Page 112 of Hero Unbound

Theo had brought a team. All his friends.

To save her.

Gareth immediately realized he’d been outplayed. He dropped her hand from around the trigger and brought the gun up to Eva’s temple, wrapping his other arm tightly around her throat.

“One of you may get a shot off, but she’ll die with me if you do.”

For the first time, Theo looked less than perfectly calm. “We don’t want to kill you, Metter. But there’s no way you walk out of this unless you put the gun down now. Believe me, the most dangerous of us all—a crack shot with a rifle like his father before him—hasn’t even made himself known yet. Derek, do me a favor and hold your fire, please.”

“My PTSD is giving me a pretty itchy finger, but I’ll try. For the moment.” Derek’s voice came from up in a tree somewhere to her left.

Gareth’s arm tightened around her throat for a few seconds before he let her go and pushed her away, realizing he’d lost the advantage completely. He held the gun up so it wasn’t pointing at anyone.

“Fine. You win for now. But this isn’t over. I have a completely unblemished reputation. I will make it seem like you and your friends ambushed me for some sort of petty revenge since I’m your girlfriend’s ex. I will destroy your reputation and take every dime your company has.”

Lincoln scoffed. “I changed my mind. I don’t want to shoot him. Just give me ten minutes on my computer. Gareth Metter will not even exist by the time I’m finished.”

“That won’t be necessary, Lincoln. I’ll take care of preserving all of your legal reputations.”

Theo and his friends all spun, obviously not expecting anyone else. Callum stepped out into the opening, handcuffs in hand.

“What are you doing here?” Theo asked.

“When I got word of all of you headed out of town like your pants were on fire, after stopping by LT to stock up on weapons, I figured you might need some adult supervision.” He walked toward Gareth. “And it seems like I just heard you admit to multiple crimes.”

For the first time, Gareth’s confidence completely failed him. He was smart enough not to say another word as he lowered his hands, and the gun dropped to the ground.

The next thing Eva knew, Theo’s arms were around her, and he was picking her up. She buried her face in his neck and held on.

“Eva’s one of ours now.” Theo’s voice rang out clear and true through the wilderness. “She’ll never be battling anything alone ever again.”

36

Theo didn’t let Eva out of his sight at the hospital this time.

He wasn’t sure he was going to be able to let her out of his sight ever again. The sound of her scream out in that wilderness… Knowing how close he’d come to being too late and the unspeakable having happened…

It would haunt him his whole life.

Almost as much as knowing she’d thought she was alone in all this. The complete and utter shock in her eyes when she’d seen him had been more than mere surprise that he’d been able to find her.

She hadn’t thought he’d be coming for her at all.

He couldn’t take that back or change it. All he could do was move forward. He knew gaining her trust and helping her to see how much she meant to him would take time, but he would do it.

She’d been quiet, but alert, all the way back to Oak Creek. He hadn’t even been able to force himself to let her out of his arms, even when they’d gotten to the car. She’d ridden the whole way back to Oak Creek sitting in his lap while Derek drove and Lincoln muttered about all the ways he could destroy Gareth digitally. Lilah and Bear had stayed to help Callum process the scene and deal with Gareth however he needed to.

By the time they’d been at the hospital a couple hours, word had already gotten around town about what had happened. Multiple people, many of whom weren’t even that close with Eva, wanted to visit her, but Dr. Annie had put a stop to that quickly. The gossip mill would have to wait.

She’d run a full tox screen on Eva to make sure Gareth hadn’t injected her with anything else that might be detrimental—but had found nothing beyond remnants of what he’d used to knock her unconscious. She’d also treated and wrapped Eva’s torn feet, which would be tender for a few days, but otherwise had no permanent damage.

At least physically.

Gareth had been arrested and had immediately gotten a lawyer, of course. But even the best lawyer and Gareth’simpeccable reputationweren’t going to be enough to keep him out of prison. Kidnapping, attempted rape, and infliction of bodily harm…and that was just what he’d done this week. It didn’t even touch the confessions he’d made out in the wilderness which might also lead to more charges eventually.

Eva hadn’t done much talking in the hospital, only answering Dr. Annie’s questions or responding when needed for specific information. The only thing she’d requested was a set of scrubs to put on so she didn’t have to stay in the dress any longer.

Theo didn’t blame her for that or for keeping quiet. She had so much to process right now. So much of her life might finally start to make sense, based on what Gareth had admitted to—filtering through all that had to seem overwhelming.