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“Welp.” Brandon slapped his knees and stood. “Since you’re in good hands, I’ll get out of here.” He waltzed to the exit. “I’ll check in on you later.”

“Thanks, man. And watch your back.”

“Will do.” Brandon slipped from the room, leaving David alone with the pretty blue-eyed woman at his side.

“I didn’t mean to run him off.” She slid the chair closer and eased herself onto it.

“No worries. We were at a dead end anyway.”

She nodded. “I talked with Dr. Bennett a few minutes ago. He said they were letting you loose in a few of hours.”

“Hallelujah.” David didn’t want to spend another minute longer than he had to in the hospital.

“Not so fast there, tough guy. Doc said only if you had someone to stay with. He’s not ready for you to be alone until the ringing in your ears stops. He’s afraid you’ll fall. He doesn’t want to risk it.”

David closed his eyes. Who could he stay with? His parents were out of the question. Besides, he’d insisted they head home earlier that morning. “I’ll have to think on that.”

“Afraid for your mom and dad?”

Wow, the woman was perceptive. “You could say that. Brandon and I were just talking about who might want to kill me.”

Jennie’s breath hissed.

“Sorry. I tend to be blunt. I—”

“No, it’s okay. After everything that’s happened, I can see your point.”

“So, yeah, I’m not sure what I’ll do. I might just have to stay here. It might be safer for everyone if I did.”

She tapped her finger on her lips. “I have an idea.”

He quirked a brow. What kind of crazy scheme was the woman plotting. “I’m listening.”

“What about Aunt Emily?”

He jerked forward, regretting the movement. “Are you nuts?”

“Hear me out.” She clasped his hand through the bedrails. “Aunt Em has a great security system. Not to mention she’s only a few blocks from the police station. Plus, she likes you.”

He took care when he shook his head. “I don’t want her in danger.”

“David, please think about it. She’s feistier than she looks.”

He laughed then grabbed his ribs and moaned. “You think your aunt looks mousey? Not a chance. That woman is a force to be reckoned with.”

“So, you’ll stay with her?”

He needed a place to stay if he wanted to get out of here, but with the town’s favorite resident? If anything happened to the older woman, he’d have a death sentence for sure. He sighed. “Maybe. But only if she’s aware of the dangers.”

The smile on Jennie’s face lit up the entire room. “Fantastic. I’ll call her and let her know.”

What had he done?

Not only was he a target, he’d just agreed to put Miss Emily’s life in danger.

Father, forgive me.

***