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I shake my head. "No. I just want to get this over with."
He nods, and I continue. "I knew I was on my own, but I needed to know what the caller had to say, so I got out of my car and headed into the park.I had been walking for a few minutes when…"
"When what, Miss Anderson?”
“He was humming. That damn stupid lullaby. It made me stop and turn to look at him. I think my subconscious knew before I did, but I just stood there, and then he was stabbing me in the arm with a needle, and everything was just… gone. I don’t remember anything else until I was found.”
I think back to Valen digging the grave while I ogled his naked chest.
I didn’t think about what it would be like to wake up lying in the dirt, scared and without my memories. I couldn’t, or I never would have done it. When the time came, and Valen could see my fear, he picked me up and laid in that grave beside me, holding me tight as the drugs coursed through my body. He stared at me with love in his eyes until my thoughts clouded over and my eyes slipped closed.
I look at him and find his eyes on me now, dark and so full of pain. I made him live his worst nightmare to get us to this point, and yet he did it for me.
“Well, that explains how he got there so fast after the station received the anonymous call and dispatch put out the call to all officers in the area. He was already at the park.”
It was far more difficult in reality to make sure all the pieces aligned. We had to wait for Nathan to be close to the park for it to work which is why Valen had placed a tracker on his car.
“Hask finding you was part of his plan. He knew exactly where you were; finding you himself—having you in his arms—meant any evidence found on you relating to Hask could be explained away,” Valen says softly.
“You were fortunate, Miss Anderson. I know it might not feel like it, but you escaped a killer not just once but twice. You should know that we found Sono-d in both Hask’s blood and in one of the juice glasses at his house. My guess, he planned to finish what he started only you switching the drinks led to him unknowingly ingesting the drug himself.”
“But he only had a few sips,” I whisper clutching my throat.
“The glass was mostly empty. You lost track of him when he hit you and grabbed his gun. He likely consumed more then.”
“So if I’d hung on a little longer, he’d have passed out and I wouldn’t have had to shoot him?” I sob.
“No. You protected yourself in the only way you could. Don’t even doubt that. I’m not supposed to say this, but off the record, I’m glad that fucker is dead. It’s people like him that give cops a bad name.”
Agent Davis’s phone bleeps, making them both stand and offer me their hand. I take it timidly and watch as Valen does it much harder. I bite back a snort when I see Jones wince.
“We’ll call if we have any more questions. Take care of yourselves.”
Valen moves to see them out.
I get to my feet and head out the back door down to the beach and sit on the damp sand. It’s cold out, but I don’t care. I pull my knees to my chest and let my tears fall. The heavens open and cry right along with me, washing away my pain and torment.
I don’t know how long I sit there before I feel Valen sit behind me. He pulls me back into his chest, his arms wrapping tightly around me. His warmth seeps into my skin as his body protects me from the worst of the elements.
For as long as I can remember, this man has been my shield against the world. He’s watched me break over and over again, and yet, instead of trying to fix me, he fell in love with all my broken parts.
“How does it feel to finally be free, baby?” he murmurs into my ear.
I turn and look up at him, ignoring my tears and the rain. “Light. I don’t think I ever realized just how heavy it felt to carry around so much… baggage. Now, because of you, I feel like I can fly.”
Epilogue
Rue
Isit on the bench and let the sun warm my face, smiling when Casper’s giggle reaches my ears.
I look over at my son playing with our six-month-old chocolate labs, Reggie and Ronnie, and feel my heart swell with pride. At three years old, he’s the double of his father, from his dark hair to his darker eyes. He even has the same secretive smile.
I have to say, though, personality-wise, he’s all me.
“He’s adorable. How old is he?”
I turn to look at the woman I sat down next to. She’s pretty, blonde, fit, and obviously watches what she eats to keep herself looking that way. Unfortunately for her, the lines around her eyes and mouth are reminders that age is unstoppable. Unless, of course, you’re Cher or Dolly.
