I turn as Jack walks in, a hesitant smile on his face. “I hope it’s okay I dropped by. Sawyer said I could find you here.”
“Of course.” My fears fade away, and relief rushes through me.
“Would you like some coffee? I was just about to pour us some.” She leads Jack over toward the table.
“Please, have a seat. I’ll get it. I’m honestly not sure I’m ready to sit just yet,” he says. “It’s been a long day.”
My mom takes a seat at the table, and Jack starts pouring coffee.
“We got the confession,” Jack says. “Ryan will be transported to the county jail and will wait for his arraignment. After that, he’ll face trial for everything he’s done.”
“What about Sawyer and Weston?” I ask.
“He will not be pressing charges.” Jack turns toward us and sets two coffee mugs down on the table, then returns to his before taking a seat. “I made it clear that it wouldn’t be in his best interest to go after the brother of the girl he murdered, or the boyfriend of the one he was trying to kill.”
I swallow hard, but Jack smiles at me.
“It really is okay, Anastasia. I just want you to be happy.”
“I didn’t deserve you,” I say.
“Nonsense,” my mother says. “Sometimes two great people just aren’t meant to be great together. But you’re still a part of this family, Jack Weathers.”
Jack smiles. “Thanks, Momma Knox. I appreciate that.” He takes a sip of his coffee. “Uh, so I wanted to come by before I headed back to Savannah.”
“You’re leaving?” I ask.
“Yeah. Need to get back to my life. I wanted to thank you both, though. Especially you, Anastasia.” He meets my gaze. “You came back for me when it would have been safer for you to stay away.”
“I wasn’t going to let you die. Sawyer either.”
“I know. And that risk couldn’t have been an easy one to make. Especially for him.”
“Everything worked out.”
“It did, didn’t it?” He smiles and takes a deep breath, then lifts his coffee mug again.
“You know what, we need something to snack on with this coffee.” My mom gets up, then pauses as the color drains from her face.
“Mom?”
She braces both hands on the table. “I don’t feel right.”
“What is it?” I ask. “What do you mean?”
“I think I—” She starts to fall forward, and Jack jumps up to catch her. Slowly, he lowers her to the floor and presses his fingers to her neck.
“Mom!” I scream and shake her, then reach for my phone. “I’ll call?—”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, lovely.”
Lovely.
Slowly, I turn my attention back to Jack. The charming smile he wore only moments ago is gone, replaced with the expression of someone who might as well be a stranger. His gun is drawn and pointed directly at my mom.
Not me.
Her.
