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Anna was on top of her, pressing her gun between her eyes. A twisted grin appeared on the insane woman’s face. “Good-bye, Ashl—”
A vase came crashing over Anna’s head, and the woman collapsed on her. Terror stricken, Ashley pushed with all her might, trying to get Anna off of her.
“It’s okay, baby.” Nic took Anna’s gun and lifted the woman off of her.
Sylas bent over her and pulled her into his arms. “She’s not going to hurt you.”
“You’re here,” she said with trembling lips. “Both of you.”
Their faces were full of concern for her.
She glanced down at Anna, who was out cold on the floor. Even so, Nic still pointed the gun that he’d retrieved at her attacker.
“She wanted to kill me.” Her emotions of relief overtook her and she leaned her head into Sylas’s chest and began sobbing.
Sylas stroked her hair and held her close.
She opened her eyes. “Oh my God, Henry.”
“Nic’s calling 9-1-1 now, baby.”
Chapter Sixteen
Sylas had his arm around Ashley. She sat between him and Nic in the waiting room of the clinic. The place was packed with the citizens of Destiny concerned for Henry Underwood, who was in surgery.
Phoebe and two of her husbands were in the seats across from him. The sheriff, Phoebe’s other husband, had taken Anna to the jailhouse after the bump on her head Nic had given her had been checked out. He squeezed Ashley a little tighter. I almost lost her tonight.
The O’Learys sat beside him. They’d been one of the first groups of people to arrive at Ashley’s apartment and had been such a support for all of them.
Some of the men who had been part of Nic’s intervention were also in the waiting room with their wives.
Nicole Coleman sat with her husbands closest to the door that led to the operating room. Ashley had told him and Nic just how close the deputy sheriff was to Henry. They were like family.
Everyone in the place was concerned about Henry and was praying he would make it through surgery. Sylas had never seen such an outpouring back in Chicago. The people of Destiny cared deeply for one another, and right now all their thoughts were on one man.
Henry had tried to save Ashley, and Anna had shot him in the chest. No one knew if Henry was going to survive the night. In his and Nic’s minds and the minds of the entire town, Henry was a hero.
Ethel looked at Ashley. “Are you sure you’re okay, sweetie?”
“I’m much better now, especially since my guys came and saved me. Paris took my vitals and everything is back to normal. I’m still a little shaken, but I’ll be okay in time to take my exam.”
“No way are you taking the bar, honey, after all you’ve been through.” Nic kissed her on the cheek.
Sylas agreed. “You just need to relax until everything is back to normal.”
Ashley shook her head. “I’m not going to wait six months for the next time the exam is offered.”
Phoebe leaned forward. “I’m with your guys on this one, Ash. You’ve been through a horrible experience. The bar can wait.”
“You of all people know how hard I’ve studied for this.” Ashley took her hand. “You need me to pass the bar. You’re going to be a mother. We are still trying to win Jennifer’s case. There’s so much work that must be done. I want things to go back to normal as much as they can. Taking the bar helps with that. What Henry did…and what my wonderful men did…for me…I want to honor them. I want to make them proud. But most of all I want to take it for myself. I want to prove that I can do it. If I don’t, then Anna wins. I am taking the bar.”
“God, listen to our girl, Nic. She’s so strong.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed. “You’ve already made me proud, sweetheart. I won’t stand in your way.”
“Neither will I, baby.” Nic kissed her. “We’re all so proud of you. But Sylas and I will be right ther
e with you.”
“With me?” Her eyebrows shot up. “In Denver?”
