Page 13 of Second Chance Serenity

“You back in town?” Elijah answers.

“Someone attacked Reyna outside the school.”

“When?” he asks, tone morphing into business mode.

“Just now. I’m on my way to Doc.”

“I’ll get footage pulled up. Is she?—”

“She’s alive,” I tell him. “Have Lance and Jaxson canvas the area. Find him.”

“We’re on it. Keep us updated.”

Doc’s house is closer than the hospital, so I park my truck right in front of his place and don’t even bother turning it off before I jump out, rushing around to get Reyna from the passenger side. I gather her into my arms and rush up.

I’m not entirely sure he’ll be home, but I have to try.

“Doc!” I beat on his door. “Open up, please!” I look down at Reyna who is limp in my arms. “Please, Doc!”

A light comes on inside and seconds later, the door is pulled open by a wild-eyed Doc Harding. “Michael, what—” He sees Reyna and steps aside. “Get her on the couch. I’ll grab my bag.” He rushes out of the room wearing shorts and a sleep shirt, and I set Reyna on the couch.

My throat constricts, and I can’t tell if it’s tears or rainwater rolling down my cheeks. “Please, Reyna. You need to stay with me. Who’s going to tell me how much they hate me? I’ll get a big head about it without you humbling me.” I brush her wet hair from her face, noting the bruises already forming.

The rain washed some of the blood off, making it easier to see that it’s coming from a scrape on her chin and her split lip.

“Tell me what happened.” Doc takes a seat on his coffee table and reaches into his bag for a small pen light. He checks her pupils.

“I’m not sure. I was driving by the school and saw—” I don’t even want to repeat it. “She was being attacked. He was trying to drag her to the car.”

“You catch him?”

I shake my head. “He got away.”

“What’s going on?” Patricia Harding, Doc’s wife of thirty years, steps out wearing a long robe. “Oh, Reyna. Is she okay?”

“I think she’ll be fine,” Doc says. “Can you get Michael a towel? He’s dripping all over the rug. And can you grab one for Reyna too? I could use it to wipe some of this blood off.”

“Of course.” She rushes out of the room, and I run both hands over my face. Every muscle in my body is tense, my heart desperate for vengeance. I should have shot him where he stood. Put a bullet in his leg so he couldn’t run.

So I could?—

“Here you go, honey,” Patricia says as she hands me a green-and-white striped towel. Her interruption thankfully rips me from the darker thoughts trying to take root in my mind.

Vengeance belongs to God. I repeat it, over and over again, trying to ease my barely leashed temper—the side that’s urging me to get back into my truck and hunt her attacker down myself.

“Thank you.” I run the towel over my hair and body as best I can, and she uses the other to wipe some of the blood and rainwater from Reyna’s face.

My chest constricts, my stomach a gravelly pit of fear as I watch Doc look her over. Shouldn’t he be doing more? Shouldn’t we be getting her to the hospital?

Patricia steps away from Reyna and takes my towel with a tight smile. Someone knocks on the door.

I don’t tear my eyes away from Reyna. Is this really happening? Please tell me this isn’t happening. This can’t be happening.

“Hey,” someone touches my arm and I look down to see Eliza standing beside me. She wraps an arm around my waist, so I sling one around her shoulders, holding on to my friend if for no other reason than I need someone to ground me in reality. “She’s going to be okay,” Lance’s wife tells me.

I don’t even have the strength to respond.

“Okay,” Doc starts, “she probably has a concussion, though I won’t know for sure until she’s fully awake, and she could use some stitches on her chin.” He’s bandaged it up for now, and Reyna groans before opening her eyes.

---