Page 38 of One Last Kiss

From the corner of his eye, Sam caught movement in the shadows and spotted Big John moving silently up behind Vince. Sam’s shoulders tightened. He took a slow step toward the pistol and eased it toward Vince with the toe of his boot. It was still too far away.

“Closer!” Vince demanded, squeezing until Libby fought for a breath of air. The wind blew Vince’s stringy blond hair against the side ofhis thick neck.

Hold on, baby,Sam silently pleaded, his gazefixed on Libby.

Vince screamed as John’s big fist slammed into the back of his neck, breaking several vertebrae and sending the bank robber crashing to the ground. Libby twisted free as Vince hit the pavement, dead beforehe reached it.

“Sam!” Libby raced toward him. “Sam!” Sam swept herinto his arms.

“I’ve got you,” he said, a tremor running through him. “You’re okay. You’re safe, honey. They can’t hurt you anymore.”

Libby’s arms tightened around his neck. “I love you, Sam.” She was shaking. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, sweetheart.”

“I don’t want to go back, Sam. I want to stayhere with you.”

Love for her washed through him, and emotion clogged his throat. “If you stay, I’m never letting you go.”

“Oh, Sam.” Libby went up on her toes and kissed him, and Sam kissed her back. From a few feet away, Big John stood watching. The look in his onyx eyes said what the big man had known all along.

Libby had found her way home.