Heart heavy, he went through the motions. The police and emergency personnel arrived within minutes and then there were statements to give, questions to answer. After dealing with the police and the interrogation, Colton also was exhausted. Still, he called the newspaper to make sure Floyd was all right. The man’s cranky disposition improved when Colton promised him the scoop on the story of the year.
Still unconscious, Bettina was loaded into the ambulance and rushed off to Parkland Hospital, and the two guards’ bodies were taken to the morgue. Though Colton had relinquished his gun to the police for ballistics tests, it was obvious from the bullets that Bettina had killed both men.
Finally, the crime-scene unit finished their investigation, though they’d been puzzled about the dead wolf. Colton had claimed it had been a vicious guard dog, which had torn out Roy’s throat. He told them the dogs had run away.
Once all that was over, the police left him alone.
Wrung dry and exhausted, Colton wondered about Jewel. Aching, he tried to figure out where she might have gone. What hurt the most was knowing she hadn’t even given them a chance. How could he fight for her if she ran away?
He had no idea where to even begin looking. With Leo dead, perhaps she’d go home, back to New York and that town where she’d grown up.
Because Colton couldn’t guess, he decided he’d head home to the lake and try to sort things out.
When he reached the Jeep, his heart stopped.
There. Jewel. Asleep in the back. A little bedraggled with her tattered and bloodstained dress, but unhurt and breathing. All woman.
Joy flooded him, so fierce and deep he couldn’t breathe. He felt as if he’d been granted a miracle, as if a hopelessly impossible dream had been allowed to finally come true.
Moving carefully so he wouldn’t wake her, he climbed in the front seat and started the engine.
She raised her head and looked at him, fatigue making circles under her sleepy eyes. “Colton?”
“Go back to sleep,” he told her, smiling.
“Where are we going?”
He smiled tenderly. “Home. I’m taking you home.”
“No.” Pushing herself up to a sitting position, she frowned. “We need to talk.”
“Later.” He gave a meaningful glance back toward the warehouse. One police cruiser still remained, the officers inside finishing up. “It’s a forty-five-minute drive back to the lake. Let’s go there and get some rest first.”
Though she still looked uncertain, she finally nodded. Climbing into the front seat, she fastened her seat belt and stared straight ahead. Ten minutes into the drive, she fell back asleep, snuggling into the seat. Eventually, her head came to rest on his shoulder, and he was content.
Rarely done, changing twice in one day had wiped Jewel out. Though she wanted to stay awake—needed to stay awake and settle things with Colton—the multiple changes and the fight had taken their toll. When sleep claimed her for the second time, she hoped she wouldn’t dream.
Too often in her life she had dared to dream, only to have her hopes crushed.
“Jewel, we’re here.” His voice, Colton’s. The man she’d come to love despite all the odds against them. Struggling, she tried to open her eyes, failing completely.
She felt him release her seat belt. When he lifted her in his arms and set her feet on the ground, she fought to gain energy to keep from crumpling in a boneless heap on the grass.
Wobbly legged, she succeeded.
He cradled her against his chest, supporting her, letting her lean on him as they made their way into his house. She listened to his heartbeat, strong and steady under her cheek, and tried to imagine life without him.
A wolf without a mate. She supposed that was only fitting. She’d already lost her Pack. An outsider probably should get used to being alone.
Only thing was—she didn’t want to.
She wanted Colton. She wanted it all.
Colton helped her to the couch, worrying that her injuries were more severe than they appeared. She didn’t wake again, and he covered her with a blanket and let her sleep, taking the chair near her side.
The calls started coming in the next morning. ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and CNN—all the networks left messages on his machine. They all wanted exclusives with Jewel, thanks to Floyd and his big mouth.
Colton ignored them, waiting for her to awaken.
