Page 85 of Crumbling Truth
The second Drew lifted his gaze to Theo’s face, something swung in the space over my head and struck Drew’s shoulder with a thud. The knife clattered onto my lap as he screamedand spun around, but whoever was behind me grabbed him and Theo dropped to his knees in front of me, using the knife to slice through the zip ties.
As soon as my wrists and ankles were free, he yanked me out of the chair and turned us so his body was blocking mine from whatever was happening behind him, pressing my back against the wall and shielding me with his larger frame. Shuddering sobs wracked my body even as he started murmuring soothing words into my ear.
When silence fell, I heard Alex’s voice say, “It’s okay, he’s tied up.”
Theo stared down at me like the world was still crumbling around us. “Are you hurt?” he asked, running his hands down my arms. I blinked at him until he repeated the question, this time more urgently.
“No,” I said finally. “No, I’m not hurt.”
In the next second, I was wrapped in his arms again, crushed against his chest. The steady thump of his heart wound through me like the sweetest melody. My hands, still tingling with numbness, gripped the front of his jacket.
When Alex waved the police inside, Theo finally turned our bodies back toward the room. Drew’s arms were tied behind his back, though he was still howling about his shoulder. There was a metal garden stake on the floor that I assumed Alex had used to hit him. The hunting knife, glittering now with a reflection of the lights from the police cruisers outside, lay beside it.
Detective Hanson cuffed Drew and passed him to an officer I didn’t know before coming over to us. “There’s paramedics right behind us. We weren’t sure what we’d be walking into here. I don’t see any blood, but you should let them look you over, Esther.”
Theo thanked her, then pulled back just enough to smooth my hair off my face and inspect me more closely. “Will you let them? For my sake, if not your own.”
I laughed, though it sounded hoarse and a little bit hollow. “You just told a man with a giant ass knife to let me go and make you pay instead. I guess the least I can do is let an EMT check my vitals.”
When Alex joined us outside, Theo released me to the care of the paramedic and pulled his brother into a tight hug. I watched them, blinking back a sheen of tears, as a woman named Casey checked my pulse. Her fingers were gentle against the red, raw marks the zip ties had left on my skin.
“You have someone to stay with tonight?” she asked.
Theo met my eyes over Alex’s shoulder and smiled so tenderly that my tears spilled over, trailing unimpeded down my cheeks. I nodded, both at him and in response to her question.
“Yes, I do,” I said softly.
“Good. Your vitals are all strong, though your pulse is a little high. Your wrists are scraped and irritated, but the skin isn’t broken. I want you to go home and take it easy for the night, got it?”
I nodded, thanked her, and let Theo pull me back into his arms until Roberts came over to take our statements. Though I must have answered all of his questions adequately, I barely remembered any of it, only dimly aware of Theo eventually thanking Hanson and the chief.
The next thing I knew, I was bundled between Theo and Alex in the truck, each of them chafing one of my frozen hands between both of theirs while heat blasted from the vents. They were careful to avoid the red bands around my wrists, but as my digits came painfully back to life, the tears started to fall again.
“I know it hurts, but you’re cold as ice,” Theo murmured, kissing my temple.
“You two make quite a team,” I choked out, trying for a smile. It wobbled, but they both smiled back at me.
“Can you forgive us for getting you into this mess?” Alex asked.
I met Theo’s eyes and he lifted one hand to brush the tears from my cheek. “Of course,” I whispered. “You saved my life. Both of you.”
Alex released my other hand as Theo wrapped his arms around me. Though there was more to say, that simple statement trumped all of it. The brothers had forgiven each other, come to my rescue, and risked their lives for my own. I had a feeling that went a long way toward healing the hurt of the last few days for all of us.
“Can we go home now?” I asked, my voice muffled against Theo’s jacket.
He reluctantly released me, though not before pressing a kiss first to my forehead and then to my lips.
“Yes, absolutely. Let’s go home.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Theo
WedroppedAlexatEsther’s car, which he agreed to leave parked in the plaza where his plow truck was waiting for him. Before he slipped out of the truck, however, Esther caught his hand in a tight squeeze. I was ashamed of myself all over again for overreacting to their friendship, but Alex caught sight of my face and shook his head.
“Forgiven, brother. All of it. We’re moving forward now.”
I inclined my head in appreciation as Esther released his hand and nestled back into my side. “Thank you. For everything, Alex,” I said, my throat tight with emotion.
