Disgust and horror mingled in Val’s gut as he nodded at her and he saw similar emotions in Ransome’s eyes when he looked across the bed at him. The guy looked ready to jump up from the bed and go down to that isolation room and make good on the revenge they both wanted.
Footsteps sounded on the aisle, outside the curtain, and the sound of soft voices trailed along with them. A moment later, Hank Stinson poked his head in between the drapes.
“How’s tall, blonde, and dangerous?” he asked with a smile, although he looked like he’d seen better days. “Wyatt told me how you stood up to Dornan, and how you defended yourself.”
Charity grinned. “I had a great teacher. I did just like you taught me and struck when my opportunity came. Wyatt was no slouch, either, taking him down.”
“I’m sorry to hear you got shot in the process, though. Dornan’s already convicted of kidnapping, rape, and other charges. Now with that deputy in Louisiana’s blood on his hands and aggravated attempted kidnapping and attempted murder, he’ll never get out of prison. His brother, Brian, has also been picked up as an accessory. There’s solid evidence that he was helping Trevor in trade for whichever woman he kidnapped, after the baby came. When he was searched after being arrested, they found his notebook, detailing his plans and his brother’s involvement. Disgusting assholes.”
Val recognized the haunted look in Hank’s eyes that he tried to hide behind a weary smile and understood the toll such a job could take on a man.
Hank looked down the hall, toward the isolation room, and said, “I’m being paged. Talk to y’all later.”
Charity turned back to the two of them and said, “See? You weren’t to blame for Dornan tracing Jessica to Divine, any more than Jessica was to blame for him gaining access to her computer, Val. He was determined to find her.”
Ransome said, “We’ve always worried that our careers as bounty hunters might blow back on the family. We never wanted that.”
“I wanted you in our lives, though. The whole family would agree that the reward is worth the risk.”
Justin parted the curtain again, with a smile on his face.
Charity asked, “Did you make your calls?”
“I did. Summer wanted me to know she was sending a potential customer my way. They wanted to buy the sculpture she and the guys bought to display in Discretion. Violet has a couple of ‘highly interested’ collectors and she needs more pieces. She wanted me to tell you she’s relieved that you’re going to be okay. I talked to Jack and he has a crew that’ll be ready to start our addition and renovation next Monday morning.” He smiled when Charity cheered and gently clapped her hands. Val knew how crowded she felt in the small bedroom, which had been made even smaller by the arrival of their custom-made bed. “And there’s a couple of large, official-looking black SUVs parked outside the entrance so I’m assuming Dornan is being picked up.”
A door opened down the hall and then they heard the soft, rhythmic chink of chains. A voice suddenly boomed in the space. “You!”
Justin’s demeanor changed as he stared down the aisle, toward the voice and commotion. He even seemed to grow a little taller and looked like he was barely containing the urge to beat the ever-living shit out of the owner of that voice.
Val noticed the way Charity startled and reached to pull them closer. They moved to sit on either side of her on the narrow bed, ready to block her with their own bodies at a moment’s notice.
She tightened her grip on his hand and said, “It’s him.”
He whispered, “He’s in chains, baby. He can’t do anything to you now.” She nodded and seemed to relax a little.
Angry words echoed in the suddenly quiet cubicles surrounding them. “If it wasn’t for those two bastards, and you and that bitch, I’d have my kid right now and everything would be fine!”
Throwing her earlier caution to the wind, Charity snorted and called, “That’s Ms. Bitch to you, remember?” Val rolled his eyes and shook his head at their irrepressible woman.
Standing at six foot seven, Justin stared down the aisle, challenge in his dark eyes and stiff jaw. “You blame the world for all your problems, don’t you, Dornan?”
Val heard a struggle going on, which created a draft so he got a glimpse of Dornan when the curtains parted for a moment. He was scraggly and disheveled, being led by two big dudes dressed in jeans, boots, cowboy hats, and dark sunglasses. They nodded as they dragged him past.
“This is your fault!” Dornan growled once more, glaring at Val.
“Shut up, Dornan,” one of the officers growled. “It’s not their fault you kidnapped and raped that poor woman and then stalked her and her friends. We’ve got you for murder in Louisiana, and with all the evidence against you here in Divine, and witnesses willing to testify, I’d get comfortable with being known as Trevorina from now on if I was you. Don’t make us gag you.”