His parents would be devastated.
Her eyes stung and her throat ached as she thought of all the heartbreak. No one should have to lose someone they loved in this kind of circumstance. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right.
As the emotion overwhelmed her, she slid down the shower wall onto the floor, hugging her knees to her chest and sobbed.
Stonefish had threatened too many people she cared for. They had to be stopped.
“Georgie, can I join you?”
Georgie shrieked at Matt’s voice and held a hand against her rapidly beating heart, her sobs evaporating in the shock. “How did you get in?”
“I used the key. Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Matt was here. He was safe. “He killed them all.” Georgie pulled the shower curtain open. Matt’s eyes widened at seeing her on the floor.
“Oh, honey.” He stepped into the shower, clothes and all, crouching next to her and pulling her into his arms. “Nhiari will catch him.” The tears began again as he held her, murmuring nonsense while he stroked her back.
It felt so good to be held and soothed by him, as if everything would be all right.
After a minute, she wiped her eyes and pushed her wet hair from her face. “Your clothes are wet.”
“They’ll dry.” He kissed her. “You want to talk about it?”
“Why shoot them all because the police were close?” she said. “Why didn’t he order them into the dinghy?”
“Because he knew we had photos. They’d be caught at some stage.”
“They must have known enough to identify him. Maybe we’re getting closer to the one in charge.”
“Maybe the police are getting closer,” Matt corrected. “We’re not chasing them remember?”
She sighed. “Yeah, I know.” She wanted Stonefish stopped but she understood the danger.
“Try to put it behind you.”
Easier said than done when she kept seeing Jerry’s dead body when she closed her eyes. She climbed to her feet.
“Do you still want to go out tonight?” Matt asked as he stripped off his wet clothes and wrung them out.
She shook her head. “Why don’t we get takeaway and stay at my place?” She’d be vulnerable in public and she didn’t want to stay here in case the man came after them. She’d protect her family any way she could.
“That works for me.” He took the soap and washed her back.
Now she just had to figure out how she could protect Matt too.
Chapter 19
Matt refused to let Georgie see how shaken he was. She needed him to be strong and he would be, but he kept replaying the moment the bullet had hit the ground just next to them. If Georgie had zigged instead of zagged it might have been her body he’d stared down on instead of Jerry’s.
His hand shook as he soaped her back, and he exhaled quietly to regain his control. They were both alive, uninjured, safe.
He’d do his best to ensure they stayed that way.
Darcy had taken him aside and told him he didn’t want Georgie on her own, a sentiment Matt heartily agreed with. He’d suggested Matt move in with her for a while. The station could manage with him working a few less hours.
It suited Matt perfectly, but Georgie wouldn’t like to be handled. Still after finding her sobbing in the shower, he might not have to work very hard to convince her it was a good idea.
As he handed Georgie her towel he asked, “How are you feeling?”
