“I’m cold,” she whispered.
“Just hang on,” he said. “Help is coming. Just stay with me.”
Spenser heard the sirens approaching, but they sounded a thousand miles away. She closed her eyes and focused on the sensation of Ryker stroking her hair. It was nice. Comforting.
“I’m so tired,” she murmured.
“Stay awake,” he said. “Stay with me, Spenser.”
Feeling groggy and wrung out, her eyes opened halfway. Red and blue flashing lights cut through the darkness around her as the world exploded with activity. She heard muffled voices telling Ryker to get away and he gently laid her down. She was staring up at the sky but then Marley’s face filled her field of vision. Her best friend’s eyes were red and puffy, and her face was etched with fear. She sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
“Don’t you dare go anywhere on me, Spense,” she said.
Marley fixed an oxygen mask over her mouth and nose as a pair of EMTs Spenser recognized but couldn’t put a name to worked on her. After a few minutes that seemed like weeks, they lifted Spenser onto a gurney and strapped her down. With Ryker on one side and Marley on the other, they pushed her to the waiting ambulance.
“I’m going,” she heard Ryker say.
“You’re not.”
“Stop me,” he barked.
And then he was sitting on the bench in the back of the ambulance beside her. Marley had crowded in next to him, nudging him with her elbow to make a little space as she continued to work on her. A moment later, the doors slammed shut and the ambulance was bouncing along the pitted and rutted path that led from the cabins to the main road.
“You’re going to be fine, Spenser,” she said. “Just hang on. Stay with me.”
The wail of the sirens filled her ears, and Ryker held her hand as Marley continued barking at him to give her some room. They bickered like Amanda and Jacob did sometimes. Spenser tried to offer them both a smile from behind the oxygen mask, but she didn’t know if they could see it. Spenser was numb. Exhausted. She felt entirely spent, and all she wanted was to close her eyes and drift off into a peaceful sleep.
Ryker gave her hand a squeeze. “Hey, guess what? I was right.”
Spenser looked at him, not sure what he was talking about. He laughed.
“Back when you first started working the case,” he explained. “I told you the significant other did it. The significant other always does it. Layla killed Seth… I was right.”
Spenser’s laugh racked her with pain then broke down into a coughing fit. Marley admonished him and told him to stop making her laugh. The way Ryker and Marley were looking at her made Spenser think they were bracing themselves. Preparing to lose her. And back at the cabin, she’d been ready to accept death. She’d been willing to embrace if it meant taking Ricci with her.
But now, with the danger past, Spenser didn’t want to die. She wasn’t ready and didn’t want to leave these people who meant the world to her. She pulled her oxygen mask down.
“I love you guys,” she croaked, her voice raspy. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
Ryker’s eyes shimmered as he kissed the back of her hand. “Damn right you’re not.”
Spenser closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, embracing the pain that flooded her. It was unbearable. But she was grateful for it. The pain let her know she was still alive.
Thank you for joining Spenser Song on another exciting adventure in Sweetwater Falls! Throughout the series, Spenser has faced numerous challenges and uncovered countless secrets, but this time, I've really thrown her into the deep end with some political rivalry. As if she didn't have enough on her plate already! But it comes with the gig, as running for sheriff in a small town isn't just about enforcing the law; it's about navigating personal vendettas, public opinion, and cutthroat opponents. As you’ve seen in this story, the stakes have never been higher for Spenser, both professionally and personally. I really hope you enjoyed it and that it captivated you from beginning to end!
I always aim to deliver the best reading experience for you. Your feedback helps me understand what delights you and where I can improve. If you enjoyed this adventure, please consider leaving a review. Your feedback helps other readers discover the series, fuels my motivation to keep writing, and is an integral part of shaping this series.
If you're yearning for more riveting mysteries, I highly recommend checking out the incredibly well-received THE KEPT GIRLS, the latest in my Blake Wilder series. In it, Blake and her team jump into action when sixteen-year-old Ashley Barlow, the daughter of a senator, is taken. As they delve deeper, they uncover a hidden world of local nightclubs and a double life Ashley was leading. Unexpectedly, the urgency escalates when multiple young girls are taken in the same manner as Ashley. The secrets of THE KEPT GIRLS will keep you glued to every page!
Thank you once again for your continued support. It is because of YOU that I have the motivation to keep going and keep delivering the stories you love.
By the way, if you find any typos or want to reach out to me, feel free to email me at egray@ellegraybooks.com
Yours truly,
Elle Gray
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