Page 41 of The CEO

One of them ran ahead of the others toward Simon.

He wasn’t fast enough to realize what was happening and turned too late to run.

The masked man slammed the butt of his rifle into the side of Simon’s face.

Simon spun halfway around and then fell to the floor.

Rushing toward Bree, the masked man crouched beside her.

She felt his fingers on her neck as he checked for her pulse.

“Bree?” He pulled off his mask.

His face swam into view. “Adam? But how?”

“You’re going to be okay. The ambulance will be here soon.”

Behind him she saw two of the other men pull Simon to his feet. The third man cuffed his wrists behind his back.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came after my wife. No one takes what’s mine.” His voice softened, and he smiled. Then he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I couldn’t let him take Lilly’s mother, now, could I?”

Lilly’s mother. That’s all she was to him. She guessed that was good.

“Hermother. Thank you for coming after me. I don’t know how you did it, but I don’t care. I’m just glad you’re here. Help me up.”

Instead of giving her a hand, he slipped his arms under her back and legs, then lifted her high against his chest. Then he kissed her forehead.

She cried at the tenderness he showed, knowing it was only because she was Lilly’s mother. Bree loved him, and no help was to be had on that front, so she lay in his arms and cried. Let him think it was her body’s injuries and not her soul crying out in pain.

By the time they made it outside, the ambulance was waiting for her.

The police had custody of Simon and were reading him his rights.

Adam carefully placed her on the gurney. “I’ll ride with her, if that’s okay.”

The female paramedic, who had blonde hair in a thick braid falling to her waist, shook her head. “We’d prefer it if you follow in your private vehicle.”

Adam frowned but nodded. Then he took Bree’s hand. “I’ll be right behind you. I won’t leave you alone at the hospital.”

“I’m all right. You should be home with Lilly.”

“Carole has her. I’ll text to let her know what’s going on. Lilly is in good hands.”

Bree tried to smile, but her jaw hurt like Hades, and she grimaced, instead. “Carole loves Lilly almost as much as we do. She’ll take good care of her.”

The paramedics lifted the gurney into the ambulance and pulled away, headed for the hospital without lights and siren, since she wasn’t in danger of dying.

“Where are you taking me?” Bree didn’t open her eyes. The weight of what happened to her was too much and she would cry if they were open.

“The closest hospital is Presbyterian St. Lukes, so you’ll be going there.”

“That’s fine. Can you tell if my husband is following?”

The male paramedic who had brown hair, cut short, with whitewalls around the ears, looked behind them. “If he’s in a big black van, then yes, he’s following.”

“That would probably be him,” said Bree.