Page 165 of The Secrets She Keeps

“I know. I’m sorry, Timothy. That you lost her. That we lost her. But this…this is wrong and you know it. On your knees.”

“I can’t do that.” He couldn’t. Leena was out there. And she needed him. He wasn’t ready to let her go. To go to prison, and lose everything he had worked for all of this time. What kind of legacy would he leave his daughters then?

126

The younger Grundenmanhad her by the wrist. He yanked Powell to her feet and covered her stomach with one hand. The gun pressed against the side of her neck. She froze. Her father cursed.

Her eyes met blue ones. “Gunnar.”

“Yes, precious Gunnar,” Trey mocked.

Everyone stood still.

“Trey, let her go. Right now,” his father said.

As sirens sounded outside.

“That your people, Fucking Heather? Call them off,” Trey ordered. Powell could feel him shaking. Feel the sweat on his hand where he touched her. Could smell it. Powell fought the urge to gag. “Call them off now.”

“That’s not our team,” Heather said. “Patrol unit probably.”

“From the gunshots. McKellen was looking for help,” Gunnar said. Powell looked at him, he was so pale. And the blood on his shirt—the stain was getting bigger. Utter fear for him threatened to send her to her knees. “Major Crimes will be here at any moment.”

‘Will it be too late for her, though? For little Baby Erickson right here?” He spread his fingers over her stomach. Almost reaching up to touch her chest.

Powell arched back.

She could see the gun. Right there next to her face.

Pointed at the man she loved.

127

Trey wasbeyond the point of anyone helping him. Grief for his son continued to build.

But Timothy couldn’t do this any longer. He had to get to Leena. He had to.

Everyone was watching Trey now.

Detective Erickson, Heather, Commander Rodriguez—they all had guns pointed right at Trey. Timothy wasn’t a damned fool, he knew this was going to end badly for Trey.

Timothy couldn’t stay for this. He couldn’t watch.

He just couldn’t.

He took another step toward the sliding glass doors.

No one was really watchinghim.

Or the boy Tuell, who still knelt bound with purple and pink tape, practically praying for rescue.

Well, there was no rescue coming for that boy.

There just wasn’t. Rescue wasn’t coming for any of them now.

Timothy took another step.

Until he was closer.

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