Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Earl tries to lunge for his weapon again, but Thor decks him with a single massive punch. He collapses like a rag doll, hitting the floor with a thud that rattles the furniture. Vega rushes in to secure him, pinning Earl’s arms behind his back, wrestling him into restraints.
Meanwhile, I sprint across the room to Aubree. She’s shaking, eyes wide with disbelief. “Boone?” she whispers, voice raw and quivering.
I drop to my knees beside her, fumbling with the ropes. My hands won’t stop shaking. “I’m here. It’s okay.” My heart twists at the sight of raw chafing around her wrists and ankles, the tear tracks on her cheeks. She gasps, tears welling again.
One of the knots is tight, so I grab a knife from my belt and carefully slice through the rope. “It’s all right,” I murmur, more to myself than her. “You’re safe now.”
Her hands come free, and I gather her into my arms, crushing her against my chest. She sobs once, then grips me like a lifeline, burying her face in my shoulder. Relief washes over me in a dizzying wave, and for a heartbeat, I close my eyes, letting her warmth steady me. She’s alive. She’s here.
In the background, I hear Thor’s voice. “Suspect is secure. Good job, guys.”
Garrett hustles in from the front, rifle at the ready. He does a quick sweep of the room. “Clear,” he announces, stepping over debris.
I pull back slightly, cupping Aubree’s face to check for injuries. Her lip is cut, probably from a fall, and her wrists are raw, but otherwise, she seems unharmed. “Does anything else hurt?” I ask, voice trembling with concern.
She shakes her head, tears spilling anew. “Just—my arms, my legs… I’m okay. You came.”
“Of course I came,” I whisper, pressing a trembling kiss to her forehead. “I’ll always come for you.”
She lets out a shaky exhale, trying to form words. “He—He said nobody would find me. I was so scared.”
I tuck her hair behind her ear, leaning my forehead against hers. “He’s done,” I promise, feeling the raw edge in my own voice. “He’ll never hurt you again.”
Behind us, Earl groans, pinned face down on the floor while Vega cuffs his wrists. Thor looms over him, muttering something about how lucky he is we didn’t shoot. The battered old TV flickers with some infomercial, bizarrely oblivious to the drama unfolding.
Finally, I help Aubree to her feet, keeping an arm around her waist. She’s unsteady, leaning heavily against me. I glance at Thor, who nods. “Let’s get her out of here.”
We guide her outside, into the crisp night air. The men drag Earl—cuffed and bleeding from a split lip—along behind us. Daniels carries his confiscated pistol in a plastic evidence bag. My chest still pounds, but every breath feels like a gift now that I’m holding Aubree. She trembles, and I adjust my grip to support her better.
We move away from the cabin, stepping through the pine needles until we reach our vehicles. Garrett takes point, scanning the trees for any signs of an accomplice, but it looks like Earl was alone. Good. No more surprises.
At my truck, I open the passenger door and help Aubree inside. She winces, holding her wrists gingerly. “We’ll get you to a hospital,” I murmur. “Check for sprains. Then you can rest.”
She blinks, tears still clinging to her lashes. “Thank you,” she whispers, voice trembling. “You saved my life.”
My throat tightens. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner,” I say, brushing my knuckles against her cheek. “I should’ve been there to stop him in the first place.”
She chokes back a sob, lacing her fingers through mine. “Don’t,” she manages. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”
I press my forehead to hers, inhaling the scent of her hair, letting relief course through my veins. Around us, my team loads Earl into another vehicle, presumably to hand him off to the cops. Thor and Garrett coordinate on the phone with Dean, letting him know the situation is resolved. But all I can focus on is Aubree—her breath against my neck, her grip tight as if she’s afraid I’ll vanish.
“I promise,” I murmur, tears burning my own eyes, “I’m not letting go of you again.”
She just nods, leaning into me, and for a moment, we remain locked in that quiet pocket of relief. The hush of the forest wraps around us, broken only by distant chatter from the men. In the end, all that matters is that she’s here, safe in my arms.
Tomorrow, we’ll deal with the aftermath—police statements, hospital checks, a thousand questions. But tonight, I’ll hold her close, knowing we made it out alive. And as I help her buckle in, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple, I vow never to leave her side again.
Chapter 34
Aubree
I’m sitting on a stiff hospital bed, an ice pack resting gingerly on my sprained wrist, and I can’t stop staring at Boone. He’s perched on the narrow chair in the corner, arms folded across his broad chest, gaze fixed protectively on me. Every so often, a nurse passes by the open door, and Boone’s head swivels, as if expecting a threat to jump out of the hallway. It makes me smile, even though the day’s terror still clings to my nerves.