He looked at her, but his eyes were unfocused.
She ripped off her jacket and pressed the cloth to his wound. It wasn’t absorbent, though. She yanked off her sweater, thankful she’d worn a T-shirt underneath. She pressed the sweater to his wound.
He winced but didn’t say anything. He was staring straight ahead.
“Noah?” She got in front of him and met his eyes. “What hurts? What can I do?”
He looked confused, and fresh fear filled her. Was he not okay? Had the bullet done terrible damage? Was she missing a wound?
Then, his hand lifted, and he pressed it to her cheek. “You’re hurt. Are you all right?”
“Yes, yes.” Tears filled her eyes until she could hardly see past them. “I wasn’t the one who was shot.”
“Oh.” Now, he reached up and touched the fabric she held to the wound. “It hurts.”
“No kidding.” A laugh bubbled out, relieved and hysterical. “You were shot. In the head.”
“Just grazed me, I think. What happened to you?”
“Nothing.” But she remembered her own head wound and the blood she’d felt. “I’m fine, thanks to you and Jasper.”
That confused look was back, and then he looked past her to his brother. “Jaz?”
She turned too.
Jasper had bound Violet’s hands behind her back with his belt. She was lying face down on the floor, sobbing.
Jasper knelt beside her, head bowed, shoulders heaving.
“Hey.” Noah tried to stand.
Delaney gently pressed down on his shoulder. “Hold the bandage in place.” He did, and she stood and laid her palm on Jasper’s back. “Everyone’s okay. It’s okay.”
He looked up at her, and all the terror he’d hidden when he was talking to Violet was displayed in his face.
“You did it, Jasper,” she said. “We’re safe. Everyone’s safe.”
He swiped at his eyes, then looked beyond her. “Hey, little bit. Come here.”
Charlotte looked at him for a long moment.
And then she ran to Noah.
He welcomed her as she plopped down on his lap, snuggled up against him, and popped her thumb in her mouth. Noah kissed her head and murmured something to her that Delaney couldn’t make out.
When he looked at his brother, his expression spoke of guilt, as if it were his fault she’d chosen him.
But Noah had loved Charlotte well and made her feel safe. And Jasper…hadn’t.
Jasper didn’t say anything, just stood and walked into the kitchen. A moment later, the door opened and slammed.
“He’ll be okay.” Delaney sat beside Noah and stroked Charlotte’s hair. “He’s just overwhelmed.”
“I know how he feels.”
The door opened again, and Jasper returned. He held Violet’s gun, aimed at the floor. “I’m gonna empty this into a tree stump so the cops find us. Didn’t want you to think I’d offed myself.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Noah said.
