“Goddamn it, Emma.” He placed the glass on the table and poured out a fistful of pills into his hand. With his other hand, he pinched her nose. “Don’t fight me. You’ve got to breathe sometime.”
She held her breath for as long as she could. When she couldn’t any longer and parted her lips, he shoved the pills in her mouth. She spit them in his face.
He slapped her hard. “You fucking bitch.” He grabbed his gun. “Do that again and I will blow your head off.”
The duct tape around her wrists seemed to be loosening. She needed more time. “Shoot me and this won’t look like a suicide, Larry. It will ruin all your plans.”
“If I have to hold you down to take these pills, I will.”
“Wait. Let me at least write a note to say good-bye to Autumn and Andrea.” More time. Please. Larry’s gun would be within reach once her hands were free. “Please, Larry. Wouldn’t a suicide note help seal the deal for your plan?”
“What do you take me for, Emma? A fool? I’m not untying you.” He poured out another fistful of pills into his hand.
With all her might, she twisted her wrists and was able to free her hands. She didn’t hesitate, but clawed at his face with one hand and reached for the gun with the other.
He shoved her and the chair to the ground before she got the pistol.
“Fuck you.” He grabbed the gun and touched his face, which was bleeding from her scratches. He punched her, and pain shot through her jaw.
Her ankles were still attached to the legs of the chair, so she couldn’t run. The whole world was on its side. She could see her front door though her vision was blurry.
Larry brought the barrel to her head. “Time to die, bitch.”
The door opened and in ran her two Marines, guns firing.
Larry fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Bane and Adam ran to her, quickly releasing her legs from the chair.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” Adam’s concern was all over his face.
Bane bent over Larry’s unmoving body.
She took a deep, calming breath. “I’m fine now that you and Bane are here.”
Adam lifted her up into his arms.
“Larry is dead,” Bane said flatly. “He’s no longer a threat, sweetheart.”
Adam kissed her on the cheek. “The fucker will never hurt you again, Em.”
“Or my girls.” She looked at them, the two men who had never given up on her. “The voices. They weren’t real. I’m not going crazy.”
Chapter Fifteen
Emma sat between Bane and Adam in Sheriff Champion’s office. Bane had his arm around her and Adam held her hand.
Caleb, their FBI boss, sat in the chair closest to the sheriff, who was behind his desk.
“Are you sure you are ready for this, Emma?” Sher
iff Champion asked.
“I’m fine. Your son is an excellent doctor.” She’d learned that the sheriff had once been a physician himself.
“Yes, he is. I’m very proud of him. So no broken bones?”
“Alex checked me out and said I was good to go. The fact that I know I’m not losing my mind has given me such relief I feel I could do anything right now.”