Page 65 of Come With Me

With his help, I manage to sit up and inhale a deep breath. My head is spinning, and not only because of the injury.

“It’s still an ongoing investigation, but early preliminaries have said a bomb was planted in the livin’ room. Most likely they were nearby to see that Zane was there, and when y’all were headin’ out, they activated it.”

“Your dad...”

“He has two warrants out—one for questioning in Gabby’s case and the other in regard to the explosion. They found him on surveillance at a Home Depot four days ago.”

“That’s the last he’s been seen?” That would’ve been Friday.

“Yeah, the day after Judge Carmichael would’ve received the file we sent him.”

“Someone tipped him off,” I murmur.

“Looks that way. Boyd isn’t happy. The police department put out a wanted alert. Wherever he’s hidin’, they’ll find him.”

“How are they gonna link him to the bomb?”

“Don’t worry about that, sweetheart. They have lots of ways.”

How is he so calm knowing his dad is out there somewhere?

“What aren’t you tellin’ me?”

Serena rushes in ahead of my mom before Ayden can answer. “Mommy!”

Ayden stands to give her room so she can hug me. “Easy, baby,” he tells her.

Serena gets as close as she can, and I kiss her cheek. We chat before the nurse comes in to check my vitals. Ayden watches, and I know he’s keeping something from me.

Once the room has cleared and my mom takes Serena home for the night, Ayden sits next to me with a cup of soup. He’s insisted on feeding me, and because it hurts to lift my arm, I let him.

“How is it?”

“Bland,” I say honestly.

“Well, don’t get too full. Green Jell-O is next.” His mock amusement almost has me laughing.

I finish the soup and flavorless Jell-O, then Ayden fusses with my pillows until I tell him I’m comfortable. The truth is, my ribs hurt like hell. But not much can be done about that.

He lifts the blanket and removes my sock. “You want a foot massage?”

“Sure, and while you’re doin’ that, tell me the truth about what’s goin’ on.”

He raises a brow as his thumb digs into the arch. “About what?”

“The explosion happened two days ago, and you don’t seem the least bit concerned that the man who put me in here and killed Zane is out there somewhere.”

His eyes lower as he stays silent.

“Why don’t we have security now? Is someone watchin’ my mom and Serena? Is there a guard out my door?”

“No.”

“Ayden Carson, I swear to—”

“He’s dead,” he blurts out, and I blink. “Sweetheart, he’s dead, and he’ll never hurt us again.”

ChapterNineteen

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