Page 55 of The Truth

Ayla just kept fighting, but… she couldn’t. She knew she couldn’t.

Her voice rose, loud and clear. "Gunn! Help!"

He clamped a hand over her mouth like his father had done before. She screamed against it anyway.

She threw her weight backward. He stumbled, but didn't let go. "I don't want to do this. I don't—but Daddy says I have to.”

He just carried her to the waters. Terror filled her. What was she supposed to do? She couldn’t get away. Even if she broke free—Ayla couldn’t run away.

She slammed her elbow into his ribs. He shouted and shoved her. Her foot caught the edge of the slope and Ayla fell down.

Over the edge of the bank. Right there, on the edge of Finley Creek.

Ayla didn’t know why she did it, but she just keptrolling.

He hated the water. He hated it. He had said he couldn’t swim.

ButAylacould.

The shock of the water stole her breath. It was so cold. She hated it when water was really cold like that—but she coulddealif it meant getting back to the man she loved. To her sister and her friends. To thelifeshe wanted to build with the people who loved her.

She knew… this guy was afraid.

He was afraid of the water.

This mancouldn’tswim.

But… Aylacould.

Years, she’d spent years doing physical therapy in swimming pools. Swimming was one reason she could evenwalkat all. She could do this. She could.

She lurched. Away. Toward the other shore. It was only twenty to thirty feet away. And Gunn had told her that morning when she’d been looking out all of his church windows… it wasn’t that deep. Just seven or eight feet at its deepest. He’d promised her they’d have a picnic next to the river someday. Just the two of them.

She wanted that so much.

She could do this.

Swimming was her only chance. She had to find a way to get help to Gunn and Emerson. Those men were going to hurt them. She knew they were going to hurt them.

The thought of Gunn beinghurt…No.

Ayla was going to whatever it took.

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Gunn wascareful not to touch the backpack that Dinah Davidson had left right in the middle of the office floor. "Adam Davidson."

It really didn't surprise him. Gunn had never really connected with anyone in the Davidson family. He had honestly been surprised they had attended his church as devoutly as they had. Mrs. Davidson never missed a Sunday service—she and her daughter, and the younger son, were always some of the first ones to arrive. He'd tried to speak to them, to be friendly and to be their minister, but they had always been so reserved. He had just done his best to be there if anyone had ever needed them.

But now… now he just felt used. And angry. "They have been coming here for almost three years, but before that, they were in and out of the church for years. For years. And I didn't see."

“They attended my church off and on, too. Probably when theyweren’tat yours. What were we supposed to do, check our church directories to see how many overlap?”

Dinah had told them her father beat them regularly—her, and her younger brother. But the older brother was favored.And just like their father. Dinah wanted to be safe, more than anything.

And Gunn had believed her, completely. Now… he had called and left a message with Cam Lake, to tell him about… the backpack. And what they knew now.

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