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“Yes, baby,” Nic answered.
“Wait a second.” Her gorgeous face filled with confusion. “I thought you were both working at Braxton this morning. What are you doing here in Destiny?”
In all the confusion that followed the attack, they hadn’t had a chance to tell her.
Nic spread his arms wide. “Surprise, baby.”
Sylas grinned and cupped her chin. “It was supposed to be a surprise.”
He and Nic told her about the O’Learys sending their plane, about Mr. Jenkins granting them time off, and about how hard it had been for both of them being away from her.
Her eyes lit up. “You don’t have to go back to Chicago until my test is over?”
“That’s right, sweetheart.” Sylas turned to Nic and could sense he was thinking the same thing.
There wasn’t a chance they would leave Ashley alone again. One of them would have to stay in Destiny. The other would have to return to fulfill their notice. Who? That would have to be worked out later.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe it.” She hugged them both. “You can’t imagine how much that means to me. I love you both so very much.”
“I love you, too, baby.” Nic kissed her lightly on the cheek.
“And I love you.” He kissed her other cheek.
The door everyone had been staring at swung open.
The doctor went to Nicole. “The surgery was a success. Henry is doing great.”
The crowd jumped to their feet and erupted in cheers, hugs, and kisses.
He and Nic held Ashley between them.
“Thank God,” she said with tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m so happy.”
“So am I, sweetheart. So am I.”
* * * *
Ashley walked down the jailhouse’s hallway. Nic and Sylas walked beside her. Sheriff Jason Wolfe was leading them to a room that had dual usage—sometimes to conduct interrogations, sometimes for prisoners to meet with their attorneys—but today there was a brand new usage for the space. The prisoner wanted to speak to her friend and victim.
Ashley had been shocked to hear that Anna had requested to meet with her. She’d thought about refusing or at least putting it off until later. Her bar exam was tomorrow and she and her guys were driving to Denver today. But she had been too curious to turn Anna down. What did the woman who had shot Henry, had pushed her way into the apartment, and had been working with Cindy Trollinger want to say?
I have to know.
Nic and Sylas had tried to convince her not to meet with Anna. She’d argued and argued with them to no avail and had begun to think they were right. But it was Sam O’Leary who had convinced the three of them that it might actually be a good idea. “A face-to-face with an attacker can have a very positive impact on a survivor when it is done with those who love and support her by her side.”
When the sheriff opened the door, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She took a deep breath and walked into the room.
Anna sat at a metal table in handcuffs beside her defense attorney, a man from Goodnight, the most westerly town in the county. “Against my advice, my client wants to speak with you, Ms. Vaughn.”
“That is good advice, counselor,” she said. “Too bad your client didn’t take it.”
The sheriff positioned himself by the door, but remained silent.
“I don’t care what he says, Ashley. I had to see you. Thank you so much for coming. I wasn’t sure you would.”
“I almost didn’t.” She took the middle seat on the other side of the table, and Nic and Sylas took the chairs next to hers. “What do you want from me, Anna?”
“I want you to know I’m sorry. Sorry for everything.” But the woman’s demeanor didn’t hold an ounce of sincere remorse or guilt for the horror she’d done.
