Page 80 of Searching Blind

Bea stumbled backwards from the blow, and at the same time, Anna shoved Theodore toward the men. Sawyer broke free of the zip ties around his wrists and slammed into Theodore, a knife flashing in the pale dawn light an instant before it plunged unerringly into Theodore’s throat.

Theodore fell to the ground with a gurgle, his hands clutching at his neck as blood bubbled up around the blade.

“Your mistake,” Sawyer said, his voice quiet, deadly, “was thinking we’d ever betray our friend.” Then he pulled the knife free, and Theodore spluttered, blood spraying from his mouth with each struggling breath.

“Anna!” Zak’s shout was raw, full of fear.

Anna scrambled to her feet and launched herself into his arms. He gave her one hard kiss, then pushed her toward Ash, who whisked her over to their waiting car as the men converged on Bea, weapons raised.

“It’s over,” Donovan said.

“No, it’s not.” She smiled, blood leaking down her face from her broken nose. “More will come.” Then she raised her gun to her chin and pulled the trigger.

Lucy flinched at the gunshot and averted her gaze as the men all swore. She didn’t want to see it. She crawled over to where Sawyer still knelt next to Theodore’s body.

“Sawyer—” A sob choked off her words.

He reached out, hands swiping through the air until he found her. He yanked her into his arms with blood-stained hands and held her tight. “Shh, I got you.”

Lucy gripped him back, her fingers digging into his jacket as she fought to control the nauseating swirl of fear and relief that threatened to devour her. Her face pressed against his chest, desperate to block out the horrific memory of Theodore’s death and Bea’s suicide.

The men moved in the flurry of activity around them. Ash had his phone out, barking orders into it, while Connelly was trying to save Bea for some unknown reason. As far as Lucy was concerned, the woman could rot in hell.

Zak strode over to the truck and pulled his wife out of the seat into his arms. He held her tight, kissing her repeatedly while she tried to assure him she was okay.

That was love.

There was so much love between Zak and Anna, it almost hurt to look at.

Did Sawyer love her like that?

Was she ready for a love like that? Sure, it sounded pretty, but

Lucy drew back and realized Sawyer still wore the hood over his head. She carefully pulled it off and found his pale eyes streaming tears.

“Oh God, Luce,” he whispered hoarsely, his fingers moving to cradle her face. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“You…” Her voice came out raw, and she swallowed hard. “Why do you keep throwing yourself into danger for me?”

His hands stilled on her cheeks. “Because I love you,” he murmured, almost as if the words were torn from him by force. “And there’s no danger in the world that could keep me away from you.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, flowing over and making tracks in the dirt on her cheeks. She grasped his wrist, lowering his hand from her face as she stepped back. He tried to follow, but she held him back with a firm hand on his chest.

“Sawyer,” she said, her voice shaky. “You… you can’t.”

“Can’t what?” he whispered. “I can’t love you? Too late for that.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You can’t keep risking your life for me. I don’t want you to.”

“Luce—” He reached for her, but she backed away, leaving his hand to meet only air.

His pale eyes clouded with confusion and hurt. Then the confusion gave way to understanding and his eyes widened in disbelief before they hardened into something akin to resignation. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. A haunted look crossed his features and she hated that she’d put that look on his face.

She turned around, walking briskly toward Ash. She didn’t look back. She didn’t want to see him standing there, all alone. She didn’t want to see the pain in his eyes or the way his shoulders slumped in defeat.

Ash looked up from his phone call and frowned. “What’s wrong?” Then his gaze went to Sawyer and his frown softened into understanding, but he didn’t comment.

She blinked back the sudden flood of tears. “Can I go home?”

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