But in the end, she was breathing.
Thank you, Jesus. I’ll serve you for the rest of my life.
The first EMT yelled. “Get her on the stretcher.”
That was the moment I realized I had been holding my breath.
Thank you.
I exhaled and inhaled for a few seconds, rushing after them. Another set of EMTs went for Pastor Miller. He’d been on the ground, bleeding through his chest.
I knew I would get heat for shooting him and didn’t care. If that bullet cost me my job, then let it be. He’d come close to killing Haven. He had misled his grandson to help him kidnap and suffocate little girls, destroying so many others’ lives in the process.
I hope you die before you get to the hospital, Pastor.
They carried Haven away on the stretcher.
I followed. I planned to stay with her for the rest of these days. I would not leave her side no matter who ordered it.
We made it outside. Chaos ensued. The fire truck did it’s best to block news vans, but they’d appeared and had their cameras flashing. This image would be on the news all over the nation this evening. Every channel would want to show it.
At least Mrs. Barron will know that Haven was found. I’ll have to call her as soon as we get to the hospital.
Deputies and agents swarmed the property. Some scattered into the woods. Others went into the church. A forensics truck arrived next. Surely, there would be tons of evidence from the Fullbrooke Six here.
Forgetting the SUV, I’d brought there, I rode in the ambulance with Haven, sitting right by her side and holding her hand.
The whole time I whispered to her, “I’ll never let you out of my sight. Do you hear me, Haven? You’re stuck with me now, whether you want it or not.”
She fluttered her eyes open. A weak smile spread across her face.
“Don’t you smile at me, Agent Barron.” I lowered and gave her a soft kiss on her forehead. “I almost had a heart attack today.”
She closed her eyes, but the smile remained on her face.
I squeezed her hand. “I love you, Haven. It might be too soon to say. . .but I love you.”
I didn’t know if she heard me. It didn’t matter if she did. I planned to tell her several more times in the next days.
Yes. I fucking love you.
For the rest of the ride, I didn’t take my gaze off her.
Every part of me yearned to yank her close and kiss those lovely lips. Hard and fast. I needed to plunge my tongue into her mouth. But the focus was making sure there was no more damage to her. I heard her scream before running into the church. She shouldn’t have been in the water for too long. But only God knew what had truly happened to her.
Did Pastor Miller torture her? Pushing her in and out of the water? Had he done more to her—mentally and physically?
Whatever had occurred could take a long time for her to heal—hours, days, weeks, months. It didn’t matter how much time she needed. Not even if it would take her years. I would stand by her side the whole time, loving and protecting her.
Soon the other agents would know about our relationship, even my father. It would be hard to hide with me remaining by her bed in the hospital. Nothing could get me to leave.
I’d told her earlier that we could hide our relationship.
I no longer agreed.
Everyone would know about us if I had to scream it out over and over myself. And then I would let the cards fall where they may.
While it wasn’t against the agency for us to date, it was highly frowned upon.
I no longer cared about any of that.
They can frown and grimace all they want. My father could bitch about it too. I won’t stop being with her. I can’t. I need her.
It could cost us our positions, and I would have no regrets.
Not one.
I fucking love her, and I won’t hide for anyone.
Chapter 37
Peace
Haven
I twisted back and forth, fighting Pastor Miller in my nightmare.
“The Lord is my light.” He shoved me down into the water.
“Fuck you!” I wasn’t tied up this time. I was free and ready to beat his ass. I slapped him.
He laughed and slapped me back. “The Lord is my light!”
“He’s not!”
“Get in that water!” He slammed me down into the baptismal pool.
I screamed in the water. Bubbles swarmed around me. I struggled, kicking my feet and splashing my hands. Fear squeezed her heart, a tight grasp that had me gasping. My heartbeat thudded in my ears.
I shot up in bed. “No!”
“Haven, everything’s all right.” Alexander pulled me close to him and held me. “I’m right here. Don’t worry. I’m right here, baby.”
My chest heaved back and forth. Sweat coated my flesh, making my t-shirt stick to my skin.
“I’m not there,” I whispered. Tears fell from my eyes. I held Alexander closer to me. “Oh my God. Damn it. I woke you again. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care about that.” He gently lay me back down, but never let me go.
I found comfort in his huge muscular arms. My body sagged into his hardened frame. For the past week, I’d taken strength from his protection and adoration.
As soon as I was allowed out of the hospital, Alexander took me away, put me in the car, and drove me out of Fullbrooke.
I widened my eyes. “Where are we going?”
He kept his grip on the steering wheel. “Far the fuck away from Fullbrooke.”
“But. . .I have to see my mother—”
“She’s at the airport, waiting for us.” He drove us onto the highway.
I put my seat belt on. “She’s at the airport?”
“Yeah. I bought her a plane ticket too.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Where are we going?”
“To a beach. Stein and I always go to an island after we finish a big case.”
“So, we’re going to the Caribbean?”
“No, that’s not far enough from Fullbrooke.”
I laughed. “Then, where?”
“Bali.”
“Wow.” I shook my head.
We flew out of Georgia and landed in Bali twenty hours later. It was a long flight, but the first-class area was filled with nothing but fun. Tina and Brett came along. In between sleeping, Mom chatted with them and made me laugh.
That had been a week ago.
Naturally, Bali was very different from Fullbrooke. It was sunshine and beauty. Dancing and fun.
The island was home to an ancient culture known for its warm hospitality. Mom, Brett, Tina, Alexander, and I toured exotic temples and palaces set against stunning natural settings. On romantic evenings, Alexander and I dined on exotic, local cuisine. On the beach, we sipped champagne and watched breathtaking sunsets.
One weekend, we met Brett and Tina at a club and jammed it up on the packed dance floor. There, I discovered that Alexander was quite the dancer, twisting and turning me eloquently with the beat. I could barely keep up.
Now it was the second week. We’d already ventured off with my Mom a few times to check out the towering volcanoes and pristine jungles.
Alexander disturbed me from my thoughts. “We should talk about your dream.”
Returning to our bedroom, I lay against his chest. “Oh God. I can’t believe I had the same dream again.”