Page 34 of Mountain Shadow

He nodded briskly. “I’ll go get the car and bring you home.”

“Are they … are they going to call us?”

“They’ll call as soon as they have news.”

“But what if Joshua is—” her voice hitched. She thought of her gentle coworker. The thought that, just because he knew her, Joshua might be hurt—or even worse—was unbearable.

“We don’t know anything yet. You know you can’t trust anything he said, Sarah.”

The weight in the pit of her stomach settled into the shape of a lead balloon. She struggled to get any air into her lungs. Jens was beside her in an instant, sensing her distress.

“Shh … slow and deep, Sarah. Not too fast.” His hand pushed gently on her back. “There you go. You’re going to be okay.”

The air started flowing into her lungs, enough that at least she knew she wasn’t going to die out here on the street. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder, feeling safe in his arms but wondering if she’d ever be truly safe again.

* * *

Jens

Jens disconnected the call. Anger flooded his system. He wanted to go outside and punch something, but he knew he had to tell Sarah about this new development.

He walked quietly up the stairs, not knowing if he’d find her sleeping. She’d still been distraught when they’d arrived back home, so he’d suggested a nap.

In the last couple of days, they’d abandoned any pretense of Sarah staying in the guest bedroom. She belonged in his bed.

Jens sighed. At some point, he was going to have to talk to Damien about this. But for now, they had more pressing matters.

The sight of Sarah on his bed took his breath away. She was curled onto her side, sleeping soundly. She looked relaxed, and it made Jens realize just how much stress she was under when she was awake, how much worry she was always trying to hide.

He wished he could take those worries from her. Instead, he was about to add to them. His hands clenched into fists. He’d never hated anyone as much as he hated the man who was doing this to Sarah.

He lowered his weight slowly onto the side of the bed next to her.

“Sarah?”

Her beautiful eyes opened, groggy at first, then filled with panic as the events of the previous hours came back to her.

“How long have I been asleep?” she asked, sitting up in bed. Then, seeing his expression, added, “Something’s happened, right?”

And Jens hated—absolutely hated—that he couldn’t just say nothing, that he had to give her news that would both sadden and scare her.

“The London police just called me.”

“Is Joshua—”

“He’s alive. Your stalker beat him up badly. They’ve placed him in an induced coma.”

“He has children. A wife.”

“He was home alone. I’m sure they’re okay.”

“How did this bastard find out his address? I need to speak to his family,” she said, putting her feet on the floor. Jens tried not to look at the way the T-shirt she was wearing—his T-shirt—rode up her thighs.

“Hold on, Sarah. That’s not all,” he said, taking her hand in his.

“What … what do you mean?” she whispered. Tears filled her eyes. “Has something else happened?”

“The police also went to your place.” He went on before she could say anything. “The door was ajar. He’d been there already.”