Page 64 of Jeremy
“Andyour girl lived!” Jeremy shouts, his fists clenching and unclenching.
Dare’svoice remains calm and seated while everyone else just watches the two of them.Zoe slips over to close the waiting room door. It’s very early, and we’re faraway from patient rooms, but this isn’t anything we want overheard. “She did.And I’m sorry as hell that Frannie didn’t. But destroying your life and thelife of the woman you love would be no way to vindicate Frannie’s death. Andyou know she’d tell you the same damn thing.”
Jeremy’sgaze flashes to me and he winces, turning back to Dare. “She wasn’t the onlyone they hurt.”
Pleasedon’t let him announce what Anthony did to me, I pray silently.
Darenods. “I’m aware. They won’t hurt anyone else.” Dare shoves his phone towardhim.
Jeremytakes it and I creep up behind him to read a text from Tucker.
Tucker:Anthony and Shaun are dead. Three others in custody, including the Dashton policeofficer. The others will be processed and held in a mental facility until we’resure they’re not a danger to themselves or others.
“Mysister is alive?” I confirm, and Dare nods his head.
“Yes,she’ll be brought to the mental ward here to be evaluated.”
She’sfree. Kelly is free. And they’re dead.
Themonsters are gone.
Inearly knock Dare’s chair over when I tackle him with a fierce hug. “Thankyou,” I whisper.
Daregives me a quick squeeze back, but nods at Jeremy. “This was only possiblebecause of Jeremy. He did the intel. He risked his life infiltrating them. Allwe did was follow up, and make a few phone calls to the right people.”
Jeremylooks so torn when I step toward him. “It’s over.” The words come out in a sob.“You set me free.”
Finally,he grabs me and hugs me so tight I swear I feel my spine squeak. “I wanted tokill him for you, kill all of them for you and Frannie, and all the others,” hemurmurs in my ear.
“Iknow. But they’re dead either way, and now I get to have the life I want. Withyou.”
Helooks over my shoulder at Dare. “Tucker has impeccable fucking timing.”
Justusshrugs and takes a seat. “We thought we’d have to tie you to a chair orsomething when the time came, but when we knew you’d be at the hospital allnight, Tucker took the opportunity, and Mason was able to set things inmotion.”
Jeremyglares at him, and Justus starts babbling. “Not that I knew anything about it.I mean, I was on your side, you know, kill them all, let Satan sort them out,but the rest of the guys just wouldn’t listen.”
Landonsnorts. “Don’t be a coward. We all agreed weeks ago.”
“Thankyou, Dracula. You’ve been very helpful.”
Inthe middle of all the chaos, Clarissa steps into the room. “Calvin has beenmoved from Isolation back to the NICU. Dr. Hanlon has just removed theventilator and he’s breathing on his own again. You can visit him, but only oneat a time.”
“Thankyou so much,” I exclaim.
Iturn to Jeremy, and he waves me off. “Go see our boy. Tell him daddy will seehim in a few minutes.”
Ileave them there to deal with Jeremy’s wrath and happily head down the hall tomy baby. Jeremy won’t be able to stay mad at them for long. They had his bestinterest at heart, and I’ll be eternally grateful for what they’ve done.
Calvinis back in his original crib, and the hum-hiss sound of the ventilator is gone.Another NICU nurse smiles at me and asks, “Do you want to hold him? I was justgoing to see if he’d take a bottle.”
“Please.”I take a seat in the rocking chair, and wait for her to settle him in my lap.
“Youlook so much better today, Calvin,” she coos at him, before handing me thebottle.
Weboth laugh at the way he takes to it, like he’s never been fed before. “For apreemie, that boy is an eater. I’ll be nearby if you need me. Just give him arest if his breathing alarm sounds. It’ll take a little while for his lungs toclear.”
Shewalks away, and I stare down at my precious little boy. Twenty-four hours ago,I wasn’t sure I would ever get to do this again. He stares up at me while hedrinks his bottle, and I brush my fingers over the soft hair on his temple.
