Cap crossed the bridge and hung a left onto County U. He drove for about ten minutes and then paid particular attention to concealed driveways. The first driveway he tried led to a home. He backed out. The second driveway dead-ended not too far from the road. He skipped the third driveway because he could see the house from the road. Then he saw it—a narrow drive curving into the woods. An old shed came into view. The nose of Jonathan’s brown truck stuck out from inside.
The driver’s door flew open, and Emma hopped out and ran toward him. He was barely out of his truck when she flung herself into his arms. Her small arms locked around him tighter than he had imagined possible.
Sobs shook her body. He tightened his grip.
“It’s okay. You’re okay now. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
Her silky strands of hair brushed his fingers as he gently ran his hand up and down her back.
The sobs gradually eased. She pulled back slightly but didn’t let go. Her red-stained eyes and flushed cheeks nearly split his heart in two. The last thing he wanted was for this woman to be scared or in danger.
Those beautiful eyes of hers pleaded for him to find a way to end the madness. He released his arms from around her and cupped her warm cheeks in his hands, swiping the moisture away.
“I won’t let anything happen to you, but you need to stay with me. Why did you leave?”
Her eyelids lowered in shame.
He hadn’t meant to scold her.
“Emma, I can’t keep you safe if I don’t know where you are, is all.”
She refocused on him.
“I’m so sorry. Jonathan had a gun.”
“Where did he get a gun? And how did he know where to find you?” Her eyes watered again. “I don’t know.”
So, she hadn’t gone voluntarily.
His mind raced with questions, but if she didn’t know where the weapon came from or how Jonathan found her, she probably didn’t learn the details leading to his survival. He’d ask for more information when she calmed down a bit and could think more clearly.
“You are such a good person,” she whispered.
His heart melted.
She stretched up on her toes, and he leaned in, pressing his lips ever so lightly to hers. The jolt to his heart was stronger than he’d expected. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. Since the moment his fiancé had dumped him, he’d vowed to never allow himself to trust on that kind of level again, yet this simple kiss just now had him wondering if he shouldn’t go down that path again, and with a woman he hardly knew. What was he thinking? He shouldn’t be kissing her—a vulnerable, frightened woman in distress—a jilted bride. If he were still on the police force, this would be forbidden, but he wasn’t. Still, he didn’t want to take advantage of her when she was so vulnerable.
He released her and stepped back.
“We need to get to the station. The chief is waiting for us. We need to get you into a safe place while the police sort this out.”
“What about Jonathan’s truck?”
“Grab what you need from it, and the sheriff’s department can pick it up later.”
He walked with her to the truck, where she retrieved her handbag and phone.
“I’m so glad my texts went through. Reception here is terrible.”
“Yeah, it always is.”
Cap noticed the broken glass from the passenger window.
“What happened?”
“They shot at me and…Jonathan,” her voice cracked.
“He’s at the hospital.”
