Images of Gracie and Rachel crowded into her mind. She would never want Deke to see her that way.
The lack of light affected their speed but not their progress. Minutes later, she plowed into Blaze’s back when he paused to scale a ladder. A circle of moonlight soon appeared above them, allowing a wave of August humidity to billow into the tunnel, knocking away the chill.
Once his father cleared the opening, Eli urged her up. The narrow metal rungs hurt like the dickens. No amount of readjusting her foothold could alleviate the discomfort, either. With her hands tied, she had to leap to grasp the next rung. It worked for her twice, but she missed the third one and crashed to the ground.
“Get up there!” Eli growled.
“My hands. I can’t climb.”
Cursing, Eli cut her restraints. He glanced behind them before pushing her toward the ladder. “Hurry.”
When she surfaced on the other side, a large, strong hand grabbed her wrist. She waited until she had firm footing before she pinched the fleshy area beneath his arm and twisted with all her might. He released her on a cry of pain, and she slammed her foot into the back of his knee and smacked the palms of her hands against his ears.
She bolted.
Not an easy task, considering the grass reached her waist and tangled around her ankles. She had no idea where the tunnel had dumped out. All she comprehended was that this might be her best opportunity for escape.
Lord knew she’d had plenty of experience outrunning the opposite sex. With four older brothers, she’d perfected the art of strike, dodge, run—and hide.
“Get her!” Blaze yelled.
She pushed herself to go faster and faster and faster until she spotted a faint light twinkling to her left. She veered in that direction. Boots pounded behind her. The light turned into a door, the door into a house, the house into a refuge.
Bullets sprayed in the distance, and Evie’s mad dash stumbled to a halt.
Deke.
A shadow barreled toward her, and she took off toward the house again. But those precious few seconds had cost her. She made it to the porch and shoved through the back door a mere second before Eli snatched a handful of her hair.
Inside the kitchen, a familiar face stared at the tableau with wide eyes and a hand over her heart. “Evie?” Amy asked.
“Go back to doing the dishes and forget this,” Eli warned.
“What’s going on, Eli?”
“I said mind your own business.”
Evie’s mind whipped through the connections and realized Amy must be married to one of the Harwoods, which meant Evie’d run to the least safe place on earth. No wonder Amy had been terrified that her husband would find out about her visit to the Med Mobile.
Noah.
He had to be in the house somewhere. Might even be creeping down the stairs right now to investigate the commotion.
She mustered a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, Amy. Do as he said.”
Amy’s attention dropped down to Evie’s half-naked body. “But—”
“Go to Noah,” she said in her most commanding Steele voice.
Amy nodded her understanding, fear marring her pretty features.
Once Eli had her back outside, she knew that he would kill her for bringing his perversion into his family’s home. What would he do to Amy and Noah? She couldn’t allow one more person to suffer at this man’s hands.
Sanity splintered in her head, and her body swung into motion. She forearmed Eli in the nose and kneed him in the nuts.
“Arghh, fucking hellcat!”
When he bent forward, she didn’t take off. She climbed onto his back and wrapped one arm around his head and one around his neck. She squeezed the pressure points, ignoring his thrashing and cursing.
“Evie!” Deke called.
All her concentration remained on Eli. On bringing him down. On protecting Deke and Amy and Noah.
“Evie,” Deke said, closer.
Eli’s legs gave way. Still she held on.
“Evie, sweetheart. You can let go.”
Deke gently pried her arms from her captor’s neck and lifted her from the ground. “You’re safe now.” He pulled her into his arms, held her tight. “You’re safe now.”
Not removing her face from the center of Deke’s chest, she asked, “D-did I kill him?” She didn’t know what answer would devastate her more—yes or no.
“Unfortunately, no,” Keone replied.
A tremble started low in her stomach before spreading into each of her limbs.
“Here,” a feminine voice said.
“Thank you, Amy.” Deke covered her shoulders with something long and warm and soft. The breeze no longer touched her bare legs.
Feeling less vulnerable, she drew in a deep breath and backed out of Deke’s arms. Keone had Eli’s hands restrained behind his back, and Amy set a pair of flip-flops next to Evie’s feet.
Tears of gratitude stung her eyes, then they widened when she found no sign of Blaze Harwood.
“The father.” She gripped Deke’s forearm. “Where’s Blaze Harwood?” She remembered the gunfire and began searching Deke for wounds. “Did he shoot you?”
Deke clasped her hands between his, warming them, gentling them. “He tried to lock the tunnel’s opening on us. We gave him a few reasons not to.”
“He’s dead?”
“The SOB’s right here,” Matteo said, leading a disheveled Blaze into the halo of porch light.
“You’ve all made a big mistake,” Blaze said. “I’ll be out of jail before morning.”
“Fat chance of that, old man,” Matteo said. “We’ve got you dead to rights on this one.”
“What do you have? Me coming across a girl who was fleeing my deranged son?”
The tunnel was so dark that Deke and his men wouldn’t have been able to see Blaze at the head of their line.
“We have Evie’s side of the story.”
“Who’s going to believe an outsider over a city councilman?”
“It’s true,” Amy said. “Everyone falls in line with my father-in-law’s wishes. He knows too many people. Has too much information on everyone.”
Blaze smiled. “Let me go, and I’ll forget about how this Italian used excessive force.”
“We found your storage buildings,” Deke said. “How’re you going to explain away the illegal wildlife contraband?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The buildings are in your name. Your son held my brother against his will. In a cage.”
“What my son did in one of the storage buildings has nothing to do with me.”
“My brother said you were there. That you ordered my death. How are you going to explain that one away?”
“Is this the brother that was in a relationship with a drug dealer? The one who fled a crime scene? The one who’s been in and out of jail for petty crimes all his life—and even now sits in a cell?” Blaze chuckled. “Do you really think the good people of Creede are going to believe him over me?”
“You can have one bad mark against you,” Deke said, “but I don’t think there’s a jury in the world who would believe a man who has that much bad luck in one lifetime, let alone one evening.”
“Amy will swear that I’ve been home all night.” Blaze’s gray eyes sawed into his daughter-in-law. “Won’t you, dear.”
Amy dropped her gaze to the ground.
Evie pushed her hands through the robe’s armholes and secured the sash at her waist before moving to stand by Amy’s side. “This might be your only chance to shed yourself of this family. Don’t let him bully you into lying for him.”
“Haven’t I provided for Tobias? Haven’t I made sure your boys have food and decent schooling? Haven’t I paid for the clothes on your back and theirs?”
“My husband—”
“No! Caleb couldn’t cover his ass in a rainstorm. I’m the one you owe your loyalty to. I’m the one who’s taken care of you and your bastard.”
> Amy’s head whipped up. “Noah’s not a bastard.”
“He sure as hell isn’t my grandson.”
“Then you won’t mind if he leaves.”
“No, I won’t.”
“We’ll be out of your house by sunup.”
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“That’ll be hard for you to enforce while you’re molding away in jail.”
Blaze lunged forward. “You ungrateful whore!”
Deke stepped in front of Amy while Matteo got the older man back under control.
She held Amy close. “It’s okay. Deke and the others won’t allow him near you ever again.” To Deke, she said, “Eli admitted to killing his mother.”
“Is that true, boy?” Blaze demanded.
“You know it is,” Evie said. “He told you so in the pit, and you didn’t seem too choked up about it, either.”
“What pit?”
Anger forced Evie to seek help in the least likely place. Glancing down, she found Eli’s eyes open, staring straight ahead. How long had he been conscious?
When Eli said nothing, Blaze stretched out a foot to kick his son in the ribs, but Matteo’s firm grip only allowed him to hit air.
Eli rolled over and popped up on his knees. “Deranged son?”
He’d been awake for most of the conversation. Waiting for his chance to escape? Or to see what depths his father would sink to survive?
“You’re not exactly normal now, are you?”
“You dare criticize me after what you made me do as a child? Made me…watch? You’re calling me deranged?” Eli lunged, plowing a shoulder into his father’s gut. They both went down, and Eli started head butting his father, over and over and over.
The violent action happened so fast, the only person in a position to help Blaze was Matteo, who half went down with the two Harwoods.
Within seconds, Deke and Keone had the younger Harwood on his feet. His forehead ripped open from numerous contacts with his dad’s nose and teeth. Blaze didn’t fare well, either. Blood covered his face, and Matteo had to roll him onto his side so he wouldn’t choke on his own blood.
Red and blue lights bounced off the trees as three squads hurried up Harwood’s long drive.
“Family reunion’s over,” Deke said.
“I haven’t seen my husband Caleb for quite some time.”
“We’ll find him.”
Evie noted the look Deke shared with Keone. So they’d noticed Caleb in the pit. It would appear no one wanted to be the bearer of bad news at the moment.
What a family. She would never take hers for granted again. Okay, she would. But she would always make sure they knew how much she loved them.
“Mama?” Noah stood with the screen door open, holding the hand of a smaller boy’s.
Amy squeezed her hand. “Thank you.”
“I’m the one who’s grateful.” She plucked at the robe. “You saved me from a great deal of embarrassment.” She nodded toward the boys. “Go on. They need you now.”
As she watched Amy bundle her kids back into the house, she wondered what would become of them. How would Amy explain the disappearance of their entire family to two young boys?
A light touch to her elbow drew her attention. “Are you okay?” Deke whispered.
“I think so.”
“They didn’t…hurt you, did they?”
“Not that way. But I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get that barn cellar out of my mind.” She dug her fingers into her forehead. “There was a large basin…the smell…clothes on the ground…I c-couldn’t tell Amy about her husband.”
He drew her away from the activity around them and then folded her into his arms. She fought back the avalanche of tears that wanted to fall.
“Try not to think about what you saw or heard,” he said. “I know from experience that following that kind of advice isn’t always in your control. But do your best to focus on your family, your patients, your friends. Anything sunny and happy that has the power to push back the darkness.”
“I already know what will help me forget.”
“What’s that?”
“You.” She lifted her head from his shoulder. “When I started to have a panic attack—”
“Panic attack?”
“I’ve been getting them for years.”
“Why don’t I know this?”
“My family doesn’t even know.”
“Why keep it from them?”
“My first attack came on the same day Mom and Britt dropped me off at college. I didn’t say anything, because I didn’t want them making it a big deal. College is hard enough. I didn’t want to add familial humiliation to the mix.” She shrugged. “After that, it just never came up.”
“You had an attack in the cellar.”
“When I woke and realized Eli had thrown me in an underground pit, I grounded myself with images of you. You saved me.”
He cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead. “I will always be there to ground you.” His kisses moved down her nose and against each eyelid. “Always.”
Despite the horrific events of the last several hours, she managed a smile. “Is that a declaration, Deke Conrad?”
“You tell me, my love.” His mouth molded to hers. The gentleness of his kiss, the sweetness, enticed her. She slipped her tongue into his mouth, tangling with his, loving his delicious warmth, his taste.
Someone barked an order in the distance, and she reluctantly released him. “Tasted like a definite yes to me.”
He kissed her forehead, her nose, her cheek. “I was so damn scared I’d be too late.”
“You’re weren’t.”
“If Amy hadn’t come forward about the barn—”
She pressed her fingers against his lips. “You would have found me some other way.”
“You can’t know that.”
“I do. You’re unstoppable.” She sent him a small smile. “Something we both have in common.” Her attention drifted to his shoulder. “I’ve decided to postpone graduate school for a year or so.” The declaration launched between her teeth, out of nowhere.
“What?”
Putting on her big Evie smile, she said, “I think I should practice my nursing skills for a while before moving on to a position with so much responsibility.”
“What are you doing, Evie?” Even in the dark, anger illuminated his blue eyes.
“I’m working on a way for us to be together.”
“Giving up graduate school’s the best way?”
“To be honest, I haven’t figured it all out yet.”
“No.”
“Maybe I could attend part-time, instead.”
“No, Evie.”
“It’s a good compromise.”
“I won’t let you set aside your career. Not for the likes of me.”
“Likes of you?” Sadness gripped her throat. “You make it sound like you’re not worthy of—what? What aren’t you worthy of?”
“Stealing your happiness.”
A bomb of silence dropped between them.
“Oh, Deke. Don’t you see?” She cupped his face in her hands. “My happiness depends on you. I love you. I would give up my life if I thought that’s what it would take to finally be yours—and you to be mine.”
“You’d give up your career, your dream for me?”
She rose up on her toes and kissed him. “Yes.”
A tear dropped on her hand. “I can’t let you do it.”
Her heart tilted…then fell. She was out of ideas. Out of ways to win over Deke Conrad.
Out of hope.
She closed her eyes, and her fingers began to curl, letting him go.
Large hands skimmed up her back, trapping her against his body.
Her eyes flew open, and she found his solemn gaze on hers.
“I’m not letting you give up your career—and I’m not letting you go.”
She blinked. “Okay.”
One corner of his mouth hiked into his irresisti
ble grin. “Is that all you’ve got to say?”
“Uh-huh. We’ll figure it out.” She traced every line of his beloved face. “As long as you love me.”
“I’ve loved you half of my life, Evie Steele, and you know it.”
The anxiety, the aches, the doubts flew out of her heart. She couldn’t hold back her grin. “I suspected,” she said in a singsong voice.
“You are going to be nothing but trouble.”
“Don’t pretend like it’s a surprise. I haven’t changed my stripes in years.”
He laughed. “No you haven’t.”
“So it’s settled?”
He drew a finger down her nose and over her lips. “It’s settled.”
She grinned. “Now, let’s go find me some clothes.”
Epilogue
Three Weeks Later, Tupelo Hill
Deke strode around the perimeter of the crowd, searching for Evie. The Steeles had been planning this celebration for weeks, and he hoped they managed to pull off the big surprise after all of their hard work and behind-the-scenes scheming.
Judging by the number of people in attendance, he guessed half the town was milling around the vast grounds of Tupelo Hill—and then some. Lord knew it’d taken him a good fifteen minutes to hike his way up the long drive.
“’Bout time you made it, Conrad.” Britt handed him a beer. “Brynne’s been keeping Evie busy at her shop until she got word of your arrival.”
“My arrival? Why?”
“Mom insisted on waiting. Seems you’ve won over the old girl’s heart.” Britt pointed to a pint-sized, salt-and-pepper-haired woman. “Here she comes.”
Joan Steele made a beeline for Deke, giving him a big hug and kiss on the cheek. “Thank goodness you made it. Thought I was going to have to send one of my boys after you.”
“Sorry, Miss Joan. I had to help my mom with something.”
“Oh, well, think nothing more of it. Gotta take care of family.” She waggled a finger over the partygoers. “Everyone’s having too good of a time to even realize Evie’s not here yet. Which reminds me, I’d better let Micki know it’s time to retrieve her sister.” She eyed Britt. “Is Jonah ready?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She smiled. “I knew he would be. I’m blessed with dependable kids.” She slanted a sly look at Deke. “When’s Evie going to add you to the Steele brood?”
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