Page 79 of Sheriff's City Girl

I took a deep breath, squeezing my eyes shut. “I don’t really know what to tell you. I was in the kitchen talking to Brittany, Graham’s wife, and then she left…”

“What happened after that?”

Shaking my head, my memory was a blur. “A couple of men came in and attacked me. They shoved me into a van, maybe? And then I was bound and blindfolded. I had no idea where I had gone.”

“Did you see the men’s faces?”

“No,” I shook my head. “They wore masks.”

“Did you hear them mention anything about Graham?” the ranger asked me, his voice staying soft and even.

“No, well, kind of. They just eluded that he was responsible for it. They said he had done it before though.”

“Any implications that anyone else was involved?”

I thought about it for a moment, recalling the conversation about Brittany. “No, I don’t think so. His wife was mentioned, but they didn’t say that she did anything.”

“Hmm.”

I glanced up at Nick and Jackson, who exchanged glances. “What?”

“Somehow she and his son were kept in the dark the entire time,” Jackson mused, folding his arms across his chest as he hovered above us.

“He’s always kept his wives in the dark,” Nick said, scribbling something down on his notepad. “I always thought that was nearly impossible, but apparently, he’s a conniving kind of guy. It’s amazing how well he can manipulate people.”

I didn’t make a comment, my mind still stuck on the way that Mason’s face had lost its color as we had gotten closer to the hospital. I could still hear the paramedics shouting that they were losing him, and I could still feel my back pressing into the wall as they rushed to Mason, pushing me out of the way.

“Emma?” Nick’s voice sounded distant.

I shook my head, looking back up at him. “I’m sorry, what?”

“I was asking you if you were okay.”

“Um,” I hesitated, shrugging my shoulders. “I don’t know. I’m hanging in there.”

“Lily will be here soon…” Jackson’s voice trailed off. “I called her for you—and for Jess. I know a lot is up in the air right now, but I couldn’t put off telling them. Jess needs to be here with you.”

I nodded. “I know. Lily texted me and told me that she was coming.”

“Good,” Jackson said, his lips turning up slightly but not in a smile. “We’ve got to head back to the station… But I’ll be back later, once we settle everything down.”

“Okay,” I sniffled, my head dropping back into my hands as Nick rose to leave with Jackson.

“Are you sure you’re all right by yourself?” Nick asked me, his hand back on my shoulder. “We can stay until someone gets here to support you.”

“I’ll be fine,” I muttered, wishing they both would just go away. My stomach was churning with worry. Mason and I had never gotten a chance to work things out before everything had happened, and now all I could think about was what if I never got the chance to? I held back fresh tears as Jackson and Nick left me there in the waiting room, surrounded by no one other than the TV playing an obnoxiously loud soap opera.

He's going to be fine.

He’s going to be there to meet our baby.

Sobs burst from my chest as the thought hit me, and ultimately, the fear of him not being there filled my mind. I had real feelings for Mason, and the chance of never getting to explore the love that was growing for him was terrifying. And what about Jess? My heart broke for her, too, knowing that she could lose the only parent she had in her life.

Stop thinking that way.

I took a loud, ragged breath, my gaze transfixed on my feet. The trauma from the last twelve hours made telling Mason about the baby seem so miniscule in the big scheme of things. I wished more than ever that I had told him right from the beginning, so he’d have known sooner, and had a chance to celebrate.

I owe him an apology.

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