He gives me a lopsided grin. “You won’t have to travel it alone.”
Our eyes meet again, and the things we’ve left unsaid shiver loose and melt away.
CJ lowers into the nearby chair. “Deputy Hayes and Sheriff Rumsey came by a little bit ago. They want to talk to you, but—” His gaze falls to where he’s caressing his rose tattoo. “Wakefield and his disciples are dead. Some of the wives are are too. They think Wakefield ordered some kind of…sacrifice.”
“Dear God.” A wave of sorrow crests inside me. Nobody had to die last night.
CJ shakes his head. “I can’t really wrap my head around it.”
What happened to Luke and Annette’s plan to negotiate with Wakefield? “What about the children? And the others?”
“Safe.” Hope glimmers in his eyes. “Protective services is a little overwhelmed right now, but they’re getting help from the Crimes Against Children Unit and neighboring counties.”
Relief ebbs though me. Their journey to healing won’t be easy, but at least now it can begin.
“One of the federal agents was killed.” CJ’s heavy tone snaps my attention back into focus.
“What? Who?”
CJ grimaces. “A woman. I think her name is Annette.”
I close my eyes and force a breath in and slowly out. What in the hell happened? My heart goes out to Annette’s family, her team. To Luke. My god. The man has suffered enough hardship in his life, and now this?
CJ huffs a hard sigh at the window. “It’s madness.”
He’s right about that. “What about Sheriff Thomas?”
“He was arrested for the stuff he admitted to on those tapes. They also think he took bribes. I guess the state attorney’s office has opened an investigation. He’s going down.”
“That’s good news.”
We’re quiet for a moment. Outside the small window, dawn is breaking.
“How’s Daisy?” I ask.
A flicker of warmth returns to his eyes. “She’s okay. Reunited with her older sister and baby brother.”
“That’s great to hear.” My throat tightens again and I blink at the ceiling.
“Did you go back for her?” CJ asks.
“She came sprinting out of the house. I didn’t stop to think.”
He nods. “Was that bullet meant for her?”
“Maybe.” It happened so fast, and my body was running on pure adrenaline. “Do they have any family?”
“Yeah, an aunt and uncle in Arizona. Protective services is working on it, but…it’s a process.”
An unwelcome swell of longing tightens inside my chest. Such a courageous little girl. I want a good life for her. One filled with joy and wonder. And love—so much love. She deserves that.
I wonder if I’ll get a chance to say goodbye.
“Can you do me a favor?” Raw emotion clogs my throat.
“Anything, sir.”
“Did my phone make it in here?”