Page 105 of Exposed

Recalling the self-defense classes I’ve taken, I snap into action.

“Get away, Jasmine!” I shout and pray she has time to do so before I lunge for the gun. I want her out of the fray.

I grab the barrel of the gun and turn it away from me with one hand, then grab the top of the gun with my other hand and jerk it towards him as hard as I can. His grip on the gun loosens when his wrist bends painfully backwards. I kick him as hard as I can in the shin, and he drops the gun.

I jam his injured shoulder with the butt of my gun, and he collapses to the ground with a groan.

“Don’t fucking move, asshole,” I growl, pointing my gun at him. “You’ll never have my respect, Heath, and you’ll never have Simon. Where are my family and Cat?”

His stubborn silence is unacceptable. I kick him in the side hard enough to break a couple of ribs, and he squeals in pain.

“Call your men and tell them to let my family and Cat go,” I demand.

Jasmine is calling the police, but there’s a loud banging on my front door.

“Police, open up!” A gruff male voice yells.

She moves to open the door, then steps back close to me.

They have their weapons drawn, and my dad is standing behind them. An officer motions for me to drop my gun, so I lower it to the ground and raise my hands.

“Dad,” I call to him. “He kidnapped Mom and my private in investigator.”

“You have no proof of that. Officers, this man shot me,” Truman lies.

“Make him call his men. He said they’re going to kill my mom and my private investigator if he doesn’t call them,” I tell them.

“We received a call reporting Heath Truman as the perpetrator in plotting to murder Matthieu and Pepper Galloway and abducting Madilyn Galloway. We’ll look into your private investigator’s whereabouts.”

“He admitted he abducted them both. He knows where they’re at,” I say, desperate for answers. I need my mom back, and I feel guilty that Cat got caught up in this.

The police apprehend Heath, then let my dad and Shani through. My dad wraps Jasmine and me in a tight embrace, and Shani noses her way into the hug.

“When you didn’t answer your phone, I called the police and headed back here. Police officers had just received the call, and I followed them here,” my dad explains, then turns to the officers. “Where is my wife?”

“Nita Truman already admitted where Mrs. Galloway is being held, and SWAT is on the way to her location now,” one officer responds while another starts reading Heath his rights and handcuffs him.

“A court-appointed social worker is driving your son here now,” the officer adds, and cool relief floods my body.

Thank God.

“This means they won’t get custody of my son, right?” I ask them.

“After this,” the officer circles his finger around the room, “I’d wager to say you’ll get full custody.”

Jasmine wraps her arms tightly around me. “I thought he was going to kill us.”

I cup her cheeks as tears stream down her face.

“I would never allow that to happen. I’m going to love you the rest of my life, and I want that to be a fucking long time,” I promise.

43

AFTERSHOCKS

MATT

Having Simon in my arms again last night was the best feeling. I thought my mind could rest knowing he’d never be with the Trumans again, but Jasmine is struggling.

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