Page 5 of Unlocking Hope

ZOEY

“Ma’am, you need to move.”

Zoey hadn’t heard the paramedic come up behind her until he spoke, but it was the hand on her shoulder that startled her. She’d been watching Paul’s chest rise with each breath and kept hoping he would make it until help came. Paul had helped her through the worst of living on the streets, and now he might die because of her.

The man Zoey had tried to shoot less than an hour ago continued to press his hand against Paul’s wound and talk to the paramedics as they took over the scene. She’d moved to the side so the men and woman could work on him, but she still gripped his large calloused hand in hers. Zoey hadn’t even realized she’d been crying until the wet tear hit her hand and dripped onto Paul’s. Maybe if she had stayed and not gone to the house, Paul wouldn’t be in critical condition, and Al might still be alive.

Zoe looked over to the side of the alleyway and watched as an officer took pictures of the scene. She could tell them precisely who’d killed Al, but Zoey didn’t know who to trust after Nixson’s men had destroyed her home. Everything she’d ever owned had gone up in smoke, including the only picture she had of her mom. The fire marshal had tried to say it looked like she’d lefta curling iron on, which was impossible. Zoey had never owned a curling iron, but they showed her pictures of one sitting on the burnt counter in her bathroom. Someone had planted the evidence, and the police had done nothing to figure out the truth, even though Zoey had told them her side.

“Kate, come stand over here.”

She still couldn’t believe the man she’d shot at earlier had saved her life. Knowing the paramedics needed to do their job, she squeezed Paul’s hand one more time before standing.

“Thank you.” The words didn’t seem like enough.But what do you say to the person who saved you from dying?

“For what?”

“Saving me from being shot or hauled off to a torture chamber.”

“Anyone would’ve done the same thing.”

She looked from the paramedics to the man next to her. “No sane person would save someone who shot at them earlier.”

“I’m sane.” His lip turned up, and the cocky smile made him look even hotter than before.

“I need to leave.” The police would start to ask questions, and she didn’t know who to trust. Nixson would have someone watching the streets, so she needed to run. Every second she waited around was another second Eric could regroup and come after her.

“Do you trust me?”

“No.”

“Good answer—you shouldn’t trust anyone you just met, but you do owe me.”

Zoey squared her shoulders, ready to take on the man who was trying to blackmail her into something. She was done letting people bully her. Zoey took another look at the man. He was wearing a navy-blue polo shirt that was tight around the muscles on his biceps. His short blond hair was a mess from running hishand through it, but she wanted to see his crystal blue eyes again when she told the man off.

“I don’t owe anyone.” The words came out louder than she’d expected, and everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at her.

“Okay, Kate, you don’t owe me, but I want to help. How about after we talk to the police, me and you head to a restaurant for lunch?”

“I really need to go. I can’t talk to the police, and no to food. No place will let me in. I know how bad I smell. It’s enough to make me sick, but I have no food in my stomach to throw up.”

“Stay.”

She really didn’t like the fact that the arrogant man told her to stay like an ordinary house dog, but her feet didn’t move. Instead, she watched as the man walked over to another man barking orders. The sound of a groan had her tearing her eyes from the two men talking to the paramedics lifting Paul onto a gurney and wheeling him down the alley. She rushed to his side and gripped his hand. Paul’s lips moved, and she placed her ear over them. “Be safe” were the last words Paul said before the paramedic pulled her away.

Her eyes watered as she watched them load him up into the ambulance and leave. She wanted to go along but knew it would be too dangerous. When a hand touched her shoulder, her heart sped up, but she stopped herself from swinging and trying to take the person out.

“Didn’t mean to scare you.”

Zoey shrugged. “I wasn’t paying attention.”

He didn’t call her out on her blatant lie—it was more than not paying attention to everything going on around her. “Can I go now?”

“Normally, you would need to give a statement, but Officer Anders said we can come down tomorrow or he could come to my house.”

“Just like that.”

“Uh-huh. Now I don’t know about you, but I’m starving and could use a good meal. It’s been one of those days. You know what I’m talking about, when you wake up, head to work, and someone shoots at you.”

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