Page 73 of Deception

CHAPTER 39

“Ollie . . .” Someone knelt on the floor beside her.

Olive pulled her eyes open and blinked.

She must be seeing things.

Because the man beside her looked like . . .

She blinked again.

“Jason?”

No, it couldn’t be. Why would he be in Texas? It made no sense.

But even with her blurry gaze, she was nearly certain she wasn’t seeing things.

“We’ve got to get you help,” he murmured.

Olive opened her mouth, wanting to argue. But no words left her lips.

The next instant, Jason gathered her in his arms. Her head fell against his chest, and her body felt nearly limp.

Then she remembered her attacker.

Panic raced through her.

Where was he?

“There’s . . . there’s a man . . .” Her words were nearly indiscernible to her own ears. But she had to warn Jason.

“I fought him, and he ran away,” Jason said. “I started to go after him, but I thought you might be inside and knew in my gut I needed to check on you first. I’m glad I did.”

Olive touched her throat again, wondering exactly what she looked like. A bloody mess, probably.

She didn’t think the man had cut an artery. She wouldn’t be conscious now if he had. But she was battered, for sure. Achy and weak.

Jason carried her down the steps. Then he threw open the front door and strode outside to a Range Rover.

A Range Rover? That was the vehicle he drove back home. Had he driven here from Chicago?

No, of course not. That would have been too long a drive.

Those details didn’t matter right now. Only getting away from here mattered.

Jason opened the door, gently placed her in the front seat, and clicked her seatbelt in place. Then he climbed in also.

But before he could start the vehicle, Olive squeezed his arm. “I don’t want to go to the hospital.”

His eyes widened. “But you’re bleeding.”

“I don’t think . . . I don’t think the cut is deep.”

He frowned. “We should find out for sure.”

She pressed her eyes closed, and visions of going to the ER filled her mind. Rebecca was at the hospital. Mitzi was still working.

She thought about having to explain what had happened, why she was there.

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