She bent forward and took off one shoe.“Put away the gun.I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere,” she said, not looking at him.
Slowly, she bent down to take off the other shoe while looking at Stephen from the corner of her eye.He played with the gun for a few seconds, but then put it in his pocket.
“Just don’t try anything,” he said and turned slightly to scan the area.
This would be her only chance.Hannah grabbed her shoe and clutched it tightly in both her hands.Stephen moved his feet so his back was turned in her direction.This was it.With all the built-up anger inside of her, she brought down the sharp heel, aiming it straight at the back of his head.
*
Darryn jogged aroundthe building and froze.
About few feet in front of him was White and a woman.It took his stunned brain a few seconds to realize it was Hannah.She was wearing a hoodie and was still dressed in a short, tight dress she had probably been wearing for the shoot.
But what turned his blood to ice was what she was doing.Her gaze was on White’s back, and she was clutching something in her hands.As he watched, she lifted her arms.She wanted to clobber him with it!
“Is that Hannah?”Dale’s incredulous voice came from behind him.
His feet were moving before he knew what he was doing.He had to get to Hannah, had to help her.He raced forward, bellowing her name.White turned around to face him at the same moment Hannah’s arms moved and she brought whatever she was holding down on White’s head.
For a split second, White stared at him, a stupefied expression on his face before he swore and grabbed his head.He staggered away.
Stunned, Darryn stared at Hannah.Her eyes were bright, her chin held high.She was gloriously, magnificently, beautifully angry.
“What a woman,” he murmured, gave one more stride, and then Hannah was in his arms.
“Hannah.”He breathed, holding her shaking body tightly against him and losing his heart, his body, his soul, his very being all over again.
Behind him, his two other brothers, who had apparently also just arrived, were talking excitedly.To his right, policemen were grabbing White, but Darryn didn’t turn around, didn’t move an inch.
He had his whole world in his arms, and he didn’t know whether he would ever be able to let her go.
Chapter Fifteen
“Well, from nowon, I’ll have more respect for these killer heels,” Don teased, picking up the shoe Hannah had brought down on White’s head.
Hannah inhaled sharply.“I didn’t kill him.”
“I know.”Don smiled and patted her back.“I’m just teasing.You’re part of a clan of strong women,” he said, putting his arm around his wife.
David pulled Dana closer.“I’m proud to say I’m also married to one of those, even if she isn’t a Sutherland.You should have seen my wife when her life was in danger.”
“Yeah, yeah, you’ve told that story so many times we all know about the flower pot she was going to use to clobber him with,” Dale teased.
“Is the guy who tried to attack her still in jail?”Don asked.
Darryn pulled Hannah close to him, tuning out the rest of the voices.After White had been taken into custody, he’d brought Hannah back to his house.Everyone else followed them here, and the story had to be told over and over again.And as much as he loved his family, he would have loved it even more if they all left right now.He wanted, no, heneededto be alone with Hannah.
“So it’s really over?”Hannah’s mother asked and sat down next to them on the couch.
“It’s really over.”Hannah smiled and leaned forward to hug her mom.“Stephen is in custody; there will probably be a trial at some point, but I’m not going to think about that now.”
Her mother clutched her hand even tighter.“He obviously went completely off the rails at the end.I’m just so happy nothing happened to you.Are you sure you’re okay?Don’t you think you should talk to someone about this whole thing?”
Hannah shook her head.“I’m trying not to dwell on what happened, but rather be thankful I’m here and I’m safe.And, you’re right, I don’t think Stephen was thinking rationally toward the end.According to the police, he’s had psychiatric problems since his teens, that whole thing of wanting to be like Darryn, for instance.The fact that I got him fired fueled whatever anger he has been carrying inside him all along.I was the final ‘thing’ he didn’t want Darryn to have.”
“I suppose one should feel sorry for him, but he wanted to hurt my little girl,” her mother said, hugging her close.
“I’m fine now, Mom.I know you can’t wait to go back to your writing again, so don’t worry about me.I really am all right.When are you starting a new story?”Hannah asked, hoping to get her mother’s attention focused on something else.
