“I am not the only one.”
He flinched a second before resolve hardened his eyes. “You will be the last. He will never get out. I promise you that.”
“That better be the one promise you keep for the rest of your life.”
Air whooshed out of his lungs in a deep sigh. He ground the heels of his hands into his damp eyes, then raked his fingers through his close-cut, silver-threaded brown hair. He gave her one last once-over, straightened his shoulders and spine, then walked out of her room completely poised and in control once more.
She seethed and grieved and hated with her broken heart as her never-ending tears fell and she tried to believe in the promise he’d made even as he carried out his self-serving agenda.
If he didn’t keep his promise, she wouldn’t keep her mouth shut.
And that made her a serious threat and him a very dangerous enemy.
Chapter Four
Brooke hadn’t been left alone since she’d been admitted. She knew what everyone was worried about. It worried her, too, that she so easily thought about ending it. What did she have to live for now?
In the back of her mind, a whisper said,A lot.
At the moment, it was hard to conjure something, anything that made her feel even a glimmer of hope that she wouldn’t feel this grief and loss and rage for the rest of her life.
They told her she was well enough to go home today.
Home.
The dorm? The ranch? Not with Cody and Kristi there. Where exactly was home?
She’d planned to make a home with her daughter in the apartment she was having set up for them. Now, she could care less about her plans for the future. What did they matter when her daughter was gone, the dreams and plans she’dmade nothing but fantasy, washed away by absence and aching sadness.
A knock sounded on the door.
The nurse who helped her shower, redress her wounds, and dress herself had left a few moments ago. The nurses usually gave a cursory knock before stepping in, but whoever was on the other side of the door waited for permission.
“Come in.” Was that her raspy voice? She remembered screaming and wailing when she found out her baby died. Until now, she hadn’t realized how much her throat ached.
Mindy Sue walked in with her father.
“You look better.” Mindy Sue tried to smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“No, I don’t.”
Mindy Sue held something clasped in her hands. A round silver box. It could be mistaken for a trinket or music box. But no. It held something more precious to Brooke than anything else in this world.
She held out her trembling hands.
Mindy Sue stepped forward to place the vessel in her hands and covered Brooke’s with hers. “I’m so sorry.”
Brooke clutched her daughter to her chest and broke down in wracking sobs.
Mindy Sue wrapped her in a tight hug.
Doug stepped forward and brushed his hand down her hair.
Brooke flinched from the contact, but he didn’t say anything and only brushed his hand over her head again, offering her comfort as the tears fell like rain.
She held the vessel to her chest, sniffled back her remaining tears, and stared up at him. “Please. I need to get out of here.”
Doug’s eyes filled with understanding. “The car is downstairs at a side entrance just in case there are any media out front. The nurse will be here with a wheelchair any moment.”
