Page 24 of Loving Vincent

“I have Lola, she’s fine,” Vince assured her. “She was picked up seconds after he grabbed you. She wants her mama, but otherwise she’s unharmed.”

“Oh, thank god!” Jenna exclaimed and threw herself at Vince, bursting into tears.

Vince caught her against his chest and held her tightly, pressing his lips to the top of her head as she howled against him. She felt someone touch her back and looked up to find Jared hovering next to them. She gave him a watery smile and reached out to squeeze his hand.

“Take her,” Vince said, pushing Jenna into Jared’s arms and reaching under his leather jacket.

Jenna gasped when he pulled a gun out and set his knee on the edge of the van. He trained the weapon on Zach’s head.

“Stop!” Jenna gasped. “You can’t do that!”

Vince twisted around to look at her. “I have to, baby. He’s unhinged, he’ll just keep coming after you. I refuse to live with his shadow infecting our lives.”

“He kidnapped me,” Jenna insisted. “He’ll go to prison.”

“He’ll be out in a few years.” Vince’s voice was flat.

She shook head and reached out for him. Vince ignored her for a second then nodded at Jared who let her go. She took hold of Vince, wrapping her arms around his neck and tugging his face down to hers. “Don’t do this,” she whispered. “I won’t be able to live with myself if you kill him.”

“But you’ll live, Jenna, and that’s all I care about right now. He could’ve killed you. Worst moment of my life when you I saw you go off the road.”

“I’m okay now, I’m not hurt,” she assured him, pressing her lips against his. “He’s not worth the stain on your conscience.”

Finally, Vince dropped his arm, pulling the gun away from Zach’s head. He hugged her tight against his body. “Baby, it’s adorable that you think anything could stain my conscience.”

“You’re not a bad man, Vince.”

He snorted, picked her up and carried her away from the scene of the accident. She could hear sirens heading their way.

“Let’s go home,” she whispered.

“Home,” he echoed in agreement and climbed into Jared’s truck.

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