Page 97 of Fatal Thrill
“That’s my sister, you asshole,” the kidwheezed.
Watt swung the gun at Finn, but he was out ofreach.
“Down!” Jon screamed and Jaya ducked, covering her head with herhands.
Jon fired, and Watt’s head snapped back, his arm in mid-swing at Finnagain.
The weight of his upper body and the slippery floor worked in conjunction to flip him completely off his feet, his body suspended in air for a second as the gunshot echoed aroundthem.
When Watt hit the floor, it was like one of the giant trees in the woods falling. The floor reverberated, his head smacking into the stone and his body jerking with theimpact.
Before he finally went still, Jon ran to Jaya, dropping to his knees and sliding the last few feet. She threw open her arms and he grabbed her to him, cradling the back of her head and hugging hertight.
Miles ran in, kicking the gun away from Watt’s body and checking him for signs of life. “Nice shot,” he said toJon.
But all Jon could hear was the sound of Jaya’s ragged crying. She clutched his jacket, sobbing into his shoulder. He rubbed her back and the second Miles cut the bindings on Finn’s restraints, the young kid scooted over and wrapped his arms around Jaya as well, enveloping her frombehind.
Stupid kid. He could have gotten his sister killed, but in the end, his attempt at saving her had worked. As Jon hugged Jaya even tighter, he couldn’t help but tap Finn’s shoulder. “You did good,kid.”
“Oh my god,” Jaya rasped, turning in Jon’s arms and smacking her brother upside the head. “You idiot, you almost got mekilled.”
And then she hugged Finn like there was notomorrow.
Jon couldn’t help it. As Jaya and Finn hugged and cried together, helaughed.
Families.
Did anybody ever have a normalone?
Two days later…
Five Oaks Plantation,Virginia
Jaya placedthe final crystal bobby pin into Savanna’s hair. “Now don’t forget, the netting on your veil might get hung up on these when you take it off after the ceremony. Be patient and let me remove the veil once you’re at the reception,okay?”
Savanna preened in the mirror, grabbing Jaya’s hand at the same time and giving it a hard squeeze. “It’s beautiful. All of it. The makeup is just right and this hair…” She pulled Jaya into a hug. “Thankyou.”
Jaya patted her bare shoulder, trying to keep space between them so she didn’t wreck Savanna’s gown or makeup. “Trace is one lucky fellow. He’s going to drop in his boots when he seesyou.”
“You can’t imagine what this means to me, Jaya.” Tears glistened in Savanna’s eyes. “You saved the wedding, you know. And after everything you wentthrough.”
Jaya and the baby were okay. Finn was recovering and was here to see the wedding, Savanna and Trace graciously inviting him. Charlotte had also recovered, her spark and wit a constant, no matter her injuries. She’d become a trustedfriend.
Jaya had given her statement to the local police, and then again to the Feds, about what Dalton Watt had told her. He’d admitted to killing the kids whose bones were in that cave, and the hunt for others along the interstate from Good Hope to the survivalist compound hadbegun.
Jaya shivered a little under her red dress. The good thing was that Beatrice had hired a new attorney for Jon’s dad and the man had presented Jaya’s statement and the truth about Dalton and his framing Jon’s father to the state officials earlier that morning. Jeremiah Wolfe was being released at three p.m. and Jon planned to be there to pick himup.
Jaya was going withhim.
“No tears,” Jaya said, relief over the fact everything—including Trace and Savanna’s wedding—was working out just fine. “You’ll ruin your makeup and I worked damned hard onit.”
Which was a lie. Savanna had the natural beauty of a model, much likeShelby.
Shelby had arrived back in the States, bringing Jaya’s dad with her. He was sitting in jail for the time being, but because he’d agreed to cooperate with the authorities, Shelby and Percy had been able to get him a deal. It didn’t hurt that Jaya had turned the fated cross over to Percy on the condition her father’s name be cleared by the Garda and Interpol. Percy had returned the cross to Ireland, where it belonged, and he and his bosses were fighting with the French and the Vatican over legalpossession.
Parker burst in the door, a modest version of Savanna in red instead of white. “Van, it’s time. Let’s get the show on the roadalready.”
The bride, resplendent in her designer wedding dress, rose from her seat and ran her hands down the elegant fabric of the skirt. “How do Ilook?”
