Page 64 of Rescued Faith

She looked at him with a soft smile. “I can’t promise anything. But let’s finish this investigation and talk, okay?”

Now that was progress. “Deal!” He kissed her cheek and then opened the door to his parents’ room.

“Mom? Dad? It’s okay now. You can come out.”

His mother peeked out of the en suite bathroom. “Bryce?” He swept his mom up in a big hug, grateful she was perfectly well. “Do we get to know what’s going on now?”

“It’s a bit of a long story, and I’ll tell it to you while you pack. You and Dad need to get out of town for a while.”

Within the hour, Bryce’s parents were on the road with a police escort and his dad’s nurse en route to meet them. Andi refused to leave Jude, but they would stick together until Sosa was found.

With the adrenaline fading, Bryce was ready to leave all the commotion. Cops were still crawling all over the house, poking into every nook and cranny. Penny was talking with Olivia off to the side of the living room. She twisted her body to one side then the other, probably trying to loosen her back. Those tight lines around her eyes meant she was tired, most likely in pain. He should get her home.

He walked over to the women. “Doesn’t look like there’s much more we can do here, Pen. How about I give you a ride to your sister’s house?”

“That would be nice.” She waved to Olivia. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

They walked out into the crisp night air, crickets and cicadas chirping. He held the door for her as she plopped onto his truck’s passenger seat. “I’m beat.”

“Let’s get you somewhere you can rest.” He closed her door and walked to the driver’s side. He breathed deep, glad to finallydo something for Penny, show her that he was more than just a good time. That he could help take care of her and she didn’t have to do everything alone. That he was a different man now.

Maybe she would come to see that God wasn’t so far off. That He cared about her too. Wanted her.

They drove in a comfortable silence, country music playing from the radio in the background until they were out of his old neighborhood. This was nice, but he wanted more. He wanted this every night, going home together knowing he wouldn’t have to say goodbye. Not that he would say that out loud and scare her off. But something inside settled. He knew what he wanted now. He just needed to figure out how to make this happen.

Help her to see You, Lord. And help her to see that we’re better together.

She leaned her head back and sighed. “This has been quite the day.”

“You’re telling me.”

“I still can’t believe we didn’t know about this nephew. I need to figure out where he crossed paths with Emma Kemper. Maybe then I’ll figure out what his plan is.”

“Let’s go over it all. What do we know so far?” Bryce turned down the radio.

“Emma arrives in Last Chance with Glock clips and a bomb—maybe more than one bomb—her brother made.”

“They blow up the warehouse, which we believe was a location the Puerto Rican gang was using.”

She turned to face him. “Right. Then there was the drive-by. We never did find out who was responsible.”

“And there was the fire and shooting at the Honduran restaurant.”

“Which we think would be the Puerto Ricans getting payback, but where did they get the automatic weapons from if not Emma’s clips?” Penny asked.

“But then why would Sosa and Emma blow up the Puerto Ricans’ warehouse and then give them Glock clips? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Exactly. And then there’s the militia. They don’t like either gang and have something planned, according to Bobby Prescot.”

“That’s a lot of pieces to the puzzle. But I’m not seeing how they fit. I feel like we’re missing something. Something big.” Bryce glanced over at her.

Penny was quiet. He wanted to give her an answer. Of course to help, but also to show her that he was fun and strong, but he was smart too.

So why would a guy like Sosa come here? What was his endgame?

Diego Ruiz Sosa had been a psychopath with a dying cartel looking for his supposed heir and stolen millions.

What did Alonzo want?

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