Page 77 of Landon

Roy’s composure crumbled, his breathing ragged, eyes flicking to the wineglasses on the counter. “I’ll wait until my lawyer arrives,” he snapped, though his voice was unsteady.

“You go ahead and lawyer up,” Landon replied, his mouth spreading into a feral grin. “But if anything happens to Noel because of you, I’ll come after you myself.” His voice dropped to a dark, dangerous edge. “Now, tell me what you gave her, or I swear you’ll regret it.”

Roy faltered as Noel sagged against Landon, her legs giving out beneath her. “It was just… something mild. To make her sleepy,” Roy stammered, his hands raised in surrender.

She looked up at Roy. “You gave me something… make me sleepy and… then tried to get me to drive… home?” Her gaze was bleary, her hand weak as it gripped Landon’s arm.

Another sound came from the front, and Cole walked in with a bevy of FBI agents and local police. Landon recognized his friend, Agent Everett Tomey.

“We found your man,” Everett said, his voice like steel. “At the entrance to your subdivision. Man has a record… easy hire for whatever you need. The one you hired to run Ms. Lennox off the road, Barton. He’s talking—willing to make a full confession to save himself.”

Roy’s face drained of color, his jaw tightening as he gritted out, “I’m not saying anything else.”

Landon shifted, lifting Noel securely in his arms. His anger burned hotter as he met Roy’s eyes. “You can play silent all you want, but you’re telling me right now what you put in her drink.”

Roy's face was tight, but he blurted, “Sleeping pills. She only had a small amount of a prescription for sleeping. Enough to make it easy for her to have a car accident if someone ran her off the road.”

Everett nodded, and the FBI agents rushed forward and quickly arrested Roy.

“Landon… I feel… sick,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I know, sweetheart. I’m here.” His tone softened with every word. “I have you now. You’re safe.”

Devil was already on the phone with LSIMT, asking about the drug she'd been given.

“I'm so sorry, so sorry,” Noel muttered as Landon held her so tightly her face was smooshed against his chest.

“It's not your fault,” he said, heading to the door.

“He said I needed to come by… sign some papers that I… needed. Didn't look right to me. Then… he offered… wine, and we talked… he seemed nice.”

“You didn’t get my messages,” Landon groaned.

“No… not until I was trying to leave.” Her brows lowered. “I’m… sick and tired… all this… stupid stuff… happening…”

“Devil, we’ve got to go to the hospital,” he yelled, hurrying to the front door.

Devil said, "They can do a toxicology report, but it helps us to know what she was given. I’m getting the bottles and glasses for them to fast-track the evidence."

Everett hurried alongside Landon. “There’s an ambulance already outside. He told me to come in with no signs.”

He carried her bridal style, then turned just as he heard Devil ask, “Which Fugates knew about this? Who was in on the plan to kill Pamela?”

Noel lifted her head, looking at Roy. Landon didn't think Roy was going to answer. “Not wasting time here.”

Suddenly, Roy shouted, “None of them! Stan is a fucking loser when it comes to his ex-wife. I told him years ago she was a gold-digging bitch. When they divorced, I thought we’d be rid of her, but she kept coming back, dragging her claws into the family.” His chest heaved, his eyes flashing with a sick satisfaction. “The only way the Fugates could ever be free of her was if she was dead!” He thumped his chest with a twisted pride. “I was the one to protect the family. Mike agreed with me. He despised her just as much.”

The FBI was still talking to him, but Landon had heard enough. He turned and stalked out, placing Noel in the back of the ambulance and then climbing in with her.

“Meet you there,” Devil said.

Landon offered a chin lift, and that was all. He turned to look at Noel, giving her his complete focus. She gave a sleepy grin and held his hand as the paramedics started an IV.

“Come on, baby. Stay with me,” he said, leaning close. As the words left his lips, he realized he meant them in every way possible.

35

As dawn broke, Noel stood by the window, gazing at the sprawling mountains painted in the soft morning light. The world felt still, the quiet beauty of the scene washing over her, and for a moment, the tension in her shoulders melted. She held her cup of tea close, breathing in its warmth, savoring the comforting heat as she took a sip. It was cool enough to drink, the perfect balm for her frayed nerves.

---