We All Sleep Alone (Finley Creek #11) - Calle J. Brookes Page 0,128
way. Strong hands.
Allen Jacobson leaned over her husband. He cursed. “He’s still alive. I need help in here!”
The nurse fell to her knees, next to him, even though there was fresh blood welling on her arm above the black cast she wore. “What do you need me to do?”
“Something to press against the wounds until we can get him on a table with a team.”
They were…treating Wallace. Like they actually gave a damn what happened to him. Like anyone besides her and her son did.
Another man rushed in and jumped over Wallace’s legs. He knelt down across from Dr. Jacobson.
Then another. Coming toward the nurse.
Jennifer barely even noticed.
Jennifer wanted to hold Wallace one more time. He was…dying. She wanted her arms around him one more time.
She couldn’t do that. Not now.
Not with what he’d told them. It was only a matter of time before the TSP came for her.
Jennifer gave her husband one last farewell look. She just…
She would always love Wallace Henedy.
No matter what he did.
Or she did.
She had to get out of there. Find Reggie. Tell him. Tell him she was so sorry.
Hard hands landed on her shoulders. Pulled her away from her husband.
Her eyes met Jake MacNamara’s, and she knew.
He was going to be trouble she didn’t want.
“Councilwoman Henedy, we’re going to have a little talk.” He wrapped one hand around her arm and swung her toward a deputy in uniform.
Jennifer didn’t fight it.
There was nothing more she could do now.
Her last thought as the deputy put cuffs on her was of her son.
Oh, Reggie.
This…this was going to destroy him completely.
117
Wallace Henedy was going to live. He’d stand trial and would confess all his sins. There would be damage, but the bullet had slid beneath his jaw and out his cheek.
Izzie’s uncle had tackled him at the very last second, knocking his hand enough to deflect the bullet.
Allen had stabilized him and then passed him off the already-waiting surgical team, headed by Dr. Macomber.
Now, it was time for him to find Izzie.
He didn’t hesitate.
Jake had taken her down to the ER to be checked out again.
The bullet had passed through Henedy’s jaw and grazed Izzie’s shoulder to lodge in the wall directly behind her.
It had come so close. Allen’s distraction had allowed Jake to come in right as Henedy was aiming.
He found her in the ER, being fussed over by Wanda and Nikkie Jean.
Stockton stood back apart, watching, with a pale expression on a face very similar to Izzie’s.
She saw Allen and stood.
She swayed a little. Shock was going to take hold soon.
She’d already had nightmares about being trapped by Wallace Henedy. Now, she’d had to experience it all over again.
Allen pushed his way through the crowd, his eyes on hers.
She called his name, a breathless gasp at the end.
People got out of his way.
A good thing as Allen had no intention of stopping.
Then he was right in front of her. Where he wanted to be.
“I get it now,” Allen said scooping her into his arms. He didn’t give a damn who saw them now. He’d almost lost his world today. He wasn’t ever letting her go again.
“What?” Her arms slid around his neck. Like they had so many times before. Perfect. Right. He kissed her. Hard. Then pulled back so Izzie could breathe.
“What my fate is.”
She looked at him, a question on her pretty face. “And?”
“I finally figured things out. In another life…you and I were fated to be together, Izadora MacNamara. I don’t know what happened then, but maybe this is our chance to do it right. Maybe we messed it up and this is our second chance. Or maybe we’re destined for each other, and this is how it’s going to work in this lifetime.”
Izzie looked at him. “You’re not making much sense.”
“I’m making perfect sense,” he whispered next to her ear. Just because he wanted to, in spite of everyone around them, he brushed his lips over the sensitive spot beneath her left ear. “I’m fated to be with you. That’s exactly what I want to be.”
She pressed even closer. She looked up at him, her eyes wet with tears. “I want a family. A big one.”
He thought her whispered words were perfect. “I’m ready to start right now.”
She laughed, the tiny bit of a wheeze in the sound. Stress was causing it to flare. He’d get her taken care of, then he’d take her back to his place. Where they’d decide their future, together.