Page 65 of Marked

They’d made it out of the most dangerous area and Bella was merely minutes from being in her arms. Leaves rustled as Lexi squatted beside her. The gentle flow of her new friend’s hand up and down her back made Sophia push down the torrent of relief and lower her hands.

“I can’t believe it,” she said, her voice hoarse. “All those gunshots...”

“And still she’s safe,” Lexi finished. “I don’t mean to gloat or anything, but I told you they’d make it.” Lexi’s shoulder lifted and dropped nonchalantly.

Sophia swiped the knuckle of her thumb under one eye and then the other. “I’m glad I was wrong.” The somber tone of her own voice almost pulled her back down to despair. They weren’t out of the woods yet.

She’d reserve her prayers of thanks for when she laid eyes on Bella. Even then, they’d have a long road to recovery. Though she didn’t know the full extent of Bella’s experience, her daughter would be, without a doubt, traumatized. And Sophia would do everything in her power to bring her back to normalcy. Even if it meant taking an extended leave from work.

Unlimited time with her daughter. Time she’d never again take for granted.

With that plan firmly in mind, she grasped Lexi’s extended hand and stood. “Maybe we should start walking? What if—”

Lexi dropped Sophia’s hand. Her sharp intake of breath made Sophia whirl around.

A figure moved through the trees. Branches snapped away from the advancing shadow. The glow of a flashlight stilled Sophia’s heart. She brought her hand to her sternum.

Her instincts collided with caution, the stronger of the two telling her to run fast and hard toward the person approaching. As the shape got closer, another silhouette came into view. Two men were walking toward them.

One was carrying something against his chest.

Bella.

Sophia darted through the forest. Branches swatted her in the face, nicking her skin and catching her hair. She didn’t slow.

Apparently spotting her, Cole started to jog. The flashlight’s beam from someone who carried it next to him—one of his brothers, Dare?—danced around the trees.

Less than twenty feet separated them. She could make out Bella’s long dark hair and her own cardigan wrapped around her daughter’s shoulders. She looked so tiny in Cole’s arms. So helpless and small, yet it was the most incredible sight.

A miracle.

“Bella!” The woeful cry broke from Sophia’s chest involuntarily. Cole reached her and shifted Bella into her arms.

Her daughter’s warm, childlike scent filled her nostrils. Like honeysuckle. So sweet and innocent.

“She’s sleeping,” Cole said, his breathing labored.

Sophia closed her eyes and squeezed Bella’s little body. Her arms wrapped around Sophia’s neck and she moaned. “Mommy?”

“Yes, baby. Yes, I’m here.” The words came out on sobs. She closed her eyes and sent a silent prayer overhead.

Her baby had been returned. She wouldn’t be another statistic, another missing child whose image people would glance at and forget.

She was home.

Thanks to one person.

Sophia opened her eyes and stared into Cole’s hard, masculine face. Dirt marred his cheeks and clenched jaw. He towered over Bella and her, a force that didn’t terrify her but filled her with appreciation.

Yesterday, Cole was her enemy. Now, he was her salvation.

CHAPTER 17

“No fucking way,” Cole hissed in the darkness. His head throbbed, probably a result of the gunshot wound. Or maybe just because his brother was annoying the fuck out of him.

“What?” Dare said, disdain in his voice. He was still standing in the woods. “You want them to drive themselves home? Or stay alone while you go on a killing spree?” He tightened his bulletproof vest.

Goddammit.

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