Page 64 of Island Rescuer

“I wanted to get a swing in,” Rhett admitted.

“There’s a pretty long line,” Knox said. “Starting with me. Your sister gave him enough to think about for all of us.”

“Will he get out?” she asked. Her voice was a hoarse whisper. “Can he press charges?”

“None that will stick,” Rhett assured her. “I’m going to follow the process for as long as they’ll let me.” He kissed her forehead, then looked at Knox. “Take care of her?

“Count on it.”

It felt as if they were alone, even with the crowd surrounding them. “You took a few years off my life,” Knox said, cuddling her close for a moment. “Why didn’t you wait for me?”

“Because.” She had to clear her throat, it was so raw and painful. “Because I knew you were close. I didn’t think I would have to run this far but I wanted to get him away from the Inn.”

“Of course you did.”

“Can you blame me after what happened at the resort? I did?—”

“Your voice is killing me, sweetheart,” he cut in. “Rest it. You can tell me later.”

“No, now. I checked to see if he was armed. I don’t want you to think?—”

She paused as Lieutenant Frasier joined them. “We’re going to need a statement from you, Harper.”

“Of course,” she rasped. She looked down at her hand stained with Walker’s blood. Her throat burned every time she spoke thanks to the man’s brutality. How long before that passed, she wondered.

“She needs to go to the clinic,” Knox said. “We need to have all this documented.” Misery in his eyes, he pointed to her throat and scraped hands, her torn up dress and knees. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” She reached for him, but he stepped away.

Suddenly exhausted and feeling shaky, Harper couldn’t follow the conversation any longer. Knox and the lieutenant were talking, Lila was urging her along toward a car that had pulled up, and Travis climbed out of the driver’s seat.

* * *

Knox helped Lila guide Harper to Travis’s car. “After the clinic, just get her back to the Hargrave place. Please.”

“Sure thing,” Travis said.

“Hang on.” Harper stopped short. “You’re not coming with me?”

“Not yet. I need to file my report,” he said. It was the last thing he wanted to do, but it was part of the job. “I’ll come by and see you.”

He didn’t like the frown creasing her brow or the uncertainty swirling in her gaze. She didn’t seem to believe him. That hurt after all they’d been through. Hadn’t he been up front with everything? He’d told her Jenna had found the connection between Walker and one of his dad’s sketchy real estate groups. Gamble and Swann had known his parents were problematic from the start.

And they’d hired him anyway. Vouched for him time and again.

That didn’t mean Harper should be as accepting. His parents would never change. If they learned he was with Harper, they’d never stop trying to dig into the Ellington pockets.

“I’ll come by,” he promised with a soft kiss to her cheek. “Just as soon as I can.”

“I’ll be waiting.” She wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug.

He held her close, playing it as cool as possible while his body still quaked with fear and adrenaline. He’d nearly lost her.

Nearly.

“Come on, Harper.” Lila drew her away. She’d arrived with Travis. Knox figured that must’ve been a lively discussion between the couple. “We’ll take her by the clinic first,” she added.

“Thanks.” They would make sure she was all right.

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