“Did he get away?”
“He pushed me down the stairs and ran out. I have no idea where he went.”
“Well, I’ll run interference with the police. Get in your car but stay here.” Bill headed over to the officer.
Ezreal slid into the driver’s seat.
“Yes, Ezreal’s here. He saved me.” Sara reached out to take his hand, her eyes brimming with tears. “I don’t know where we’ll stay tonight.”
“You’ll stay at my house. I have plenty of room.”
“Are you sure?”
“As sure as I am that I love you and your kids.”
Sara’s voice caught, and her grip tightened. “Yes, Janna, Ezreal said he loves us.”
Through the phone he could hear the little girl repeating it to Brand. After their mother had calmed them down, she ended the call.
“You don’t have to take us in,” she said.
“It’s where you belong anyway.” Ezreal met her gaze, his physical hurts forgotten. “I’m sorry I scared you earlier.”
“It wasn’t you. When you raised your voice with that boy— You’d never done that before.” Sara closed her eyes. “It brought back memories. Terrible memories. I freaked out.” She looked at him. “I can’t believe you ran into a burning house for me.”
“That’s what you do when you love someone,” Ezreal said, being careful that in his firmness he didn’t raise his voice, now that he understood what could trigger a negative response. “I’d like us to be a family, Sara.”
“After the way I flipped out on you today, aren’t you worried I’m damaged goods?”
The open and vulnerable look on her face twisted Ezreal’s gut. He kept her hand in his. “If you are, then so am I. But you’re filling my cracks. That’s why I want to marry you. You make me a better man.”
Sara stilled. “You really still want to marry me?”
“More than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life.”
“What about Landon?” She asked, her voice soft.
“I think he’s shown enough of his true character now that he should be locked up for a very long time. He might even be unbalanced.”
Sara shuddered, and Ezreal wished his car had bench and not bucket seats, so he could hold her.
“Please think about it,”
She blinked as though she were trying to understand what he was talking about.
“About marrying me.”
“You’re serious.” Her tone was now wondering.
“Serious as a heart attack.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Bill said, giving a light tap on the door, “but the officer is ready to take your statements.”
Ezreal tried to jump out his side, but he was moving like an old man. By the time he got out, Bill had already opened Sara’s door.
“Did they catch him?” she asked.
“Nothing yet,” the policeman said from nearby, “but we don’t think he can get far since we have his car. We called in some extra men to search the woods and check the surrounding houses.”
