Page 50 of Running to You

He turned and wound up the hill toward his house. Daniel and Camilla should be back by now. Not that Sam was eager to lose Eliza’s company, or share her with his brother and sister-in-law. That was the problem, though. The more time they spent together, the more he remembered why he’d fallen in love with her.

And the more he forgot how she’d ripped his heart out and stomped on it.

“I haven’t gotten to your house from this direction,” she said. “It’s so pretty.”

The road was narrow and lined on both sides with newer homes on large lots, all sporting windows that faced the ocean. Manicured front yards and perfectly landscaped flower beds made the street feel bright and cheerful despite the gray clouds overhead. Beyond his house, the hill continued up another few hundred feet, mostly forest, though a few structures peeked through the thick trees. Sam hadn’t wanted to live any higher, though. He liked his spot, close enough to watch the boats in the cove but far enough away that he had privacy from all the summer visitors.

“I fell in love with the neighborhood long before I saw the house. It’s too big for me, of course, but I hoped…” Was he really going to tell her how he’d longed for a wife, a family? Not a chance.

“Have you met your neighbors? I bet they’re…”

Her voice trailed as they rounded the last corner.

Police cars. Two…no, three of them. Two on the street.

One in Sam’s driveway.

“What’s going on?”

He didn’t even try to answer Eliza’s question as he stopped behind one of the cars and threw the truck into park. “I’ll come around.”

“I can…” The rest of her words were lost when he slammed the door and hurried to her side. She was halfway down by the time he got there. He grabbed her around the waist and lifted her to the ground, gaze flicking behind them.

Just in case.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and stayed glued to her side. Because something was going on, and he had a very bad idea what it might be.

“Where have you been?” Daniel’s voice was uncharacteristically loud—and angry—as he stormed down the driveway toward them.

Behind him, a uniformed police officer was talking to Camilla, who was wrapped in a blanket, sitting sideways in the back seat of the cruiser, her feet on the asphalt.

More cops were crouched near the bushes on the edge of his property.

“I called you,” Daniel said. “Twice.”

“Phone’s on silent. What happened?”

“You said they wouldn’t be able to track you! You were certain of it.”

“Tell me what happened.”

“They were here, that’s what happened. Your two attackers.” His gaze shifted to Eliza, and he took a breath.

Eliza’s skin was white, her eyes wide and filling. A hand covered her mouth in horror.

Sam shifted closer and squeezed her to his side.

When Dan spoke again, his voice was calmer. “Sorry.” He raked a hand through his hair. “I was already inside, but Cammie left a bag in the car and went to grab it. I heard her screaming. By the time I got out, they were dragging her away.”

Sam’s gaze flicked to Camilla. She was standing now, pointing toward the bushes. Whole and healthy.

Thank God. Thank God she hadn’t been hurt.

“How did you get her away?” Sam asked.

“I called her name.” Daniel swallowed. “I was chasing them down, hoping to…I don’t know. Give her a chance to escape. But when I called her name, they let her go.”

They’d realized she wasn’t Eliza. Which meant her attackers didn’t know her that well, though they’d just seen her the day before. Maybe these were different attackers?