Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(89)

Justice knew his father wasn’t interested in young girls, at least not sexually. Lillie would be spared that. But if Bart made good on his word, then Lillie would die and not quickly. Bart had always enjoyed the process.

“A quality problem,” his father said with a cackle.

“I’m getting all this,” Felicia said in a low voice. “So are the others. They’re moving in. They only need a few more minutes.”

Justice knew they wouldn’t be here soon enough. He wasn’t sure anyone was a trained sharpshooter, and with Lillie so close, she could easily be hit.

Justice took aim.

Bart picked up the girl and held her in front of him like a shield. Lillie screamed. He lowered the gun and Bart lowered the girl.

“You see how this is going to be,” his father told him. “I’m glad of that. I thought you were too far gone to play the game. What were you thinking, son? It was one thing when you were in the military. You belonged there. But this town? With folks like her?” He shook Lillie. “You can’t. It’s just not right.”

Justice watched and waited. Bart would make a mistake. He had to.

“You’ve got too much of me in you, boy.”

“You’re right about that,” Justice said. “You fooled them all and you found me. How’d you do it?”

“You got your picture in the paper, boy. Guarding some fat-cat banker in Europe. From there I got your name. Justice. What the hell?”

“One of the marshals suggested it. I like it.”

His father glared at him. “You’re my son and you’ll take my name. You hear me?”

“I want nothing from you.”

Bart was getting angry. The tactic had risks, but Justice knew how fast he could fire. At this distance, taking out Bart was a sure thing. It was all going to be about the timing.

“You never were right in the head,” his father said angrily. “Siding with the cops. That was wrong. You had too much of your mother in you. Too much of her weakness. I tried to beat it out of you, but I wasn’t hard enough on you. Damn you, boy.”

Bart stepped to the side. For a second, he released his hold on Lillie. The girl spun.

“Lillie, get down!”

The shout filled the quiet, but Justice hadn’t been the one to call out. Before he even got his rifle in position, a shot rang out and Bart dropped to the ground.

Not knowing who had intervened, Justice was already moving. He crossed the clearing and grabbed Lillie.

“It’s me,” he told her, peeling away the blindfold, even as he carried her into the woods and away from Bart. “You’re okay now.”

He removed the gag next and she gasped for air, then started to cry.

A tall, dark-haired man stepped out from behind a tree. Ford Hendrix shrugged. “I had the better shot,” he said. “So I took it. Hope you don’t mind.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

PATIENCE WATCHED HER daughter sleep. For the first two nights, her daughter had slept fitfully, but now she was more relaxed and settled.

The past couple of days had been a blur. Once Lillie had been rescued, there had been a whirlwind of conversations with the police and counselors. She’d been checked out by her doctor and hailed a hero by the town.

Patience slipped out of the room and returned to the living room. She’d finally convinced Ava and Steve it was okay for them to leave. Patience knew she would be sleeping in Lillie’s room for however long it took for her daughter to feel safe.

From what she could tell, Lillie was healing. Patience wished she could say the same for herself. Every time she closed her eyes, she was back in the horror of what had happened. She was so tired of talking about the kidnapping, yet nearly every daylight hour brought another concerned friend or neighbor stopping by with food and good wishes.

The front door opened and Justice walked in. She crossed to him knowing he would hold her and make all the scary parts go away. He’d been there for her constantly, stepping between her and the authorities, directing everyone. He’d been the one Lillie wanted to talk to.

“How’s she doing?” he asked, stroking her hair.

“Better. She’s really asleep and she seems calmer.” She managed a slight smile. “I think she’s enjoying being a celebrity. Everyone is calling her a hero.”

“She was very brave.”

“I know. I’m glad school’s out. She doesn’t have to deal with telling the same story over and over again. By the time summer camp starts on Monday, most kids will be done talking about it.” She looked up at him. “You missed dinner.”

“Didn’t you get my message? I had a meeting.”

“I did get the message. And I saved you some mac and cheese. It’s homemade and really delicious.”

“The casserole brigade.”

“You can mock it all you want, but this town comes through for people. Based on the rate casseroles are flowing into my freezer, I won’t have to cook for at least a month. I kind of like that.”

He touched her hair, then the side of her face. His blue gaze seemed to be studying her. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m okay. I go from terrified to numb and back about fifteen times an hour.”

“That’s normal. It will get better. The mind heals.”