“What the fuck?” Joe dropped his gun and grabbed for the armrest. The truck bounced and bumped down the snowy bank and hit the water harder than Abby anticipated. The airbag exploded in her face. Her left arm buckled. Pain snapped through her elbow like a bolt of electricity.
Next to her, Joe coughed. “Shit. You stupid bitch.”
Dust hovered in the moist air. He turned in his seat and punched her in the face. Pain burst through her cheekbone. She blinked at the blackness creeping across her visual field. Passing out meant death.
Water chilled Abby’s ankles. Joe opened his window and released his seat belt. He bent double, sticking his hand in the eight inches of water on the floorboards and feeling around. He sat up and shook water from the barrel of his gun.
Abby’s heart seized. This time, she wouldn’t escape death.
The car rocked hard, and Joe fell sideways. Metal groaned.
“Fuck it.” He hoisted himself up on the edge of the window, slid out, and fell backward with a splash.
Abby pushed at the button on her door. Nothing happened. She tried again, but the window didn’t budge. The wires must have shorted out.
She scooted across the bench seat. A white-hot wave of pain shot up her left arm. She looked down. Nausea rolled through her. Her elbow was not supposed to bend in that direction. The creek lapped over her knees and froze her thighs.
Abby’s vision tunneled. The pickup spun, the force of the current dragging the truck farther toward the center of the creek. The cab tilted, and gravity pulled Abby away from the open window. Water closed over her head and stole her breath.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Ethan stopped the car and K-turned to reverse his direction. With only a couple of minutes lead time, there was no way Abby and Joe had gotten any farther ahead. Ethan had pushed the Marquis to a crazy speed on the icy road.
They must have turned off onto a back road. But which one? Where would Joe want to go?
Joe was from Atlantic City. How well did he know Westbury? Not well, would be Ethan’s guess. How would a stranger find his way using back roads?
Ethan cruised through an intersection. Wait. He braked. This was the road that led to the Packman Creek. He turned. Joe couldn’t know every road in the area, but he’d definitely scoped this one out when he’d planned to kill Abby the first time. Ethan spun the wheel. The Mercury skidded, the ass end of the vehicle swinging forward. He steered into the skid. The car straightened, and he sped forward.
He slowed at a sharp curve in the road.
There! Just ahead, a blue pickup was door-deep and sinking in the raging creek. Wet from head to toe, Joe was stumbling up the bank. His knees gave out, and he fell face-first into the shallow water. Ethan called for backup as he hit the brakes. The car slid. The pedal vibrated under his foot as the antilock system kicked in. He parked and leaped from his vehicle. He sprinted to the water’s edge.
The well-being of Joe Torres wasn’t a blip on Ethan’s radar.
Where was Abby?
She must be trapped in the nearly submerged pickup. Ethan plunged into the creek. The frigid water shocked his body as it lapped up his thighs.
A splash caught his attention. Ethan spun. Joe was on one knee, gun in hand. Ethan drew his weapon. Too late. The first bullet caught him in the chest. The impact spun him around. He dropped to his knees. He lifted his gun. Before he could aim or shoot, the second bullet knocked him off his feet and into the icy creek.
Abby…
Abby surfaced and sucked in a painful breath. The truck rested on its side. Cradling her injured limb close, she stood on the steering column and pushed her shoulders out the passenger window. A toehold on the dashboard sent her body up and out the opening. She landed on her back in the creek. The current was strong enough to move a pickup. Could she make it to shore?
What choice did she have?
She paddled with one arm, angling toward the bank as if caught in a riptide. Her feet dragged on the bottom.
A gunshot rang out over the roar of the flooded creek. Abby lurched to her feet and spun toward the sound. A few yards from her, Joe was pointing his gun at Ethan, standing twenty feet away. Abby spread her feet for balance against the thigh-deep current. She fumbled with the tight bottom hem of her jacket. Shoving the fabric up, she grabbed her gun and brought it around.
Joe fired again. Ethan recoiled from the bullet’s impact. He slid under the water.
Abby screamed, “No!”
Joe turned toward her and brought his gun around. Abby squeezed the trigger three times in rapid succession. Joe fell backward, crashing through the sheets of thin ice at the water’s edge. His head sank beneath the surface.
Abby rushed toward Ethan. The freezing water slowed her steps. She spotted him floating just under the surface in two feet of water. She grabbed the back of his jacket and rolled him over. His eyes opened, and he coughed. Abby’s heart resumed beating as she used her good arm to drag him to the shoreline, then collapsed on the muddy riverbank. Ethan’s breaths rasped. Abby knelt by his side and cradled his head on her lap. He was too heavy for her to pull all the way out of the frigid water. His skin was pale gray, and his eyes lost focus.
“Stay with me,” she pleaded, her heart aching. He couldn’t die.
Sirens approached. A minute later, two patrol cars and an SUV roared onto the scene.
“Please don’t die.” Abby cupped Ethan’s face. Why had it taken her so long to open her heart? “I love you.”
Please, let it not be too late.
CHAPTER THIRTY
The tiny surgical waiting room was cold and the plastic chair hard. Abby shivered. An X-ray had revealed her elbow was fractured, but all the bones were in the right place. Her arm was casted at a ninety-degree angle. She’d been warmed up and released. Brooke had brought her dry clothes and a heavy sweatshirt, but she’d had to cut the left sleeve off for Abby to put it on. A blanket draped around her shoulders, and her arm was elevated on a pillow. Brooke wanted to take her home, but even though the ER doctor had said that Ethan’s injuries weren’t life-threatening, Abby didn’t want to leave until he was out of surgery.
Chief O’Connell appeared in the doorway. “Any word?”
“No,” Abby said. “How’s Derek?”
“The plastic surgeon is working on him now.” The chief lowered his bulk into the chair next to Abby.
Though the cuts on Derek’s face were small, the ER doctor hadn’t wanted him to have any facial scars as permanent reminders of his trauma.
Abby shifted her position but couldn’t get comfortable. “Maybe I should run down and check on him.”
“Derek wouldn’t know you were there. They sedated him to work on his tongue.” The chief swallowed.
Abby’s stomach turned.
“Yeah. The idea gives me the willies too.” The big man shuddered. “Brooke is with him. Did Joe Torres say why he was after you?”
“No,” Abby said. And he certainly wasn’t going to talk in the morgue.
The chief didn’t say anything, but Abby could feel the tension rolling off of him. He wasn’t comfortable with the loose ends Joe’s death left hanging.
Movement in the doorway startled Abby, but it wasn’t the surgeon. Ethan’s mother, Lorraine, hurried into the room. She hugged the chief. “It was sweet of you to send a car for me. I would’ve been fine driving. The weather is clearing.”
“It was no trouble.” The chief blushed.
“Have you heard from the surgeon?” Lorraine asked. “When you called you said they thought Ethan would be fine.”
“He will be.” The chief pinched the bridge of his nose. “Thank God he was wearing his Kevlar vest.”
One of Joe’s bullets had hit Ethan dead center in the chest. If he hadn’t been wearing his body armor, Ethan would be dead. The other shot had struck him in the shoulder, an
d blood loss had been minimized by the water temperature.
Lorraine turned to Abby with open arms. “Oh dear. I don’t want to hurt you.” Lorraine frowned at Abby’s cast and gave her good arm a gentle squeeze.
“How did you get here so quickly?” Abby asked. Ethan had only been brought to the hospital a few hours ago.
“I almost didn’t make it. I ended up on a crack-of-dawn flight to New York. I took a train from there and got in this afternoon.” Lorraine tilted her head.
But? “I thought you were in Florida for another couple of weeks.”
“Ethan called me yesterday and asked me if I’d come home early.” Worry lines fanned out from the corners of Lorraine’s eyes. “He said he’d applied to be Derek’s foster parent and asked if I would mind coming home to help out with him. Of course I didn’t mind, though the weather made getting here a challenge.”
Ethan’s words echoed in Abby’s head. Trust me, Derek. It’s only temporary. Had he already filed when he’d said that?
Abby closed her eyes and rested her head against the wall. Derek was a child, and a damaged one at that. His inability to trust Ethan was understandable. But Abby…Even after all he’d done for her, she hadn’t trusted him either.
Would she ever be normal?
“He didn’t tell you in case it fell through.” Lorraine took the chair on Abby’s opposite side. “He didn’t want Derek to be disappointed.”
Emotions clogged Abby’s throat. “Derek would have appreciated the fact that he was trying.”
“The good news is that we have a temporary approval. Derek can come home with us when he’s released.”
“Oh, thank God.” Abby let a small bit of tension escape. “You don’t know how relieved Derek will be.”
Lorraine leaned closer. “How is his mother?”
“I don’t know.” Abby looked to Chief O’Connell.
“She has a concussion. Her physical injuries aren’t life-threatening, but she was pretty messed up when the EMTs brought her in.” He shrugged. “My guess is that she’ll go right from here to a rehab facility. She won’t be getting Derek back for a long time.”
“Well, he can stay with us for good.” Lorraine nodded emphatically. “Does your arm hurt much?”
Yes. “It’s not too bad,” Abby said.
“If you want to go home, I’ll call you the second the surgeon comes out,” the chief offered.
Abby lifted her head. “No. I’m all right.” Despite the pills the ER doctor had given her, pain pulsed through Abby’s elbow with every beat of her heart. And she knew from experience that nothing was going to make her feel warm for the next couple of days.
She would not be able to rest until she’d seen Ethan with her own eyes.
Or so she thought.
“Abby.” A pat on her hand startled Abby awake. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. She must have dozed off. Lorraine stood in front of her. A green-scrubbed surgeon was walking out of the waiting room, obviously just finished giving an update on Ethan’s condition. Chief O’Connell was standing by the door.
“He’s out of surgery and awake.” Lorraine hugged her purse to her side. “They’re putting him in the same room as Derek. We can see them both in a few minutes if you’d like.”
“Yes.” Abby wobbled as she stood. “Is he OK?”
“He’s fine.” The chief put a hand under her good elbow. “The bullet didn’t hit anything vital. They took it out and stitched him up.”
The three walked down the hall and into the elevator. Ethan was already settled when they reached the room.
Lorraine zoomed in and brushed his hair away from his face. “You shouldn’t scare your old mother like that.”
“Where’s Abby?” Ethan’s voice was hoarse.
“Right behind me.” Lorraine poured water into a cup from a plastic pitcher on his tray. She held it close to his mouth so he could drink through the straw. Ethan’s eyes shifted over his mom’s shoulder to Abby.
“I’m going to get a cup of coffee.” Lorraine stepped out of the way. Her eyes were wet as she walked past Abby.
“I’ll go with you.” Chief O’Connell joined her in the hall.
Abby stepped up to the bed.
Ethan reached for her hand. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“That makes two of us.” Abby leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his lips. She rested her forehead against his for a few seconds, then whispered in his ear, “I love you.”
“I know. I heard you in the creek.” Ethan kissed her back. “I love you too.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Abby sighed against his cheek. “You’re not the one with enough baggage to fill a freight train.”
He squeezed her hand. “I love you and every pound of baggage that comes with you.”
A tear slid down Abby’s cheek. “Thank God. I thought I’d messed up.”
“You risked your life to save me and Derek,” Ethan said. “Sure, I was furious when you did it, but only because I couldn’t stand the thought of Joe hurting you. Did you really think I’d fall out of love with you for an overabundance of courage?”
The relief that flowed through Abby’s veins was better than the pain medication. She kissed him again. “I should have known better. No more doubts. Ever.”
“I should hope not.” He eyed her cast. “Now, what happened? Tell me everything.”
“Broke my elbow.”
“What happened to Joe Torres?”
“He’s dead.” Abby’s stomach turned. “I shot him.” She still couldn’t believe she’d sighted and fired without a single hesitation. Her reaction had been a reflex. Joe was trying to kill Ethan. Abby stopped him. No thought involved.
Ethan squeezed her hand. “You saved me.”
“Now we’re even.” Exhaustion flooded Abby as she touched his hand and watched his chest rise and fall. Ethan looked better than fine. He was breathing and warm and alive. The moment when Joe had shot him would be imprinted on her mind forever. “I feel like I should have more remorse. I killed a man.”
No doubt the guilt would come with time.
“He tried to kill you multiple times. He shot me. He cut up Derek’s face. There’s no reason for you to feel any guilt.” Ethan blinked. “The nurse said they’re putting Derek in here with me. How is he?”
“I haven’t seen him since they brought us in, but Chief O’Connell said they were having a plastic surgeon stitch him up, and Brooke is with him.”
“We’re right here.” Brooke walked into the room. Behind her, a nurse was pushing Derek in a wheelchair. Bandages covered the cuts on his cheek and jaw. His eyes were glassy as the nurse helped him into bed.
He smiled at Abby and winced.
“I wouldn’t try talking just yet.” The nurse adjusted the bedrail and handed him the remote.
“There will be unlimited ice cream and popsicles for the next few weeks.” Brooke stood by Derek’s bed. “But he’s going to heal just fine.”
Abby released Ethan’s hand and went over to give Derek a one-armed hug. He leaned his head on her shoulder. She straightened and blotted a tear leaking from her eye. His gaze searched hers, fear lingering under the sedative’s glaze. Did he want to know about his mother? Abby leaned closer and whispered, “Your mom’s OK, but we can’t see her right now.”
He nodded, his body sagging with relief. Abby knew exactly how he felt. Tiny trembles started in her legs.
“Honestly, Abby, you look worse than he does,” Brooke said.
“She’s coming home with me.” Lorraine came back in the room and put an arm around Abby’s waist.
“I can go back to my house,” Abby protested even though the last thing she wanted was to be alone.
“Nonsense. Your dog is already at my house—Ronnie is there with him—and you’re hardly in any condition to drive.” Lorraine gave he
r a gentle squeeze. “And what if you don’t feel well during the night? I think Ethan will rest more easily if you’re with me, won’t you?” Lorraine gave Ethan a pointed look.
“Definitely.” Ethan gave her a drugged half smile.
Lorraine’s hug was so comforting, Abby didn’t even mind that she was squeezing the small cuts Joe had made with his knife.
Abby kissed Derek on the top of his head. Ethan got a kiss on the lips that made her heart ache.
Ethan wiped a tear from Abby’s cheek with his thumb. “Derek and I will be fine here. Right, Derek?”
The boy nodded.
“Go get some rest,” Ethan pleaded.
“All right.” Abby let Lorraine and the chief lead her to the ER lobby. The main doors had locked hours ago. Outside, the sleet had stopped and the temperature had risen above freezing. But the wind sent a shiver through Abby’s bones. Chief O’Connell brought his SUV to the hospital entrance and drove them out to the farm. In the house, Lorraine tried to absorb Zeus’s enthusiastic greeting.
Ethan’s cousin Ronnie was in the kitchen. She was dressed in jeans, boots, and a sweater. Ronnie might be off duty, but she’d included her sidearm in her casual attire. “How is everything?”
Lorraine buzzed her niece on the cheek and filled her in. “Thanks for house-sitting.”
Sweetums rubbed on Lorraine’s leg and hissed at Abby. The dog cowered, which seemed to satisfy the cat. It jumped onto the bookshelf and stared down with a blend of disdain and superiority.
“Glad to help out, Aunt Lorraine. The horses and Zeus are fed.” Ronnie leaned down to rub Zeus’s head. “But your cat is evil. Isn’t he, Zeus?”
The dog butted Abby’s legs. She went down on one knee, hugged him with one arm, and buried her face in his massive neck for a minute.
“Are you staying?” the chief asked Ronnie.
“Yes,” Ronnie said.
“Then I’m headed home.” The chief left.
“I’m going to check the horses one last time. I’ll take the dog out while I’m at it.” Ronnie put on her coat. “Come on, Zeus.”
She Can Hide (She Can Series) Page 26