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He turned as Julian and I approached.
“Sarah can do her statement now, and then we’ll get to Madeline. I’m sure we don’t want to keep her waiting,” Julian said.
“No, please do Madeline first,” I said, knowing I wouldn’t be able to focus until I had a minute with Wilder. “Can I… see you outside?”
I had no idea whether maintaining professional distance mattered to him. I didn’t want to collapse into his arms and cry, but for some reason, that was exactly what I felt coming. I needed to touch him and be close to him. I needed him to hold me and reassure me. And I definitely needed to do all those things before I talked through the events of the last… however long it’d been. I had no idea how much time had elapsed between Korry walking in the door and Wilder subduing him.
Thankfully, he needed no other explanation. He took my hand, entwined our fingers, and walked out the front door.
CHAPTERFORTY-FIVE
Wilder
Years of training allowed me to exit the building, but I made it no farther. I crushed her to me the second the door swung shut, my hands releasing only to satisfy myself that she wasn’t hurt.
“Are you okay?”
Her blue gaze met mine as tears spilled over the edge. “I’m okay.”
I clutched her to me again, palming the back of her head and rocking her like it might bring her comfort. Or maybe it was me who needed that.
I’d known something was off when Julian texted 911 and a mishmash of letters I assumed were typed without looking. My weapon was tucked in my office safe, and I couldn’t guess at the problem, but I figured it out quickly. I came in hard and fast to maintain the advantage and fortunately, Korry Taggart hadn’t seen me coming.
“You’re okay. You are.”
She pulled in a breath and leaned back. “I’m so sorry. I know I messed up, but I’m not sure what I should’ve done. I really need you to train me for stuff like this if this could happen again, okay?”
A relieved laugh jumped out. “This shouldn’t have happened, and you did perfectly. You and everyone else is alive, and that’s all we need for now.”
And we needed to see Taggart prosecuted to the full extent of the law, which he very likely would be now that he’d made this idiot move. Letting my mind go there prompted me—I needed to tell her what she meant to me. Seeing her in danger had clarified that.
“Can we get your statement now, Ms. James?” One of the deputies peeked out from the front door.
Sarah swiped under each eye and stepped out of my grasp, though I pivoted and rested a hand on her lower back. The idea of leaving her again for any amount of time was untenable. I wouldn’t cram in my confession now with the deputy hanging nearby, but at least I could stay with her.
The deputy led her to the couch in the entryway and got situated while she sat. I stood a few feet away to give her space, but I wanted to hear, too. I caught her eye, and she nodded like she understood I needed her to confirm it was okay for me to stay.
And then she started, and the terror I’d felt crystalized into something more real than I’d experienced in twenty years. She talked about Taggart insinuating himself inside and ultimately holding her at gunpoint until Madeline showed her face. And God bless the woman, she should’ve stayed hidden, but she didn’t. I’d need to grovel at her feet for saving Sarah, never mind the fact that this never should’ve happened to begin with. This guy should’ve never gotten out of the state of California, let alone here to Silverton, inside my building, to catch Sarah and Madeline alone in the building.
Brad and Anthony would hear from me on the matter, though from the repeated apologies from Brad and the outright tears from Anthony, I doubted I needed to say a word. Their guilt over leaving her to grab lunch would hang heavy on them for a while, I’d guess. The bigger issue was how this had happened in the first place, and we’d figure that out soon enough. I vowed then and there that I’d run the whole show for Madeline going forward, or not at all. For her and anyone else, for that matter. Brad would read me in on everything and I’d get my guy on her protection. Korry Taggart might be off the table now, but this wouldn’t happen again on my watch.
We’d create our training courses faster. I’d always imagined teaching self-defense, basic wilderness survival, and other things I’d developed expertise in over the last twenty years, but I’d seen them farther down the line. Maybe Sarah would be the first student.
What felt like a lifetime later, the deputy had all he needed, and Sarah let me fold her into my arms again. My heart hadn’t stopped clanging in my chest, beating so hard, I thought my ribs would break with each new detail she revealed.
“Can you come to my office? Do you mind staying for a few minutes?” Taggart had been carted away already so she wouldn’t need to worry about seeing him.
“I don’t want to leave you,” she said, taking my hand in a firm grasp.
Her answer revved my determination, and I returned the hold, marching down the hall, stopping only to give a nod to the people in the conference room. I’d have to deal with them soon enough, and then I’d shut this place down and drag Sarah home with me, and I wouldn’t leave her for another second. Maybe ever.
I followed her in and shut the door behind us.
“What did you want to—”
Her small grunt as I swallowed her in another hug made me loosen my hold.
“Sorry. I just… I can’t stop thinking about that idiot holding a gun to your head, and it’s driving me out of my mind.”
