Olivia forced herself to look.She wouldn’t be a coward.Adam lay on his stomach with his head turned away from her and his hands zip-tied behind his back.“Is he alive?”
Nash tucked his arm around her.“He is.He’s got a shoulder injury that’ll hurt like hell, but he’s not dead.”
The growl in Nash’s voice had her leaning closer to him.“I’m glad you don’t have to live with his death.”
He turned, eyes serious.“I would have lived with it if it had been necessary.We’re trained to neutralize threats and that includes taking extreme measures to keep innocents safe.I would do anything required to keep you safe, Olivia.”
That had more tears coursing down her cheeks.Nash smiled softly and wiped them away.“No more tears, he’s not worth it.”
Gray moved closer and blocked her view of Adam.“Marcus is going to transport the asshole to Phail.He’ll have the doc patch up his shoulder while under guard.”
Olivia shuddered and Nash squeezed her.“Tell Marcus we’ll come in to give our statements after we check on the kids.”
And her knees wobbled again.“I didn’t even think to check on them.”
Gray smiled.“You were a little busy.I’ve talked to Amber.Everyone is good.Charlie wanted to come out and help, but she kept him there.They’re all good, but I think Charlie needs to see you both to believe it.”
Nash nodded.“I need to see him, too.All of them.”
Olivia couldn’t agree more.
They hurried to the farmhouse, and she didn’t spare Adam another glance, even when she heard him shouting for Mary Mae.“Do you think his mind snapped?”
Nash shrugged.“Sure sounds like it.Or maybe he was always skirting close to the edge of sanity.Sounds like he’s always had issues.The docs will figure it out while he’s in jail.”
And then Charlie flew down the porch steps and leaped at Nash.
Nash caught him easily and squeezed him tightly, making Olivia’s throat close with more tears.
Nash walked him up the stairs and kicked off his boots without letting go of his son, who was wrapped around him like an octopus.
Olivia kicked off her own boots and was relieved when Amber stood in the kitchen with Ella in her arms.“Mama.”
Olivia gulped and took her daughter into her arms.“My Ella Mae.I love you so much, Ella.”
And then Nash and Charlie wrapped their arms around them and the four of them stood as one.
“Mama.Lee.Na.Mama.”
The babble was punctuated with squeals of laughter and claps, making them all laugh.
When Nash set Charlie down, the boy turned to Olivia and hugged her and Ella.“I’m glad you’re okay, Olivia.”
“Thanks to your dad.He’s a hero, Charlie.”
“I know.”
The answer, so strongly and confidently said, brought more tears to her eyes.
She swallowed and kissed the boy’s hair.“You’re a hero, too.You kept Ella safe for me and got help.Then you helped keep Ella safe.I love you, Charlie.”
He lifted his eyes to grin up at her.“Good.I love you, too.Does this mean we get to be a real family?”
Olivia looked at Nash and found him grinning back at her.He ruffled his son’s hair.“Way to ruin my thunder, bud.But yes, we’re going to be a family.”
Charlie laughed.“You’re getting married?”
Nash leaned in and kissed her softly.“Will you marry me, Olivia?Marry us?”
