She’d seen Zane’s eyes go blank, felt the absolute stillness in him.

“We’ll take care of each other.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

While, in odd synchronicity, the doctor who lived in his old house treated Darby, Zane walked over to Britt’s office. He caught her before her first appointment, and her surprised smile of greeting faded when she got a good look at his eyes.

“You need to sit down.”

“Grams.” As she did, she pressed a hand to her heart. “Pop.”

“No, it’s not that.” Fast was usually best. “Eliza’s dead.”

“Oh.” As her hand dropped to her desk, Britt’s breath came out long, shaky. “I’m not surprised. How could I be surprised? He killed her.”

“That’s not official yet, but of course he did. There’s more.”

While he told her, she stood up, walked to the window, and circled the room, her hands clasped tight.

It shouldn’t have surprised Zane how strong she was, but it constantly did.

Her voice held just a touch of pity when she spoke. “He could have lived his life. They could have lived their lives. But it wasn’t enough for him. We took everything that mattered away from him—that’s how he saw it. The only way he could see it. We had to be punished. He meant to kill you this time.”

“And Darby just because she was there. Because she was with me. He’d have come for you if he could.”

She didn’t flinch, only nodded in agreement. “Yes, you first, then me. Then Emily, Lee, Dave, very likely Charlene and Joe because they had the house he’d see as his.”

She leaned a hip on her desk. “I’ll tell you he’ll have a list, either written down or inside his head. Everyone he deems responsible for what he lost. Lee should check, make sure, he came here first. I think he would—you’d be priority one—but Lee should check on his lawyer, the judge who sentenced him.”

“Christ.” In opposition to her admirable calm, Zane raked his hands through his hair. “I should’ve thought of that. Lee probably has.”

“I’m surprised you can think of your own name with the morning you’ve had. You’d have stopped him, Zane. He doesn’t know the man you are.”

“Darby did stop him. He didn’t know the woman she is.”

“Darby, God.” Britt scrubbed her hands over her face. “Charlene’s a good doctor. If it’s any more than bruises and scrapes, she’ll find it, treat it. I want to see her, but damn it, I don’t even know what to say.”

“You’ll think of something.” He found himself able to smile, at least a little. “It’s what you do.”

“I should reschedule my appointments. Emily might need me. She was Eliza’s sister. And Grams, Pop. No matter what, she was their daughter. Oh God, Zane, what are we going to do for them? What can we do for them?”

“We’ll figure it out.” He drew her in, held her. “We’ll figure it out,” he repeated. “We came out okay, didn’t we, you and me? We got through worse. We’ll get through this, and so will they.”

“I’m so glad you’re here. I’m so glad you came home.” She squeezed hard, drew back. “I thought of something. I have something that may help Emily, Grams, Pop. Something good.”

“I’ll take it.”

“I peed on a stick this morning.”

Baffled, he squinted at her. “Why the hell would you—” Then his brain clicked. “Oh. Seriously?”

“Positively, you could say. I haven’t even told Silas yet because he was … Well, you know where he was. I wasn’t going to say anything to anybody but him for a few weeks, but hell, if not now for happy news, when? We wanted our kids close, and we rang the bell.”

“This is great. Britt, this is just amazingly great.”

“It shows who we are. We’re making our lives, living our lives, both of us, Zane. Yeah, we’re okay. They couldn’t take who we are away from us. We’re who we are despite them.”

Despite them, Zane thought. And in some ways, because of them. He worked his way back to urgent care, and while he waited, contacted Maureen.

She’d have heard plenty over the grapevine, but he filled in some details, let her know he was fine, Darby was being looked after. And asked her to handle the insurance claim, reschedule his appointments.

He’d get in when he could.

Darby, looking mildly annoyed, came out along with the pretty, pregnant Dr. Ledbecker.

“You’re Zane. Charlene. And you’re in charge of this one today?”

“Hey.”

Zane overrode Darby’s objection. “That’s right.”

“No breaks, no torn or pulled muscles. She has some substantial bruising, and her shoulder’s going to be tender for a few days. Ice, ibuprofen should do the job. No lifting anything over five pounds, and no digging for forty-eight hours.”

“Got it.”

“The same for her back, her hip.” She handed Zane a bag. “Some samples of medication for her knuckles, and a list of instructions. We’ll follow up in two days.”

“She’ll be here.”

“My number’s on the instruction list. Any other issues, call.”

“Thanks. I’ll be fine,” Darby said.

“No digging!” Charlene warned as Darby dragged Zane out of urgent care.

“Jesus, she’s thorough. I was half-afraid she’d bring out the leeches. Did you see Britt?”

“Yeah, we’re good.”

“Okay then. You drop me off, then go see Emily.”

“That’s the plan.” Not the whole plan, but the first part.

When he dropped her off, he annoyed her all over again by relaying the doctor’s restrictions to her horrified, angry, fascinated crew. With the addendum if they didn’t make sure she followed same, he’d kick some asses himself.

Then he went to Emily.

She sat alone on her back patio, staring off at nothing, but jumped up when she saw him.

“I should’ve come to you. I—”

“Stop. I’m fine.”

“Darby.”

“Checked out by Dave and the doctor. She’ll be fine, too.” He saw she’d shed some tears, was struggling with them now. “You’ve talked to Lee.”

“I told him to go on. He has so much to do, and nothing he could do here. I need to call my mama and daddy, but…”

“It can wait.” He folded her in.

“Oh God, my God, Zane, that he would come back here after all these years. Try to hurt you again. Worse. I think worse. He killed Eliza, you know he must have killed Eliza.”

“I know.” He stroked her back, tried to soothe the trembling, and finally just pressed his lips to the top of her head. “Let go, just let go.”

When she did, the strongest woman he knew clung to him, let loose a torrent of sobs. So he held and stroked and swayed, and said nothing.

“I don’t know why I’m acting like this. You’re not hurt. Both you and Lee told me Darby’s going to be okay. I need to go see her, but … And that bastard is in custody. In the hospital thanks to that amazing girl, and in custody. We’re safe. We’re all safe. My family’s safe.”