Page 168 of Capturing You
But God must’ve listened. They were still alive, weren’t they? It was him and Brooklynn against a gang of killers.
Obviously, God was on Brooklynn’s side. That had been clear from that very first day, the way He’d brought Forbes to rescue her.
He’d thought that was all about Brooklynn, that God was using Forbes for her sake.
What an idiot he’d been.
As if Brooklynn wasn’t the greatest gift God had ever given him.
He knew now that God was on his side, too, and had been all his life.
Forbes had survived that terrible night. He’d never wanted for anything. He hadn’t been sent to foster care but instead had been raised by a loving and devoted grandmother.
Now he had a woman he loved, a woman he thought that he could build a life with. If God granted it and smiled on him. If God loved him.
Which…which of course He did.
He’d proved it in a million ways. It was only Forbes’s foolishness that had convinced him otherwise. His bitterness and anger and quest for vengeance.
God had been there all along.
A snap had Bryce’s head turning.
Forbes launched himself out of the cave and barreled into the larger man, aiming for his back.
They both went down.
But Forbes had the element of surprise. He braced himself with his knees and one hand, wrapped his other arm around Bryce’s neck, and squeezed.
The man tried to buck him off, but Forbes hooked his foot around Bryce’s ankle, keeping them connected, never letting up pressure against his carotid artery.
Bryce’s strength seeped away. He went limp.
But Forbes stayed on top of him, to be sure.
The man’s breathing evened out. He’d wake up soon, though he’d be woozy.
Forbes scrambled off him, found his weapon and pocketed it, then brought his own gun down—hard—on Bryce’s head.
He wasn’t sorry for the headache the man would suffer. At least he’d still be breathing when this was over.
Forbes returned to the mouth of the cave and peeked down.
Brooklynn’s eyes were wide with fear. Seeing him, she climbed the first few steps, and then Forbes gripped her wrist and pulled her out.
They paused for a few seconds, both catching their breath, both peering into the woods.
No more enemies that he could see. Where was everybody?
Hopefully, the rest of them had climbed down the rocky slope to the cove to wait for Forbes and Brooklynn to emerge. But he wouldn’t count on it.
“Stay low,” he said. “Move as fast as you can. I’ll provide cover. When you get the door open, go inside and leave it cracked.” He handed her Bryce’s gun. “You know how to use that?”
She checked the safety, ensured it wasn’t engaged, then gripped it like a pro.
“I’ll take that as a yes. Let’s move.”
They stepped carefully along the path, then paused at the edge of the lawn.
