Julia pointed to the female officer. “We’re going someplace with this lady.”
“I don’t wanna go.”
“Shhh, Kayla. It’ll be okay.”
“My dolly.”
“Kayla, please.”
She ran back into the apartment and returned with the doll clutched in her arms.
Julia squeezed Mrs. Fielding’s hand. “Thank you.”
“God keep you safe,” the older woman said. “I’m praying for you.”
If only God would listen.
The officer touched Julia’s arm. “We need to leave now.”
“My purse?”
“I’ll have someone retrieve your things.”
“I homeschool my children. There are books and—”
“I’ll tell them to bring the schoolbooks and supplies.” The officer put her hand on Julia’s shoulder and pointed her down the stairs.
Outside, the flashing lights of the ambulance and police squad cars captured them in their glare. Julia pulled her children close and ran toward the waiting car, her head lowered as the officer had instructed.
They slid into the back seat of the large sedan. Heat pumped from air vents. Julia buckled seat belts and wrapped her arms around the children, her heart nearly pounding out of her chest.
The officer glanced at William. “Did you see anyone shot this evening?”
He lowered his gaze and nodded. “Oscar... Oscar de la Rosa.”
“Who shot him?”
William glanced at Julia before he answered, his voice little more than a whisper. “Frankie Fuentes.”
Julia’s heart broke. Her son was caught in the middle of a Philadelphia turf war between the Philadores and Delphis. Both gangs killed in cold blood and left no witnesses.
Kayla snuggled closer, her eyes heavy.
“Everything’s all right, sweetie,” Julia assured her.
But it wasn’t. Nothing was right and everything was wrong.
Copyright © 2019 by Harlequin Books S.A.
ISBN-13: 9781488040269
Rocky Mountain Showdown
Copyright © 2019 by Victoria Austin
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