Page 166 of It Runs in the Family

“Cody.” Boone’s voice broke.

Cody stared back at him, then gave one slow shake of his head before he turned and ran out the door with Selena. They jumped into a black Charger, then peeled out of the parking lot.

Boone stood still, watching them leave. Then, as though remembering where he was, he turned and faced me.

I started to cry.

He rushed over and cupped my face, his hand under my left jaw as though not wanting to hurt my cheek.

“You came,” I said with a sob.

“Iris, I’m so sorry.” His voice broke, and he wrapped an arm around my back, pulling me into a gentle hug. “Of course I came.”

“The vision was different,” I said through my heaving sobs. “It was happening sooner… and you didn’t believe me… and I didn’t think you’d come…”

He pulled back, still cupping my right cheek as he looked into my eyes. “When I saw your text and you didn’t answer…” He looked stricken. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

“You came,” I repeated, knowing I sounded like a fool, but I’d convinced myself he wouldn’t. That he didn’t care.

His lips softly brushed mine. “I’m gonna untie you and get you out of here.”

I nodded, breaking into sobs again.

Sirens wailed in the distance as he used the pocketknife to cut my hands free, then my ankles and the rope around my body. He flicked the blade shut, then looked at it more closely, a strange look covering his face.

“Cody gave it to Selena to cut me loose.” He may have run off with Selena, but at least he’d tried to save me.

He looked at it one more time, then stuffed it into his pocket.

“You were right about the photo,” he said, turning to look at me again. “It helped me figure out the code to decipher it.”

“How?”

The sirens were louder now. Boone pulled me to my feet and enveloped me in a hug, cradling the back of my head with my cheek pressed to his chest. “I have to go, Spitfire.”

I pulled free. “What?”

“You tell the authorities whatever you feel comfortable telling them, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell them I was here.”

My mouth parted in shock.

“I’ll explain it later, I swear.”

Anger burned in my belly. “You’re leaving me?”

He shook his head, then turned to face the open bay doors. “If I stay, it’ll break my cover.”

“Cody told me you haven’t been with the Rangers for three months.”

His face fell.

“Cody said I wasn’t the first person you’d fooled.”

He didn’t answer.

“He didn’t seem too happy to see you. You said he wanted you to save him.”

“It’s a long story, Iris.”