His shoulders relaxed slightly. She’d misunderstood him so much. There was nothing selfish about Jackson Stewart. The man was strong, courageous, and had a keen sense of integrity.
It took them another fifteen minutes, but soon they saw police cars and several ambulances. She sighed in relief.
Dylan limped three steps ahead. When he stopped, Mia hurried to him. “Dylan?”
His forehead furrowed, and his eyes glazed over. Without a sound, he collapsed, hitting the ground like his bones had melted, landing on his good arm. He didn’t make a sound.
“Jackson!” Mia dropped to her knees beside Dylan. She reached out but worried about touching him and somehow hurting him more.
Jackson rushed over. He quickly checked Dylan out. Wynne broke out in wild sobs, and Mia jumped to her feet and gently took the girl in her arms to comfort her.
“I don’t know what’s wrong. He might be dehydrated, or it may be more severe. He needs to get to the hospital.” Jackson’s voice shook. He clenched his jaw.
She watched, amazed, as Jackson lifted his brother, who stood nearly as tall as he did, and hoisted him over his shoulder. Wynne ran up to stand near them, keeping close to Dylan as they walked toward the emergency vehicles.
“Moses!” Jackson yelled.
One of the paramedics came running. A second later, another one followed. They gathered Dylan and Wynne and headed toward their ambulance, asking questions along the way.
Jackson remained by his brother’s side.
Mia kept her distance, knowing she’d only be in the way. Now that the danger was over, she relaxed.
“Mia.”
She’d know that cold voice anywhere.
Keeping her face devoid of expression, Mia rotated to face the man who’d made her childhood miserable and cost her the boy she’d loved.
Blaine stood in the shadows. Even now, he dressed in a charcoal suit and tie. As if he’d come from a meeting. His handsome face seemed blurry, but his eyes gleamed out of the dark. She recalled her fear as a child of monsters hiding in the closet. Now a real-life one stood before her.
“I heard about what was happening. I came out here to see if I could help you.” He held out a hand toward her.
She backed away, disgust thick in her throat. He hadn’t voluntarily touched her in years. She wouldn’t trust him now even if she didn’t think he was involved in trafficking.
“What do you want, Blaine? I doubt you want to help me. You’re selfish and evil, through and through.”
Hatred flared in his eyes. “You’ve never understood the power I have.”
She continued backing away. “I don’t care. The police will arrest you, and then I hope you rot in jail.”
A cruel smile spread across his face. “Men like me don’t go to jail. We make the rules. Don’t you know that by now? I snap my fingers and get what I want.”
“You’re part of it,” she accused, disgust seething in her chest. “This syndicate or organization luring our children into drugs. How could you?”
“Oh, please. Why would I turn down this opportunity? I’m rich, and they’re taking care of me and making me richer.”
They had gotten far away from the others. Would Jackson notice she was gone and come after her?
Suddenly, she thought of something. “Andrea. You tried to kill her.”
Surprise lifted his eyebrows. For an instant, she thought she’d gotten it wrong. “Who are you to judge me? You’re nothing but a mutt that I raised.”
He’d called her that before.
She shook her head. “I don’t care what you think of me. I don’t understand this. I was never a threat to you. Just let me be!”
He sighed and looked at her like she was a child. “Between your parentage and making noises about getting your money, you were a scandal waiting to happen. We had to close a profitable business to keep from discovery.”
