Here’s the Thing (Seddledowne #4)

Chapter 27 – Tally

twenty-seven

TALLY

They forgot everything the minute they were together again.

— EMILY brONT?

W e lay in the darkness staring into each other’s eyes.

“How’re the kids?” he asked as his fingertips brushed over my cheek.

“They miss you and this house.” I laid my hand over his, reveling in how a single touch can change a life. His wedding band was back on. Feeling it under my palm felt like a miracle. “Theo is almost as sick about leaving the Death Star behind as he is about leaving you.”

Ash chuckled and it made my heart flutter. “We’ll get him another.” He pressed a kiss to my lips. “Is this real? Are you really here?”

“It’s real.” I wanted to stay here forever, but time was not on our side. I rolled over and grabbed my phone from the nightstand. His fingertips trailed across my shoulder blades. How was it already three a.m.?

“We should go?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“Let me grab some stuff.”

We got up and I helped him pack a duffel. He looked around the room.

“It’s hard to put your entire life into a single bag,” I said.

“Yeah.” Then he strode to the bathroom. “Can I finish trimming my beard? I’ll hurry.”

“Okay,” I agreed, because his wonky, uneven beard would draw attention. I stood in the doorway watching him. “Anna’s going to hate me for taking you away from her. They all will.”

He lifted his chin, buzzing his neck as if talking about never seeing his family again cost him nothing. But his eyes gave it all away. “There isn’t one of them who wouldn’t do the same thing. Anna for Blue. Silas for Lemon. Holden for Christy.”

“Your mom?”

“She’ll have a harder time. But she’d do the same for Dad and he’d do the same for her.” His gaze skittered to me and he grinned. “I get to see Theo and Charlie today.”

“It’ll be a few days. We have to fly to Phoenix, in case we’re followed. We can’t lead them to Charleston. We’re all going to have to start over.”

We stared at each other for a few seconds, an entire silent conversation spoken between us. Ashton was rethinking this, not for himself, but because it meant my family would have to move again. But I wouldn’t go back without him. And he wouldn’t let me leave again without coming.

“They’ll be all right,” I said. “Brianna might be mad for a while.” I shrugged. “But when isn’t Bri mad? Mom will understand, and the kids will be so happy you’re with us that they’ll be over it the minute they see you.” I was more worried about Special Agent Moore’s reaction than anything else.

Another few seconds of silence passed between us.

“Yeah. Okay.” He finished up and put the clippers back under the counter. We’d get new ones wherever we ended up. He walked into the bedroom and gave it one last look before hefting the duffel strap over his shoulder.

When he went to slip his phone in his pocket, I stopped him. “You have to leave it.”

“Oh. Yeah. Is it okay if I send my family a quick text goodbye?”

“Probably not.” I smiled. “But we’re breaking all the rules. Tell them I love them.”

Ashton: Tally came back. I’m going with her. I won’t be able to contact you. Wish I could hug you goodbye but we have to hurry. We both love you. All of you. Never forget that.

Then he sent a PS.

Ashton: I’m going to be a dad! Tally’s pregnant with a baby girl!

I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him for too long. “I’ll make it up to you.” There’s no way I could possibly do that but I was going to try.

“Being with you will be enough.”

He dropped the phone on the bed, reached for my hand, and together we walked to the front door. We stepped out into the cold December air.

“Want me to drive?” he asked as we locked up the house.

“Sure.” I handed him the car key. He walked me to the passenger side and reached for the handle.

And that’s when I heard the hammer of a pistol being cocked .

My blood ran cold as Ashton gasped.

“Hailey,” Trevor hissed behind us and my legs threatened to give out. “If you come with me quietly, I won’t kill your husband.” Those two words came out in a jealous rage.

Every warning Special Agent Moore had drilled into me came crashing into my mind. Breaking the rules is suicide. It doesn’t just affect you, it affects everyone you love. Once you leave our protection it’s like a game of dominos. You can’t control where the tiles fall.

My head turned and I was greeted by the face that had haunted me for years. The source of every nightmare. Dark hair, green eyes, and a tiny scar over his right eyebrow. Trevor was deceptively handsome. Like evil wearing its Sunday best. It was the face I’d grown to hate more than any other.

My heart exploded in my chest, causing baby girl to flail wildly. Ashton’s hand tightened around my waist, warning me not to go.

But I didn’t have a choice. I had to keep him safe.

“Okay,” I breathed. “If you promise to leave him alone.” But I couldn’t move. My muscles were locked with terror.

“Don’t do it,” Ashton whispered desperately.

“ Shut up! ” Trevor screamed. “She’s not yours. Not anymore.”

“It’s okay.” I squeezed Ashton’s hand one last time. Then I carefully slid around his back, putting myself between him and Trevor.

Trevor’s face was granite. His eyes burned with a possessive madness that made my skin crawl. Sweat beaded on his upper lip as he sneered, gun still aimed at Ashton’s head. “You're mine,” he snarled, his free hand clenching and unclenching spasmodically. "You've always been mine!”

“You’re right,” I said, trying to calm him. “I’m yours. I always have been.” My stomach churned violently, bile rising in my throat as the memories I'd fought to bury came rushing back. Every muscle in my body screamed to run, to hide, to disappear, but I remained rooted to the spot. I wouldn’t leave Ash. My breath came in short, painful gasps as panic clawed at my chest. “I never should’ve left you.” I forced a smile that was surely more of a grimace. “I’ll come with you. As soon as you lower the gun.”

“I’ll lower the gun when I want to!” he yelled, his hands shaking, his eyes wild. “Come here!”

I whimpered but took three tentative steps toward Trevor. His arm wound around me, locking me against him, and it took all my will power not to fight. “That’s my girl.” He drug me fifteen feet, his pistol still aimed at Ashton.

“Put the gun down, Trevor,” I urged.

But he didn’t. His eyes narrowed at Ashton who looked like he was out of his mind. My husband was going to do something stupid, like lunge for me. It was written all over his face.

“Don’t,” I warned him.

Time slowed to a crawl as I saw Trevor’s finger tighten on the trigger. And then everything happened in a flash. My body moved before my mind could catch up, propelled by pure desperation. I shoved his arm as the shot came off that rang deep in my bones. The gun jerked upward and to the side. Ringing exploded in my ears.

For a heart-stopping moment, I thought I'd failed. Then I saw Ashton stagger against the car, clutching his left shoulder instead of crumpling to the ground. Blood seeped between his fingers, but his eyes were clear—shocked, but focused on me.

Trevor swore and aimed again.

“No!” I screamed, using my elbow as a battering ram straight into his windpipe. I sprinted for Ash, ready to be a human shield.

Another shot rang out and I flinched, expecting searing pain, but I felt nothing. My legs felt like I was slogging through wet cement as I reached for Ashton, terrified he was about to go down. But his hand grasped mine, warm and alive. Relief crashed over me, only to be replaced by confusion as I realized the shot hadn't come from behind.

I whirled around to see Ford standing in the grass, his face grim, a pistol steady in his outstretched hand. His chest was heaving and his forehead glistened with sweat like he’d sprinted here. My gaze dropped to the ground where Trevor lay motionless. His eyes, once filled with maniacal rage, now stared blankly at the sky. A dark stain spread across his chest, seeping into the ground beneath him. His fingers were splayed, the gun he'd wielded now just beyond his reach.

Ford walked over and kicked the gun away.

“Are you sure he’s…” I sobbed.

“Yes.” He jogged to us.

With a hand still on Ash, I curled an arm around Ford’s neck. “Thank you. Oh my gosh, thank you.” I kissed his cheek, sobbing all over him.

“That’s what family’s for,” he said. Then regret overtook his face. “I’m so sorry I outed you.”

“Oh, Ford. You didn’t know.” I pulled him closer. “You just saved us.”

“Guys.” Ashton swayed. Ford caught him and lowered him to the ground. I peeled my shirt over my head, ignoring the chill that slammed into me. I scooted in behind Ashton, straddling his waist, and pulled him against my chest. Then I handed my shirt to Ford. He balled it up, placed it over the wound, and pushed down, trying to stop the bleeding. Ash winced.

Using his other hand, Ford dialed 911.

I glanced at Trevor, lifeless, lying in a pool of his own blood. Then I looked down into Ashton’s beautiful eyes and a peace I hadn’t felt since I was a kid flooded every cell of my body. Trevor couldn’t hurt me ever again .

And Ashton was here. And he was mine. For the rest of my life.

“You’re going to be okay,” I said. “You are.”

“Hey.” His hand came up, caressing my cheek. “I am. We are.”

“Yeah.” I kissed the top of his head. “I love you. More than anything.”

He gazed up at me with such affection and straight-faced said, “I took a bullet for you, Tal. I think that means I’m better than a book boyfriend, right?”

I laughed through my tears. “Only if you start sparkling in the sunlight.” I tried to tease, but it was no good. I crumpled over him, crying into his hair. “You’re better than all the book boyfriends in all the genres.”

“The ambulance is on its way,” Ford said. “You’re gonna be okay, bro.” He rolled Ashton slightly sideways to check the other side of his shoulder. Then he peeled his own shirt off and jammed the fabric into the backside of the wound. “I think it’s a clean shot. But I’m no doctor.”

“I’m okay.” Ashton shook a little from the cold. “I didn’t send the code. How did you know?”

Ford sighed playfully but his brow was creased with concern. “A couple of months ago, I had Jeff install those cameras you didn’t want me to put up. They’re all over your house. Inside and out. The garage. The kitchen. The bedrooms.” He shrugged but his demeanor turned serious. “Got an alert the psychopath was in the yard right about the time you sent that insane text saying goodbye.” He winked at me. “You did a nice job on his beard.”

I gasped, realizing precisely what he’d seen.

“You overstepping piece of work.” Ashton swore. “You watched us?”

“Stop your complaining.” Ford chuckled. “I took a nap during that part. And my overstepping just saved your ungrateful behind.”

I beamed at my brother-in-law, then down at my husband, and back at my brother-in-law. “Ignore him,” I said to Ford. “You have my permission to overstep any time you want.”

“An open ended invitation? You’re my favorite sister-in-law.” He grinned. “Don’t tell Lemon or Christy.” He looked down at Ashton. “This hasn’t been your year, man. Punched in the face, broken hand, broken nose, and now a gunshot wound.”

Ashton looked up at me. “I got married to the love of my life though. And she’s finally back. And we’re expecting.”

“Oh yeah.” Ford laughed. “Congrats guys.”

A rogue sob-laugh escaped my throat at their bantering, while Ashton laid against me, blood leaking out of his gunshot wound. “You Duprees.”

Ford cocked a brow. “You’re a Dupree now.”

Okay, another sob-laugh erupted. This one full of gratitude. “You’re right. I am. And I’m so happy about it.”

“Oh. I forgot one.” Ashton reached for Ford’s hand. “My brother’s alive and rocking the sober life.”

Wait. Clearly, I’d missed something big.

I was about to ask what, when the most beautiful sound broke through the night air—an ambulance siren blaring in the distance.