Gone (Deadly Secrets #2)(94)

The gun in Raegan’s hands shook as her arms dropped to her sides, but her adrenaline was still pumping, and the fear was still real, tightening around her throat, keeping her from being able to think or speak or move. Her legs wobbled.

Alec’s head turned her way, and his gaze found hers. “Raegs.” Brushing the water out of his face, he slogged through the pool and up the steps.

His arms closed around her before she hit the ground. In a daze, she was aware of his wet body pressing against her, of his hands carefully taking the gun from her trembling fingers, of his strength pulling her in and holding her up. But she still couldn’t speak. Couldn’t do anything but hold on.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

A tremble rushed through her, and she knew it was the adrenaline crashing, but she couldn’t stop it from happening. “I . . .”

“You’re okay.” He held on even tighter, one arm locked around her waist, the other at her shoulder blades, his warm, wide hand threading into her hair to cradle the back of her head. “I’ve got you,” he said again, almost as if he needed to reassure himself of that fact, not her.

Her cheek pressed against his damp shoulder. She closed her eyes and breathed through her nose, trying to ease the shakes. The instant her eyes were shut, though, a hundred different emotions pummeled her chest, the strongest of which was terror.

“I thought . . .” She curled her fingers into the back of his wet shirt and clung to him. “I thought he was going to kill you.”

“He didn’t.” He rocked her gently, his heartbeat just as fast and erratic as hers. “I’m okay. You’re okay. Scared the shit out of me, though, when I came inside, saw those bullet holes and heard you scream. I thought . . .” His voice trailed off, and a shudder rushed through him, but he only held her tighter.

Her fingers tightened in his dripping shirt. “I should have waited for you, but . . .” Feeling a little steadier, she drew back and looked up at him. Water ran from his hair down the side of his handsome face, making her heart pinch because . . . he’d come after her. He’d saved her life. And she’d failed.

Her stomach dropped, and tears welled in her eyes. “I was afraid if they got here first they’d take her. She’s not here, though. No one’s home, and I don’t know where she is.”

“It’s okay.” He brushed the hair away from her temple and tipped her face up so her eyes met his. “We’ll find her, Raegan. The FBI is on their way, and Hunt’s not letting Kasdan out of his sight until the cops get to her place. I saw the files. They can’t hide Emma from us anymore. It’s over. We’ll find her. I promise we’ll find her.”

She swallowed the dread threatening to consume her and sank against him, hoping and praying he was right. But the fear didn’t seem to want to let go, and she felt as if the fight was being sucked right out of her, draining her of energy, of strength, even of hope.

Alec’s arms closed around her once more, pulling her in. She sank against him and turned to press her cheek to his wet chest as she just tried to breathe, as she told herself this wasn’t the end. Emma was out there somewhere. They had proof now that she was alive. They were going to find her. Her gaze drifted across the pool area and landed on the man who’d attacked her. His big body floated facedown in a sea of red water.

“Oh my God.” Sickness welled in her stomach at the sight, and she closed her eyes quickly, turning her face against Alec’s shirt.

He stilled, muttered, “Shit,” and shifted so he was between her and the pool. “Don’t look.”

Voices echoed somewhere in the house. Raegan heard them but couldn’t turn to look. She was too fixed on not losing the contents of her stomach.

“Down here!” Alec hollered, massaging his fingers against the back of her head while she just tried to breathe.

Footsteps echoed in a nearby room—many—followed by shuffling and the sounds of cloth rustling.

“Damn.” Bickam. That was Jack Bickam’s voice somewhere close. “You two okay?”

“Yeah,” Alec said, still rubbing the back of Raegan’s head. “We’re okay. Just a little banged up.”

“Raegan,” Bickam said gently. “Can you talk?”

Swallowing hard, Raegan lifted her head and looked to her left where Jack Bickam stood nearby, his face filled with concern. Behind him, several people moved into the room, talking quietly as they stepped toward the pool. “I-I’m okay. H-he chased me through the house. I tried to run, but he had Alec in the pool, was holding him under the water. I grabbed his gun from the ground. I just wanted him to let Alec go. I—”

“Sh,” Bickam said in a soothing voice. “It’s okay. We’ll work it all out.” He looked to Alec. “You see anybody else?”

“No.”

“There was another one.” Raegan swallowed hard, fighting back the image of that body hitting the rocks. “H-he chased after me outside. He went over the cliff.”

Bickam smirked. “You took down two attackers? I may need to recruit you for the FBI.”

Alec chuckled against her, but Raegan didn’t find any of it funny. She was too busy trying to get the images of those men out of her head.

Voices picked up in the room. Alec and Bickam spoke quietly about what had just happened, but all Raegan could think about was her daughter. “Jack,” she said, interrupting them. “Emma’s not here. She’s not here and—”