It was my fault. The newspaper photo had brought Sarah back. Mary was the victim of her sick revenge.
I felt all the blood drain from my head down to my toes. The room spun. My hand shot to the floor to stop myself from falling, a sound like a wounded animal leaving my mouth as I sought Karson. But he was gone.
I rose to my feet and staggered to Mary. Sitting on the edge of the couch, I picked up her head and shoulders and tucked her to my chest.
I killed you. I killed you. I killed you.
“Mary,” I sobbed. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Her eyes stared straight at me. Eyes that used to reflect kindness and warmth were vacant of everything she was. The blood on her chest was still wet but cool.
She’d been killed not too long ago.
Karson was searching for her. There would be no negotiation now. If he found Sarah, he’d kill her.
Sounds of despair lifted my head—Ethan, Michael, and Monique stood in the doorway. A tear ran down Monique’s cheek. Kenneth appeared from behind and pulled her into his arms. Tough, indestructible Monique was crying.
Josh rushed in, his eyes widening in horror as he looked from Mary to the wall and back to Mary. He closed his eyes, blocking out the image, or trying to stop himself from crying.
“It’s my fault,” I whispered, my heart cracking with despair and guilt and pain. “It’s my fault.”
Strong hands around my chest lifted me up and twirled me around, holding me tight. “It’s not your fault,” Ethan murmured. “It’s not.”
I pressed my cheek against his hard chest and sobbed.
Michael had a blue throw rug in his hand. He laid it over her body and gently pressed her eyelids shut. His head bowed as he stroked her hair.
“She looks like she’s sleeping.” Josh’s voice broke.
If Josh was here, who was with Georgie? God, was that what Sarah planned? Panic seized my chest. I pulled out of Ethan’s arms. “Where’s Georgie?”
“She’s fine. Rodney is with her,” Josh answered, scrubbing at tears.
A relieved breath fluttered from a chest too tight to hold it. Rodney might be an asshole, but he was a lethal asshole and he’d protect her.
Ethan placed a pillow under Mary’s head and leaned down to kiss her forehead. He was crying as he whispered something into her ear. Then he lifted the blanket over her face.
I tore my gaze away as fresh sobs crashed through my chest, my eyes landing on a painted frame that read:A mother is the greatest gift on earth.
Mary was the greatest gift on earth.
Next to it was a white picture frame with a photo of her with her husband and son, all smiling.
I felt sick to the stomach.
“I will see if I can pick up her scent,” Monique’s voice cracked.
“No,” Michael said, the despair lifting, leaving in its place a flare of panic. “You need to go, you both need to go. If he comes back and he’s as furious as I know he will be—” Michael shook his head and didn’t finish.
I could barely believe what he was saying, to leave Karson at his darkest moment. I rasped, “I’m not leaving him.”
Ethan swung around. “Don’t be stupid, Amy, you need to leave until he calms down.” He took a step toward me.
“Come near me.” I raised my hands, anger curdling through the guilt and grief. “If any of you come near me, I will throw you out of the window.”
It wasn’t much of a threat. A trip out of the window wasn’t exactly going to hurt any of them. But Ethan hesitated anyway.
“Amy, please.” He drew in a thick breath and thrust his hand through his hair. “Don’t be stupid, just go for a few hours.”
I kept my palms up. “He won’t hurt me.”
