Page 89 of Almost Home
“Everything okay in here?” Julian walked into the hallway, hands raising slowly as he approached.
“Who are you?Who are you?!”The shrieking question came out furious.
“He’s Julian Grenier. You’ve seen him on magazines, haven’t you, Korry? He’s an old friend.”
I could see that Julian continued to inch toward Madeline as he spoke—no idea how he’d gotten in here but I was so thankful, and so instantly scared for him.
“That’s right. Maddie and I have a few friends in common, and after a while, we got to know one another. She knows my fiancée, too. Quinn thinks the world of you, by the way,” he said to Madeline, talking nonstop and not letting Korry have a word in.
“You—you shouldn’t be here. You’re not supposed to be here. It’s supposed to be just—”
“Korry, really. I’m so sorry to interrupt, but I have to insist I have a moment of Sarah and Maddie’s time. You understand, don’t you?” He slipped fully in front of Madeline who still stood in front of me. Both hands above his head, he spoke as though he had nothing better to do. “Maddie’s only in town for so long, and it’s rare I get a chance to meet with her in person.”
Julian stepped back again, forcing me and Madeline to do the same. We wouldn’t abandon him now, especially considering Korry seemed about to lose it if Maddie went anywhere. Julian angled himself and Korry jockeyed side to side, craning his neck to see past Julian’s much taller body. Julian wasn’t as bulky as Wilder, but he still had inches and pounds on Korry. Eventually, Korry’s back was to the door, and he started absolutely raving. I finally understood the term “stark raving mad” and the unadulterated taste of fear that came from witnessing it.
“She’s mine now, she already said. She’s coming with me. Get out of the way. I don’t want to shoot you—you know what it’s like. If you’re engaged, you know when you love someone, you’d do anything for them. Maddie’s mine and when she realizes it, when she stops resisting me, it’ll all be better.”
All I saw was a flash of daylight in the hallway, and then Korry’s rant turned into a weird, strained gurgle, a dull thump vibrated under my feet, and the air stilled.
“Thank God, Saint. I thought he might actually shoot me,” Julian said, stepping out of the way enough that I could see Wilder’s body crouched over Korry’s inert one.
Relief and a rush of dizziness hit. Korry was down. Or out. Or dead? No, Wilder was zip-tying his hands behind his back. Unconscious, it looked like, but not dead. And Wilder was here—he’d come. Even the view of the side of his face, the curve over his shoulder and a glimpse of his ear made me want to cry out and confess my every thought about him, our future, what I wanted.
I’d never want to relive this insanity, but the adrenaline and fear had clarified everything. Any doubts I felt about staying were completely gone. In truth, they’d been gone weeks ago, but I could see it wasn’t for anyone but myself. I wanted to stay for Wilder, yes. But not because he wanted me to. I would stay for me to be with Wilder. I would stay for my friends. I would stay to figure out the next right step in my career path. No one else was forcing the issue.
I couldn’t spend time wishing it hadn’t taken a brush with death to bring me to this place. It wasn’t that simple. I’d been inching my way toward this revelation, and in some ways had already had it. Korry Taggart had simply shined a light on the reality I’d been struggling to accept. Now that I saw it clearly, it was so obvious. So completely clear.
“Sorry it took a minute. Had to make sure we had backup.” Wilder still crouched down, removing things from Korry’s pockets.
I felt like I might scream if I didn’t touch him soon—hug him and thank him for coming.
“Are you okay? I’m so sorry. I’m so—” Madeline’s voice caught. “So sorry.”
I grabbed both her arms. “This was not your fault.”
She loosed a harsh sigh. “He never would’ve come here if I hadn’t been here. I shouldn’t have—”
I firmed my grip on her arms. “I’m glad you were here. Now he’s not a threat anymore. You being here was probably the best thing that could’ve happened. I’m sorry you had to face him and talk to him. You were nothing short of heroic, trying to get his attention off me.”
She grimaced.
“Seriously, you were. Thank you.”
A shaky hand rose to brush some hair behind her ear. “I think I’m going to sit down.”
I walked her to the table behind us and she sat.
“Where is she? Is she okay? Oh my—” Anthony rushed in and kneeled in front of Madeline. “You’re okay?”
She nodded, seeming dazed. I could relate, though instead of numb, I felt… alive. So freaking alive and ready to take on any challenge after surviving an actual madman. Granted, I hadn’t done a dang thing to help the situation, but I was still alive and in one piece. Still, this invincible feeling translated to one thing: I knew what I wanted and I was going to take it. That alone was cause for celebration.
I stepped out of the conference room to give Anthony and Madeline a moment. The poor man had been so anxious when they’d come a short while ago—knowing she’d been faced with her stalker had to be a nightmare come true.
New voices filled the space, and the fact that I hadn’t been aware of anyone else coming into the building told me my adrenaline-fueled body was starting to miss things. The sensation that had sharpened every sound and movement only minutes ago now made me feel like someone had slid earmuffs over my head and wrapped me in a sheet. My fingers tingled.
“Sarah, can you come talk with the sheriff?” Julian gestured for me to move past him toward the front, skirting a still-passed-out Korry and two police officers to the lobby where Wilder spoke to the sheriff.
My sluggish heart leapt at the chance to be near him. My eyes raked over him, assuring me he was unharmed. Of course he was, but I hadn’t gotten to see him standing or even meet his eye until right now.
