Page 168 of The Secrets She Keeps

“Where’s Timothy?” Gunnar heard Heather yell. “Where is that bastard?”

“French doors! He’s out there,” Miguel swore next. “Lake and crew are pulling in now. ETA less than a minute.”

“Redirect them after Timothy,” Heather said. That woman was definitely used to being in charge. “Scene cleared, except for Timothy Senior!”

“That oily little weasel isn’t getting away for long,” Miguel almost snarled.

“Gun? You good?” Heather yelled.

Powell squirmed beneath him. Gunnar just looked at her. There was blood on Powell now. “Powell?”

His word barely came out at all.

He couldn’t really move.

There was fire. Lots of it. In his chest. Like there had been earlier. But even more.

“Gunnar?” Big brown eyes he would always love just stared at him. Now…he saw horror growing. “Gunnar! He’s hurt!”

Hard hands were there. Pulling him back. Up. And onto the floor. He lay there on his back, aware of those around him, but unable to say a damned word. And stared up at the ceiling of Powell’s parents’ house.

“Shit. He’s taken another to the chest,” Miguel said. “Same general area as the first. Gun, man, hold on. We’ll get you help here in just a minute.”

“Where older Grundenman?” He didn’t want that bastard escaping. Not now. They had so many questions. Were so close. “Get him first.”

“Shit, don’t worry about that. I’ll run Grundenman to ground eventually, Gun. Call it a personal mission. Just hang on. We’ll get you through. I’m not losing another friend, you hear me? Here’s your girl right next to you. Just keep breathing.”

Powell was there. Leaning over him. Tears all over her beautiful face. Gunnar tried to say something. Her name. Tell her how much he loved her. But the words just wouldn’t come.

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Timothy ran.He just ran. He couldn't get caught. He just couldn't. Not with Leena needing him so much. If something happened to him, would Brianna admit who he was? Try to get her sister? He didn't know. But DNA—DNA would show Leena was his daughter. Would the cops just give Leena to Eden or one of the other girls? Would Leena know her family?

Would his girls want to take care of her considering what Timothy had done? Eden already had a child, would she love, want another? Or Bonnie? Would she? What would happen to his little girl now?

He never should have come here tonight. Never should have left Leena behind. Or...or he should have just run. Left her with Brianna. Brianna would have taken care of her. He knew that. She was vain and silly and spoiled and naive about the real world, but at heart Brianna wanted a family. He had long known that.

She was just like him in that regard. Timothy hadn't always made the best decisions in his life. Heaven knew he hadn't. It was hard for him to miss. Maybe Trey was too much like himin that regard too. Hopefully, his daughters, his three beautiful girls he'd had with his Angela, hopefully they werebetter.

Timothy would probably never know. Trey had destroyed everything. For both of them. For both of them.

Timothy barely resisted letting out a sob. His son. His boy.

The police were coming for Trey now. The sirens were closer now.

There was nothing Timothy could do for Trey now.

He hadn't lost Leena. He would not lose his baby girl. He would not.

He kept going. Until he rounded the corner, the last corner before the main entrance to the beautiful neighborhood he had picked out for his family so long ago. He had dreamed of living here, had told Angela so many stories while she was so ill about bringing her here to this neighborhood, after she got better.

Watching her die slowly in front of him had destroyed him.

And made him valuefamilyso much more than he ever had before.

He had family out there. And he would not lose them now.

Timothy almost stumbled right over the man's body on the sidewalk.

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