“I should have killed you straight off, just like Gaskins would have done, you filthy, worthless whore.”
I feel the sharp point of a blade against my throat and I close my eyes, saying a prayer, one for Shay, my mother, the boys, and everyone else I care about.
“Tell my grandfather hello,” he whispers in my ear, but it’s followed by a gasp, a cough and a weird gurgling in my ear.
My eyes fly open and I see the sharp line of confusion between his beady eyes. A second later he falls, pushed aside,and Shay takes his place. In her hands, coated in blood, she holds a knife. It’s long and curved, deadly, and now covered in blood. His blood.
“Come on,” she says, yanking the cotton out of my mouth and dragging me toward the door. I take a huge panicked gulp of air while she fights with the lock, cursing and crying. The whole time I’m looking over my shoulder, waiting for him to get back up, to come after us again, but he doesn’t move.
When the lock gives and the door finally opens, sunlight welcomes us. I open my mouth to shout for help, but there’s a figure at the end of the row. Four figures.
“Over here!”
I feel the blood running down my belly. I feel Shay’s fingers in mine. I hear the voices of the boys I love, their footsteps mingled with my heartbeat, and as I fall to my knees I feel them around me and know I’m going to be okay.
56
Pete
We’ve never beengood indoors, caged-up and waiting. It’s why my degree will keep me working outside and Justin’s business degree is a means to managing the marina. It’s why Whit feels stifled in that gray Citadel uniform, strapped with weapons and history, and Nick runs for miles and miles each and every day.
Waiting in the hospital is the worst kind of cage—a literal barrier sits between us and Summer, who we haven’t seen since the ambulance carried her away from the campground. Julia rode with her, holding her daughter’s hand. All we know is that she’s alive but injured. Her mind maybe as much as her body. Whit paces, worried, stressed, and angry. Justin broods, head lowered in his hands.
Nick dozes on the couch, blocking out the world, charging himself up for when she’s ready to see us.Ifshe’s ready to see us.
I stare down the long, quiet hall. It’s hard to believe we were here earlier in the day celebrating Anita and Bobby’s new baby. Now we’re here standing vigil for the girl we love.
We heard a little about what happened, the terrible things he said, the awful things he planned to do, as Shay described them to police. Her voice shook and the officer turned her away as Avery’s body was carried from the camper, face covered. Before she got in the ambulance herself, she stopped and grabbed Nicks arm. “He said things about her relationship with you that I didn’t tell the police.” Her eyes flicked over the four of us. “Things that may get in her head.”
That was hours ago, before a man strode into the hospital and said her name at the desk. Her husband, I guess, who vanishes behind the door we’re not allowed to enter.
“How could we have missed this?” Whit asks, stopping suddenly in the middle of the room.
“Avery?” Justin shrugs. “We couldn’t have known.”
Whit doesn’t like this answer and grits his teeth and storms off.
The doors open a bit later and Julia walks out. Everyone looks her direction.
“She’s okay,” she says with a sigh of relief. “She had to get stitches and she’s banged up from fighting him off, but she’s okay.”
“There was a lot of blood,” I say. “So much.”
“The cuts weren’t deep.” Her hand is balled at her chest. “He didn’t have time. She fought back and won.”
“Of course, she did.” Justin walks over and gives her a hug. Julia squeezes tight.
Julia exhales and says, “You can see her soon. Let her rest. The doctors gave her something to help her sleep.”
“Is Shay all right?” Nick asks. He knew her the best.
“Yes, her husband got here a few hours ago. I think she’s just relieved to see him.” She inhales. “She saved Summer’s life.”
“We should have been there sooner,” Whit replies.
Julia shakes her head. “Don’t blame yourself. Trust me on that one. This is Avery’s fault. No one else’s. Evil people do evil things. All we can do is survive and move on with our lives.” She gives us all a hard look. “The trick will be not letting her run away like I did. We can’t let her do that, understand?”
“Yes ma’am,” Justin says. “There’s no chance in hell we’re letting her go. Not now, not ever.”
