Turning, she saw Dr. Reese roll from the bundle beneath her. Blood seeped from her chest as she clung to the quilt. Rebecca shot forward, pressing on the woman’s chest.
Dr. Reese grabbed her hand. “They kidnapped my daughter and me because they needed a doctor,” she said, struggling to breathe. “My husband found us and they shot him. She has no one else. Please take care of her for me. Thank you for protecting her when I couldn’t. Please forgive me.” Her eyes went to the blanket. Rebecca peeled the blanket back to see a mass of blonde curls. Her heart lurched, and a sob escaped her throat as a pair of big blue eyes stared back at her.
“Becca,” Megan cried as she reached for her.
Rebecca sobbed as she picked up the fragile child, tugging the quilt from her tiny frame. Turning her away from the sight of the bleeding doctor, Rebecca glanced back at the woman she considered sick. It appeared she was a survivor, too. Dr. Reese smiled gratefully at her and slipped away.
Julio rose unsteadily with Jameson’s help and surrounded them. Rebecca met his gaze with tears in her eyes. She turned back to Dr. Reese, not sure whether the woman would ever know, but she said the words, releasing the physician of any guilt. “I forgive you, and I’ll keep her safe.”
Julio plucked Megan from her arms, and they walked away from the scene. Megan clung to his neck, repeating, “Becca, Julio came for me.”
She soothed her as Julio placed them in their vehicle. Jameson drove them to the airport and planned to return for Matthew and Julio as they made provisions for the survivors and gathered more evidence.
Rebecca entered the plane and found a washcloth to clean Megan’s tear-streaked face. “Don’t leave me,” the little girl pleaded.
“Never,” she promised.
“I love you, Becca,” Megan sniffed as she crawled onto Rebecca’s lap and placed her head on her shoulder.
“Love you, more,” she whispered, meaning it with all her heart.
Two hours later, the men boarded the plane and smiled as they found a sleeping Rebecca holding Megan. Their heads touched as a blanket covered them.
“It appears you have a new friend,” Matthew whispered, not wanting to wake the pair.
“No,” Julio said as he glanced lovingly at the two females. “You’re looking at my new family. We’ll go over the particulars later, but Dr. Reese gave me a drive with all her patient files and their last known locations. It appears we have more work to do. Jameson, I believe you’ll find Caroline’s information on there.”
Jameson grabbed the drive and sat at the table, eagerly scouring the records.
Rebecca opened her eyes and smiled as Julio’s met hers.
“Dr. Reese protected her daughter,” Rebecca informed him. “She asked me to watch over her.”
“Yes. She knew me on sight. Apparently, you never stopped believing I’d come for you. She hoped you might feel the same way about Megan,” Julio said with pride.
“How do you feel about expanding our family when you haven’t made love to your future wife yet?” she asked doubtfully as she bit her bottom lip.
He tilted her chin upward and whispered, “Some things are worth waiting for. We’ll take as long as you need.”
Rebecca smiled, and her eyes appeared watery as she drifted back to sleep, holding Megan close. Too realistic to think no one would hurt either of them again, Rebecca would teach her that they were survivors and, most importantly, fighters. Julio claimed he’d burn the world down to get to Rebecca, and nowMegan would grow up knowing Julio and she would do the same for her.
EPILOGUE
Nine Months After the Rescue
Rebecca sat in the chair on the balcony watching Julio and Megan play.
“Higher,” the little girl squealed as he pushed the swing.
“All right, are you ready?” he called out, spreading his arms wide.
Rebecca held her breath as Megan let go of the ropes and jumped into Julio’s arms. He pretended to fall on the ground and tickled her with the scruff along his jaw.
Megan erupted into laughter, making Rebecca smile. The haunted little girl came out of her shell a little more each day. Surrounded in the safety of a loving home and more protective uncles than a girl needed, Megan thrived. Her weight improved with each weekly check-in. The nightmares lessened. When she experienced a bad night, Julio or Rebecca slept on the floor beside Megan’s bed, always letting her know they’d be there in the darkness to chase away the monsters.
Rachel entered the balcony and smiled at the scene. “He’s totally in love with her,” she said wistfully. “What time do you want me and Matthew to pick her up for movie night? Kara’s meeting us there with her folks.”
“How about four? It’ll give me time to get dinner prepped.”
