Page 41 of Shadow Touched

Thorn blinked. “Is this a joke?”

“I know you’re a little skeptical—”

“You think?” Thorn shook his head. “I don’tbelieve in any paranormal crap.”

“I didn’t either, but if you don’t believeme, just ask Kix. Remember the turf war I mentioned? Leia saweveryone being gunned down. The men, the women, even the fuckingkids. She saved them all.”

“I just… I’m not sure what I expected whenyou told me to keep an open mind, but I certainly wasn’t expectingthis.”

“I know,” Brim said. “I know I’m asking alot, but she’s the real fucking deal, and she just risked her lifeto save mine.”

They sat in silence for a moment.

“So… Knuckles is dead.”

“Yeah. I took his patch and hisidentification. He’ll be a John Doe if the body is ever found.”

“What about his bike?”

“That I don’t know,” Brim admitted. “Wasn’tin the bar parking lot. Don’t know where he stashed it.”

“If he was following you, he wouldn’t usethe bike because you’d hear it.”

“Which means he was using a car.” Brimthought for a moment. “Maybe even the car that hit Leia, whichmeans his accomplice was driving today.”

“And Leia pushed you out of the way.”

Brim nodded.

“Because she saw a shadow on you.”

Brim nodded again.

“Is it still there?”

“I don’t know. The only way to get it to goaway is if … oh, no.”

A terrible thought just entered his mind.One that scared him.

“If?” Thorn prompted.

“If one soul is exchanged for the other.What if she dies, Thorn? What if she exchanged her life formine?”

“Don’t think like that.”

“I will tear the fucking head off thatdriver. You hear me?”

“Brim, stop. We’ll figure this out.”

Just then a doctor appeared in the doorway.Brim stood up, waiting. His heart thumped painfully in his chest ashe tried to read the physician’s face.

“It better be good news, doc,” Brim said.Despite his words, he braced himself for the worst.

“She’s stable. Has a concussion and a fewdeep bruises. Overall, she’s very lucky and should make a fullrecovery. I’ve admitted her for the night, to monitor her. She’sresting right now, but I don’t mind if you sit with her.”

All the air swooshed from his lungs as awave of relief swept over him. “Thanks. I’d appreciate that.”

“All right. Give us a few minutes. I’ll havea nurse come to collect you.”

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