She helps me put more of my things in the bag. “You remember?”
“I saw the whole thing. I remembered the noises, the air, the cold, the sun, and the gun. I know who it was and why he came after me. I . . . I have to go.”
“Tell me,” she requests.
So, I do. I speak so fast, I trip over my words, but I get it all out. My heart is racing as I explain Isaac’s face and the sound of his voice as he tried to get to me. It’s all there. Every single thing I could see, hear, feel, smell. It’s not my mind playing tricks on me or changing details. It’s what happened, and I need to get home.
“What about your safety?” Mom asks.
I look over at the two hulking men in the corner. “They will not let anything happen to me.”
I have never been in danger because Spencer wouldn’t allow it. He’s made sure I have someone here the entire time. My protection was always his priority.
Quinn grunts, and Jackson just grins. “She remembers and trusts us,” he says to Quinn.
“It would seem so.”
“Do you think we’ll get to watch her fix the other part?” Jackson asks.
“Probably not. We always miss the fun stuff.”
Jackson snorts. “It’s unfair, which is par for the course.”
I ignore the two of them as I zip my bag. “Well?” I ask impatiently. “Are you packed?”
Quinn smirks. “Oh, are you ready for another ten-plus hour drive, Sunshine? This will be more fun than the one here since you are eager for another reason. Yes, I am packed. I am always packed when I’m on a mission.”
“I used to like you, not anymore.”
Quinn shrugs. “I’m used to women disliking me.”
Jackson walks over. “You’re sure you want to go back? We can handle things from here.”
“Positive.”
My mother looks at him. “I can’t lose her. Now that she remembers who killed him and tried to kill her, she’s in danger.”
“She is, but we will do everything we can to protect her,” he promises.
I don’t care about any of this. I want to go home and fix this. I want to make sure Myles is safe from his father, have Bill arrested, and then I want to find the man I love and beg him to forgive me.
I was so stupid to ever think he could hurt me or Isaac. Not him. Not ever.
Mom wraps me in her arms, holding me tight. “I am so sorry you went through this, Brielle. I wish I could take it all for you.” She pulls back. “You are strong and courageous. You were trying to help that little boy and save your brother at the same time. None of this is your fault, and I just want you to be happy, okay?”
I nod.
“You only get one life, don’t waste it.”
I give her another hug, grateful that we were able to have this moment. Then I grab my bag and we head out to the car.
“I’ve already called Emmett. He is taking the information to the district attorney. In the meantime, they sent a unit to make sure Myles and his mother are safe. If they can, they’ll make an arrest before you get into town,” Jackson explains.
“What about Spencer?”
“Spencer Cross is not a helpless human, Brielle,” Quinn tries to reassure me. “He’s been trained by the best, and whether he’s used those skills or not lately, that doesn’t just go away. I honestly feel bad for whoever is stupid enough to try to go after him.”
“He can’t stop a bullet. That man killed my brother and would’ve killed me. He probably thought I was dead, which is why he didn’t shoot me. He wanted to take from me, and who better than the man who spent every day of the last month with me?”