Page 60 of PenPal Hero

“Hold on, cowboy!” The sheriff sprinted after him. “I’m driving.”

Nodding, Holt accompanied him to his police cruiser. They roared out of the police station’s parking lot, sirens screaming.

Holt continued praying beneath his breath. “Open Bonnie’s eyes, Lord, and keep Jackson safe. Please keep them all safe.” Jackson’s report that the other security guard was “down” filled him with dread. However, he didn’t want to read too much into it yet. “Just keep ‘em alive ’til we get there. I’m begging you, God.”

The number of times his mother and sister had invited him to church flashed across his mind, filling him with guilt. It seemed dishonest somehow to be asking God for favors, considering he’d pretty much only darkened the doors of church buildings for weddings and funerals.

That needs to change. I need to change. Maybe if he crammed enough Bible verses inside his head, they would crowd out the effects of his captors’ tampering. It was a good thought, anyway.

Sheriff Malone skidded into the motel parking lot on the edge of town in record time.

Holt pushed open his door and leaped out before the vehicle rolled to a complete stop.

“Bonnie!” He shouted her name over and over as he sprinted toward the line of motel rooms.

Sheriff Malone leaped out of the cruiser, leaving his door open, and sprinted after Holt. He directed Holt to start in the middle of the line of doors. “You go right, and I’ll go left.”

They proceeded to bang on each door, calling for Bonnie and Jackson to open up.

A few patrons cracked open their doors to holler at them for interrupting their sleep.

Holt reached the last door on his side, feeling more helpless than ever. Before he could knock on the door, he heard banging and grunting on the other side. Taking a chance, he reared back and kicked the door handle with all his might.

The door crashed open. The sight that met him on the other side made his blood chill.

The female agent who’d gone on the run with Jackson and Bonnie was lying unconscious on the floor. An ugly bruise was rising on her left temple.

Bonnie was straddling her brother, viciously wrestling him for his gun. “I won’t let you put me back in the trunk,” she shrieked. His right eye was nearly swollen shut.

“I would never hurt you,” he huffed. “You know that!” He wasn’t truly fighting her. He was merely holding her off, attempting to keep her from getting her hands on his weapon.

As Holt hurried over to them, Jackson grunted, “About time you showed up!”

Holt took a knee beside them. “It’s not real, Bonnie. Whatever you think you see, it’s not real.” He tentatively touched her shoulder, not wanting to make any sudden moves that would spark her defenses. He wanted her to see that he was on her side.

She swung her head dazedly in his direction.

“I’m real, Bonnie. What we feel for each other is real.” He felt like weeping at the devastation twisting her lovely features. Her movements were frenzied and frantic. Her bosom rose and fell rapidly in pure panic mode.

“Our love is real.” His voice cracked with emotion. “The other stuff inside your head?” He gestured at her brother. “The monsters and the darkness you think you see aren’t real. You can turn them off and make them go away like I did.”

She returned her gaze to her brother, blinking rapidly. “Jackson?” she choked. Her eyes slowly filled with tears. “What have I done?” she whispered.

Her oldest brother relaxed his hold on her upper arms and slumped back against the floor.

“Bonnie.” Holt drew her attention back to him with his voice. “It’s okay, babe. I’ve got you.” He reached for her, and she tumbled into his arms, raining tears all over his neck and shoulder.

He closed his eyes and simply held her, threading his fingers through her short, dyed blonde hair. Her new look was going to take some getting used to.

She was going to be okay, though. He could only hope the same was true for the unconscious security guard on the other side of the room.

He continued holding her while Jackson leaped into motion, dialing 911 to request an ambulance.

Sheriff Malone dashed into the room and took charge, calling for backup.

EPILOGUE

December

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