Leaves crunched beneath feet. “You say that like I haven’t already given my life to my calling. I can’t walk away from this any more than you could fromyourcalling.”
The fuck was he talking about? Killing women was his calling? “Last chance. Put down the gun or I will shoot you—and I always shoot to kill.”
“Who’s to say it’s me who’ll die here, Joel?” More crunching of leaves. “I have faith on my side.”
“Yeah? And I have over a decade as a SEAL and four teammates who have access to my location.”
Zac’s voice suddenly sounded. “Put the gun down, Cox.Now.”
“You have no other option.” That was Connor.
Joel stepped out from behind the tree, pistol aimed.
Cox stood in his wet uniform, nose crooked and bleeding, aim shifting from Joel to Zac to Connor. Real fear flashed in his eyes.
Good. After everything this asshole had done, he deserved to be scared.
The deputy’s chest heaved, his gaze flickering…before finally, he dropped to his knees, the gun hitting the dirt.
It was a good choice to surrender. But then, Joel had really wanted a reason to shoot the guy.
Connor and Zac closed in on Cox while Joel turned back to Polly. She was pushing up to her feet, and he slipped an arm around her waist to take most of her weight.
“Is he?—”
“The guys have him,” Joel finished for her. “You’re safe now.”
Her eyes closed, air rushing from her chest. “Thank God.” Then she leaned into his chest, and he took a moment to just hold her. To let the reality that she was alive and safe really sink in.
30
Polly barely felt the nurse putting the stitches into her head. Her body was riddled with scrapes and bruises, some from the car crash, some from Cox and the river. She wasn’t in pain though. Part of that was the mild pain reliever she’d been given and the local anesthetic. But the other part was shock.
The night was a blur, even as every single minute was still etched deep into her brain. How that was possible she had no idea.
“Almost done,” the nurse said gently.
Joel inched closer. She sat on the side of the hospital bed, the nurse working behind her.
She’d almost died tonight. Almost…but hadn’t. She was alive, with only some stitches, a hell of a lot of bruises, and a mild concussion for her trouble.
Joel was silent. The stony kind of silent that made the room feel heavy and his body look hard.
Most of his team was in the hall outside the room, while Maggie and Ethan had ducked down to the cafeteria to get everyone coffee. Her best friend had brought her a clean set of clothes, but God, what she wouldn’t do for a shower.
“All done.” The nurse stepped back around the bed to face her. “All three cuts have been stitched. It’s important that you don’t get them wet for a while. They’re dissolvable though, so no need to have them removed. Has the doctor already discussed your concussion with you?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Good.” The nurse removed her gloves. “I’ll get your discharge paperwork, then you’ll be free to leave when you’re ready.”
The door closed behind her, and Polly looked up at Joel. “How are you doing?”
His jaw clenched. “I’m pissed. Really fucking pissed.”
She tugged him between her thighs. “I’m okay.”
“You were there, Polly. You were there in the cellar while I was in Bloom, and I just let that fucker lead me out of there.”
