Page 95 of Known By You
“She’s hurt?” Liz asked, her jaw hardening as she likely imagined all the ways she’d make Evie’s ex pay.
“Not sure. The main issue is, she’s having the baby now.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Elizabeth
Two ambulances had been dispatched but in a town this small, it would take a minute.
Kenny had explained they didn’t usually have anyone on duty, just on call. We were racing toward the location on foot once Cookie mapped it and found we’d be best off that way. We’d have backup from Saint coming in the next fifteen minutes, and we’d left Jack once we could see the sirens of another local deputy approaching and Jack assured us he wanted us to go.
“She’ll be fine. She’s gonna be fine,” Kenny said, almost chanting it like he could will it into happening.
I wasn’t about to stop him. I needed Evie to be okay. We’d seen Jack, and he was going to need a little therapy maybe, and something for the shoulder at least, but he’d be okay. Next up, Evie.
And then, catching the idiot who thought he could get away with this in the first place.
We froze when we heard a rustle in the trees and a loud thump, then cursing. Another voice rang out.
“Pipe down!”
Aside from the fact the person had whisper-yelled the words, they were being fairly quiet. Not by any trained standard, but for a bunch of criminals in the woods, sure.
The moonlight gave us enough light we could see each other, but it was the modified night vision we both wore now that allowed us to move. I was grateful I’d spent some time under NODs despite not typically using many of my tactical skills.
Kenny directed me with hand and arm signals. We moved forward, fanning out slightly, and he got the drop on one of the men while I took down the other. I held out my leg and shoved him forward, guiding his shoulder down, wrenched one arm, then the other, behind him. I quickly zip-tied his hands, then rolled him over to make sure none of the ground cover was causing him breathing difficulties.
“Good?” Kenny asked from where he shoved the second guy over on his back. He must’ve done something very similar to what I had. He walked over. “Let me stick with them and you push ahead.”
Get to Evie, he meant.
A small hit of relief spread through me. I’d been worried about catching these geniuses, but the fact they were on foot and this forest was about to be swarming with local PD and Saint Security staff meant I wasn’t worried they would be found.
I was extremely concerned for Evie.
She wasn’t a friend, exactly, but I cared about her. I wanted her to have a shot at a life that made her happy. Sheand her baby deserved to be safe and cared for. I touched his arm, squeezed, and ran.
I worked on pulling off my equipment and letting my eyes adjust as I ran—not an easy feat, but as I approached the road, I could see police lights flashing and we’d heard the ambulance arrive right as we’d taken down the two perps.
Even knowing she and the sheriff had reinforcements, I pushed as much as I could until I reached the road, rounding the car and nearly choking when I glanced at the ambulance and saw Evie sitting on a stretcher cradling a tiny baby.
I couldn’t even see the baby’s head, but she was gazing down at the little person in her arms with such love that had to be it. Someone was checking her blood pressure and someone else was moving her into the vehicle.
“Evie!” I yelled, running toward her.
A large—and I do mean actually rather gigantic—man stepped in my path. “Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask?—”
“It’s okay. She’s with the security team. Please, Grant. Let her through.”
The large man nodded and stepped aside, and I rushed to her, shoving my weapon into its holster and securing it before I made it to her side.
“You had your baby,” I said, announcing the most obvious thing of all time.
She giggled, then tears pricked her eyes. “I did. In a car. It’s a boy.”
I laughed. “Oh my gosh, congratulations, but are you okay?”
“We’re taking her to Silverton Hospital to get her and baby checked out. In fact, ma’am, I’m going to need you tostep back so we can get the baby secured and get her taken care of.”
