Or course he didn’t—he was blind to anything but his own desires and what he thought the world owed him. She took a step back and dropped the gun into her purse. “I never thought I’d say this, but I forgive you. It probably means nothing to you, but it means everything to me. It destroys the last bit of power you might have had over me. I’m free from you, really free.”
Her spirit soared and her steps were light as she turned and walked toward the house without looking back. She texted Jane as she walked toward the house. While Paradise had forgiven him, he still needed to answer for what he’d done here at the refuge. Maybe the police could catch him on the road.
Blake kicked the covers off his feet and glanced at the clock. Just after midnight. He’d wanted to sleep on the sofa downstairs, but Paradise had urged him to get some rest in his own bed. He swung his legs over the side and padded to his small kitchen to grab a bottle of water out of the fridge. When he glanced out the window, a light glowed from the cottage’s back window. Someone was up.
He shoved his feet into Nike slides and went down the stairs to make sure the boys weren’t upset and afraid after the traumatic evening. An owl hooted as he exited the garage, and a big cat chuffed in the distance. A wolf howled, and several more joined in. A male fox screamed out to warn off another male.
The normal night sounds here at the park wouldn’t be found anywhere else. While they’d figured out the will situation, he had to do his best to uncover the source of the other attacks to ensure they never had to leave this place.
This sanctuary was in his soul.
He was halfway down the steps when his phone sounded with a text. He paused and glanced at it. If Jane was texting him at this hour, it must be important.Call me when you get up.
He sat on a step and placed the call. “What’s up?”
“That was fast.” Jane sounded tired. “We got Adams a few minutes ago. He’d been holed up in an apartment in Foley, and our officers nabbed him pulling into the driveway. And get this—we found a vial of Telazol in his bedroom.”
All this time he’d been only fifteen minutes away. “He killed Ivy?”
“He admitted she was demanding money to keep quiet about who wanted to know more about Paradise, so we think that’swhat happened. He clammed up right after that and demanded an attorney, but he’s sloppy. I think we’ll find more evidence.”
At least he was in custody and couldn’t hurt Paradise. “Thanks for letting me know. Mom and Paradise will be relieved you got him.”
“I hope to know more later today. Sorry to wake you up.”
“I was up.” He said goodbye and rose from the step to continue down. After unlocking the back door of the cottage, he slipped into the kitchen and found Paradise making a cup of hot cocoa. “Was Isaac sideways in the bed?”
She smiled. Something was different about her, lighter, happier. “I went outside to get my purse from your truck. Adams was putting a tracker on my car, and I confronted him.”
Anger gripped him. “Jane has him in custody. She texted a few minutes ago.”
She stirred the cocoa mix into the milk on the stove. “I don’t think Adams is the kingpin. Number one, he’s not smart enough to be orchestrating this—the attacks on the park, the ominous warnings, the Phantom music, the rattlesnake. That all took way too much planning. I think he’s doing someone else’s bidding. So I told him to tell his boss it’s over. We won’t be scared away and they’ve failed.”
Blake processed the thought. She knew the man well, so he believed her. “Do you think the same person is behind trying to run you off and what’s been happening at the park? I don’t see how they’re tied together.”
“I think they’re two prongs of the same fork. Driving me away from the park would leave you with no vet and no way to replace me with all of the criminal activity going on here. Destroying the park’s reputation would leave you and your mom with no option but to sell out. Dean and Mary may even be in on it. Someonebehind the scenes might have gone to them with an offer for a ridiculous amount of money, and they hatched the plan around the forged will. A major squeeze play to remove all avenues that would allow The Sanctuary to thrive. The kingpin would swoop in and buy up the land from either you guys or the Steerforths. End of story.”
“I admit it makes sense, but we have no idea where to look.”
She poured her hot chocolate into a mug. “So we dig harder. We know Adams was at Bea Davis’s house and also at Mary’s. Maybe I can get one of them to talk.” She held his gaze. “Without you.” He started to object, but she shook her head. “They’re more likely to open up to me than to you. The Sanctuary is the main target. Bea seemed to like me, so I’ll start there.”
She was right, but he didn’t like it. “I’ll agree on one condition. Let’s put a tracker on your phone. If you’re stepping into the line of fire, I want to be able to find you.”
Her eyes lit with enthusiasm. “That’s a great idea. I’ll get my phone.”
She left her mug on the counter and went into the living room to grab it. When she handed it to him, he found a location app and installed it on her phone before connecting them together in the locater underLawson Family. “I have this same app on my phone and so does Mom. So we’re all together and can stalk each other.” He handed it back.
She lifted a brow and smiled, then set her phone on the counter and stepped toward him. “So you’d better make sure you’re not seeing an old girlfriend, or I’ll find you out.”
He pulled her into his arms. “There’s never been anyone but you.” Her arms came around his neck, and he pulled her in close for a kiss. “Promise me you won’t do anything stupid like get yourself killed,” he murmured against her lips.
She pulled away. “I’ll do my best. I like being part of the Lawson family.” Her smile widened. “There’s something else I told Adams. I let go of my anger and hatred. I forgave him for what he did to me.”
He caught his breath. “That was a hard thing to do. How do you feel now?”
“Like the sun is finally out after a long, dark storm.”
He felt her joy and pulled her into his arms again. “I’m so proud of you.” It would be a turning point for her, for them, and for the future.
