Page 75 of Burning Secrets

“Desperate.” She looked at him. “I…can’t believe you came for me.”

He just looked at her. “Babe. That’s what boyfriends do.” Then he winked.

And she just couldn’t stop herself. “I’m taking you to the hospital. And then I’m kissing you.”

“Maybe not in that order,” he said.

She raised an eyebrow.

“Could get complicated, since I’m a fugitive.”

“What?”

“No you’re not, son.”

She turned, and the sheriff had come up. Behind him, the sheriff’s deputies had the SOR militia members they’d captured on the ground. Viper sat on the tailgate of a truck, bloody, angry.

She didn’t see Jer.

“Who do you think gave Tristan the keys?” He stuck out his hand. “I’ll get it sorted with Mills. I just needed a hot minute to figure out how this would all go down.” He nodded to Crew’s injuries. “I think you need to listen to your girlfriend and head over to the Copper Mountain clinic. Then stop by my office and give me a statement.” He glanced over at Viper. “And collect the reward for bringing in one of America’s most wanted.”

“Reward?”

The sheriff grinned. “Maybe I could even put in a word with the governor. See if we can’t get you that pardon.” He put a hand on Crew’s shoulder, then pulled it away. “You’re really wet.”

Crew laughed, and JoJo slid her hand into his, tightened her grip. “Yes, listen to your girlfriend. Let’s get you cleaned up. And then I think you owe me the rest of our pizza date.”

He pulled her against him, then slung his arm around her. “Aw, you just want to kiss me.”

She looked up at him. “Yes. Yes, I do.”

The sky was on fire. Glorious and bold over the western horizon, turning Denali purple, the sun bled out orange and red across the sky.

Crew sat in the ER bay, shirt off, in his pants, as the intern ran physical therapy tape around his ribs. “No breaks according to the X-ray, but go easy—there is a lot of bruising. I’d hate to see the other guy.” He looked up and smiled. He wore a nametag. Darren.

“No, you wouldn’t.” Crew glanced at him. “It wasn’t that kind of fight.”

He frowned, but Crew looked away, back to the view.The Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Crew didn’t know why that verse came into his head, sat there, but it traveled to his heart, gave a squeeze.

Yeah, he recognized his father’s voice, weak and near the end of his time on earth, when Crew had visited him at the prison hospital.

Crew had stood by his bed, his father sallow and failing, and the old man had reached out, grabbed his hand and squeezed it.Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable, Crew. Do not be afraid. The Lord will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your life, the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Yes. He’d forgotten that.

At least, until Jo had walked into his life, bringing the sunshine, reminding him of grace and mercy.

A siren sounded outside, an ambulance pulling up. The intern got up. “We’re short-staffed today. You good to go?”

“Thanks,” Crew said, and the intern stepped out.

He reached for his shirt, sitting on a nearby chair. Winced.

“What are you doing?” JoJo’s voice preceded her as she walked into the bay carrying a glass of water. She handed it tohim and picked up the shirt. She’d been checked over too, and a terrible bruise darkened her jawline.

But she was alive. And Viper was in custody.

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