“We are. There’s still a long legal battle tied to us, and even though Eric is injured, he’s still alive. Help me look after Zoe, and I’ll help you look out for Lauren.”
Anthony was right. They’d stirred up a hornet’s nest. How many were still swarming out there?
Zach reached out with his left hand. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
Anthony shook the offered hand. “I might also need help remembering how to live a normal life.”
“That’s funny. When has anything ever been normal for us?”
Anthony smirked. “You’re right, but we need to figure out how to be law-abiding citizens.”
Zach rested his head back as the exhaustion pulled him down. “Just watch Lauren and do what she does.”
There was a knock at the door, and Lauren peeked her head in. “Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you two were still talking.”
Anthony waved her in. “We were just talking about you.”
“I don’t think Zach wants to hear embarrassing stories about me as a kid.” She gave Anthony’s shoulder a little shove, but her smile was genuine and easy.
“I don’t have any embarrassing stories about you. You’ve been as good as gold since you were born.”
Lauren shook her head and mouthed to Zach, “Not true.”
Anthony stood and wrapped Lauren in a hug. “Thanks for everything. Mr. Benson is coming to get Zoe and me, so I better head out.”
“You don’t have a car?” Lauren leaned out of the hug to face him.
“I do, but it’s being held for investigation right now. Officer Scott said he’d let me know when it’s released.”
“Okay. I’ll call later to check on you and Zoe,” Lauren said.
Watching her interact with the person she’d been missing for years was enough to make the pain worth it. He’d never seen her so happy, and he’d do it all again if she got to reunite with her family.
When Anthony left, she turned to Zach and reached into her pocket. “I brought you something.” She pulled out a Snickers bar and waved it in front of him.
His mouth instantly watered. “You’re an angel.”
She opened the wrapper and held it out to him. “I love you.”
Man, he’d never get tired of hearing that. Loving Lauren and being loved by her was a gift he’d never deserve, but it was the highlight of his life.
He bit off the first chunk and let his head fall back as the chocolate satisfied every ache. “This is amazing.”
She sat on the bed beside him. “I thought I’d lost you,” she whispered.
He swallowed the first mouthful and lifted the candy bar for another. “It’ll take more than that to get rid of me.”
She brushed a hand over his chest where the bandage covered the wound. “You put yourself in front of a bullet to save someone I love.”
Zach lowered his hand. In the moment, he hadn’t seen another option, but the old Zach would have saved himself and wouldn’t have worried about anyone else. The truth was as plain as black and white. “I’d do anything for you. You’ve changed me for the better.”
Tears glistened in her eyes, and she gently wiped at them with a finger. “We’ve got a long road ahead of us.”
Taking her hand, he threaded his fingers with hers. “We can do anything, as long as we’re together.”
Epilogue
ZACH
