Page 129 of Mended Fences

Seconds later, backup pulled in. Medics rushed inside.

But my gut? It followed him.

“Dispatch,” I snapped, already back in my cruiser, engine roaring. “I’m in pursuit.”

And then I said the one thing I’d never thought I’d have to say. “Add Chase Everton to the BOLO. I’m not arresting him. I’m saving his damn life.”

Chapter Forty-Nine

ELENA

Now, May 2025

I cameto with someone shouting.

No—talking. Close. Calm but urgent.

“Pupils equal and reactive… pulse strong… let’s get a C-collar on, prep for transport.”

My eyes fluttered open, and all I could see was light. Harsh, sterile, wrong.

Then blurry shapes came into focus.

Paramedics. Kneeling over me. One was bracing my neck. Another was shining a penlight into my eyes.

I tried to sit up and immediately regretted it.

“Hey, whoa—easy.” A medic I vaguely recognized from the hospital caught my shoulder. “You took a hit to the head, you’ve got a laceration and possible concussion. Just breathe, okay?”

“Where’s my baby?” The words tore out of my throat. “Where’s Chase?”

I looked around—trying to sit up again, this time refusing to be stopped. The nursery was a war zone. Splintered door. Blood on the rug. One of the paramedics slipped in it and cursed under his breath.

And standing in the doorway?—

Tessa.

Her face was blotchy, eyes wide, mouth tight like she was holding it together by sheer force of will. She rushed to my side and dropped to her knees.

“Elena,” she whispered, grabbing my hand. “You’re okay. You’re safe. I’m here.”

“Where’s Luci?”

Tessa looked down.

My chest cracked open.

“Oh my god,” I whispered. “He took her.”

Tessa nodded, her lips trembling. “Andy’s chasing after them. Roadblocks are up.He’ll bring them back.”

My head throbbed. My stomach rolled. But none of it hurt as much as the thought of Lucía in his arms. I blinked back tears, trying to force logic into the space where fear was devouring me whole. “Chase—he was shot. How bad?”

No one answered.

I turned my head, slowly, and found Elliot, Emma, and Jay standing just inside the room. Pale. Silent. Avoiding my eyes.

That told me everything.