Page 108 of Deadly Attraction
Her tone made Mitch give her a questioning look. “Did you analyze Colfax somewhere along the line?”
Ice encased her heart. Her teeth chattered and she ground them together for a moment before she could speak. “I had a verypersonalrun-in with him once.”
Understanding creased Mitch’s features. “Ah, jeez, Emma. Colfax is the guy who broke into your house two years ago, isn’t he? The guy you shot?”
She nodded, her head cold now too. Every part of her was covered in ice. Soon, she wouldn’t be able to breathe.
“Hey.” Mitch rubbed her arm, touched her cheek. “He’s in jail for a good long time. He can’t hurt you.”
Except in her dreams. The Punisher would keep returning in those. Skye would keep dying.
Fiddling with the sheet, she blinked back the deluge of tears threatening to fall. “This isn’t your fault, Mitch. None of it. I brought all this on. Me and my crusade to prove Chris Goodsman was a sociopath. Skye should be alive. Danika shouldn’t be fighting for her life.”
“Danika’s fine.” Mitch shifted his hand over to the opposite railing. He hovered over her again, a frown deepening the crease in his forehead. “I saw her not two hours ago and she was eating ice cream and pretending she had a concussion so she didn’t have to go back to juvie. She asked about you and Twinkie. Wanted to know when she could come out to the ranch for her next session.”
It was Emma’s turn to frown. “She still wants to come for therapy?”
Mitch nodded. “She loves you, Doc, in case you didn’t realize it. You and Will and the horses.”
“Did you tell her about the barn?”
“Nah. By the time you get home and she’s allowed to come back, you’ll have a new one, anyway.”
“What?”
“Cooper and the gang are hanging out for a week. Because of the holidays, our caseload is light and Director Dupé gave his okay to help you out. They’ve already cleared the site and the supplies for a new barn are being delivered today. I don’t guarantee the quality of workmanship—we’re talking about a bunch of federal agents, here, not carpenters, but Will says he’s got it under control. Apparently, his father was in construction, so he knows a thing or two about buildings.”
Emma’s heart felt light. “A new barn. What do you know? The horses are going to love that.”
“Doc Jane says she has a lead on another horse for you, too. A rescue a few miles north. She’s not that old, but she has special needs because of neglect.”
Emma scooted herself up a bit in the bed, ignoring the pain cutting through her chest. “How soon is the doctor going to release me?”
“Hold on there, tiger.” Mitch put his hands on her arms, forcing her back down. “You’re not going anywhere for a while.”
“But I need to get that horse.”
“I figured you’d say that. Victor and I’ve already taken care of it.”
“Victor?”
“Yeah, we’re on first name basis now, thanks to you. I gave him back his shirt by the way.”
“Oh. He told you?”
Mitch smirked and something sparked low in Emma’s belly. “He told me. Like you said, he’s a friend. Someone who cares a lot about you. I get that, believe me. I care about you, too.”
“You do?”
He leaned over and kissed her softly. “Of course, I do. You know that.”
She touched the side of his face. The sadness in his eyes was back and she suddenly understood why. “You’re going back to work for him, aren’t you?”
“He and I are picking up the horse tonight. Dr. Jane made the arrangements. Will’s already got a spot for her fenced off in the pasture.”
Her heart loved him so much. “You answered my question by omission. How very Mitch of you.”
He grinned and sat back. “Yes, Emma, I’m going to continue working for the taskforce. At least for now.”
