a check, and that’s not even his real name, you know. He’s really?—”