Sophia wrapped her arms around his waist. “I was so scared, but you saved me.”
He hugged her tightly. “You think I would ever let you go? I’d do anything for you, Soph.”
“I know—” She hiccupped. “But he wanted us to die. We shouldn’t have gone with him. But he was Sam’s friend.”
“You had no way of knowing.” He pulled back and looked his niece in the eyes. “This is not your fault. Do you understand me?”
She nodded as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I love you, Uncle Liam.”
“I love you too. We’re okay. Sam is going to be okay. God protected everyone.” He pulled her in tight.
Sam would be admitted since she already had a concussion and wasn’t supposed to have left in the first place. Bella was cleared for release.
Liam was glad that he and Sophia had been put in a room next door to Sam and Bella. He spent his time going back and forth between the rooms.
Supervisor Howard showed up with Stanton in tow. They took everyone’s statements and headed back to the office to question Dean.
Liam hadn’t had a chance to talk to Sam about everything that had occurred. This had to be extremely rough for her. Dean was a friend and a respected firefighter. The frantic search for Sam and the girls tonight had made Liam realize that Sam and Bella meant so much more to him than he had ever thought they would. He didn’t know what the future held as far as a relationship with Sam went, but his heart had crossed the line, and there was no way he would be able to reel it back. He had some very important decisions to make.
His life and his career were on the line.
TWENTY-FOUR
Sam lay in another hospital bed, surrounded by the smells of antiseptics mixed with smoke. Bella curled into her side. Safe. Sam stroked her hair. “Bella, you don’t have to keep anything from me, you know that, right?”
“I was scared.” She sniffled.
“I know you were, but whatever it is, we can deal with it together. From now on, come to me right away. Okay?”
“Okay.” She nodded.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
As they settled into silence, Sam’s thoughts turned to Liam. He’d come for them. Saved them despite being injured. He’d risked his life for them. Then, when it was all said and done, he had bounced between her room in the emergency department and his own. Checking on everyone. Not to mention he had his own wounds to deal with.
Dean had done a number on him. First with the knife wound and then the punch to the face.
Her stomach roiled at the thought of Dean. She couldn’t wrap her mind around everything. Her friend, brother, was theone responsible for kidnapping her sister and trying to kill them both. Not to mention everything else that had gone on. The laundry list of crimes Dean was responsible for was most likely growing as they sat here.
Sophia was curled up on the couch, asleep. Out cold now.
Liam had come and gone from the room a few times. Each time he entered, his eyes softened when their gazes connected, and heat consumed her stomach. This man was her hero. He’d saved her and her sister at great peril to himself.Thank youwould never be enough.
There was someone else she needed to thank as well.
In the dark, minutes from death, God had sent Liam to save the three of them when Sam couldn’t do it herself. And for the first time, she could also see the ways God had been with her in the middle of her trouble. Dean didn’t have to lock her in with the girls, but she was so glad he hadn’t separated them. And as warped as his reasons had been for shutting them in the walk-in freezer in the first place, that had given Liam the time he’d needed to get there and save them.
Thank You, God. I’m sorry I’ve spent so many years doubting Your goodness.
Liam popped his head in and looked to her first. “Hey.” His eyes softened. “You have a visitor. If you’re up for it?”
She nodded.
Captain Bennett stepped into the room behind Liam.
“Sam.” The older man had aged ten years in the last twelve hours.
