Page 170 of One More Betrayal

Sophie’s wails from upstairs burst through my joy. The female agent goes up with Violet to make sure Sophie is okay. And maybe to search the house for more evidence to use against Violet’s husband.

“Can I go upstairs to help Violet?” I ask no one in particular, my voice still scratchy and rough.

“You need to go to the hospital to get checked out,” the taller of the two agents tells me. The other one is busy searching through the living room. “I’ve already called in for an ambulance.”

“I’ll be fine.”

His eyebrow lifts in an I’m-not-buying-that way.

I counter it with a that-doesn’t-matter shrug. “Can I at least help her till it gets here?”

“You should rest your voice until you get the okay from a physician.”

“You’re bossy,” I whisper, the equivalent of a frustrated pout in my tone.

The other agent releases a loud snort-laugh. “See, I’m not the only one who thinks you’re bossy.”

That gets a small smile out of me and a glower from his partner. I’d laugh if I knew it wasn’t going to hurt.

Sirens wail from down the street, louder than Sophie’s protests a moment ago.

“I need to make sure my friend is okay.” I load the words with an extra helping of please.

“Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her,” the taller agent tries to reassure me. “You were choked. You need to make sure there isn’t any serious damage. C’mon. I’ll take you outside.”

I glance upstairs to where Violet and Sophie are.

“I’ll tell her where you’ve gone.”

I nod, the movement robotic, and I let him lead me outside to where the paramedics are rushing up the path.

He explains to them what happened, and the female paramedic has me sit on the stretcher so she can check me out. I protest when she tries to put the neck brace on me, and I attempt to push it away.

“Sorry, but you have to wear it until the ER physician has cleared you,” she says, undeterred by my weak attempts to fight her off. I don’t want anything around my neck after having a thick arm there. “They have to make sure nothing was broken or fractured when you were choked.”

I don’t have it in me to argue, so I quit resisting and reach for a dog who isn’t beside me. I just want Bailey and Troy and to go home.

“Jess?”

My gaze shifts in the direction of Troy’s voice. His clothes are dirt-smudged and he’s wearing a sling. Again.

Garrett, his clothes still clean, is with Troy.

“Christ, you’re covered in blood.” Troy’s concerned eyes search my body for the gaping wound that doesn’t exist.

I can’t even look down to see what he’s talking about. I lift my arms. The fabric on my sleeve is soaked with blood and my back feels sticky. I can’t believe I’m only noticing that now. I want to scream and rip off my top. To be free of the remnants of the nightmare.

But more than anything, I just want to look at Troy. I’m alive and he’s alive and that’s all that matters.

I point to his sling with a questioning raise of my eyebrow.

Troy ignores me. “What happened? Is she going to be okay?” His rapid-fire questions are directed at the paramedic.

She glances at me for permission. I give a tiny nod of my chin to let her know it’s okay to tell him. She explains what happened based on what the FBI agent told her.

Anger darkens Troy’s face, but he quickly replaces it with relief and gratitude and love. All directed at me. He touches my hand. My heart stutters a beat.

He leans in as if he wants to embrace me, but he can’t while the paramedic is checking me over.

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