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"That’s ," Toby yelled frohtsaber and wrapped his ar that Devon’s grip had tightened, and Grace reacted without thinking Frohtsaber and whacked Devon in the back of his knees They buckled, and he collapsed to the floor

Tank got loose and ran for Toby and Anna

"That’s assault," Devon snarled at Grace "Twice! Not tothe cops"

"Call them," Anna said "I’ll tell them it was self-defense Grace ca to you!"

"You got me into your bed You et to it You--"

This was the last word Anna got out because Josh had appeared in the open front door He picked Devon up by the front of his shirt and slammed him into the wall

Devon, feet hanging off the ground by a good six inches, gave the saiven only ahis eyes off Devon "Call nine-one-one"

It was his tone thatwas going to be okay now that he was here She slapped her hands on her pockets but couldn’t find her phone She sat up, , and cried out before she could bite it back

"I wasn’t doing anything to her,she didn’t want done! Tell hiht I wanted to…but I found his ex’s panties in the bed and I changed my mind"

"For the second time!" Devon said

Anna shook her head, like she couldn’t believe she’d ever liked him "He didn’t hurt o of Devon and pointed at him to stay put Devon slid down the wall to the floor and wisely sat Josh strode to Grace and crouched at her side, implacable, coolheaded, every inch of hi eyes roa the buave of what he was feeling He shifted his attention to her foot, his long, knowing fingers probing in exactly the place to aze slid up to hers "Where else are you hurt?"

"Nowhere"

"He touch you?"

"She attacked me!" Devon said

Josh slid hi in her pants Devon zipped his ht Toby in here," Grace rushed to tell hiuilty she could hardly draw more air "I didn’t knohat to do Anna needed ently "Don’t ing both him and Anna close

"Won the battle, Daddy," Toby said, and wrapped an arm around Josh’s neck Anna set her head down on Josh’s shoulder, fisting both hands in his shirt, holding on, eyes closed tight Hebut not letting go of hi a hand up her back, he pal, heart warm

The police came An ambulance came The fire departhboring apartht there was an electrical fire

It took about two hours for everything to wind down, and when it did, Grace was taken for X-rays She was sitting on one of Josh’s ER beds when he caear

He didn’t say anything at first He siht to read it, and turned to her His eyes were serious, so serious she felt the breath catch in her throat "Grace, I--"

"Knock-knock" The curtain swung back to reveal Sheriff Sawyer Thompson "Heard there was a party in here" He nodded to Grace’s foot "Is it broken?"

"No," Grace said

"Actually, yes," Josh said, eyes narrowed at Sawyer "And don’t even think about it"

"Think about what?" Grace asked

Sawyer sighed "It’s just for questioning, Josh"

"What’s just for questioning?" Grace asked

Sawyer turned to her "I need to bring you into the station"

Chapter 26

Save Earth It’s the only planet with chocolate

Josh was pacing the front room of the sheriff’s station Grace’s broken foot had been set in a cast Devon had been questioned and was being held Anna had been questioned and let go She was sitting quietly in her chair next to the bench on which Toby was perched, the two of theames on her phone

Grace was still in the back with Sawyer

Josh had no idea as taking so long Saas definitely one of the good guys, but this was pissing hih the front door "Just heard from Lucille that Grace was arrested What the hell?"

Josh didn’t even bother to ask how Lucille knew that Grace had been taken in "It’s not an arrest It’s just forhtsaber, and he’s clai assault"

"Well fk fore on that

"They okay?" Mallory asked quietly, gesturing to Anna and Toby

"Toby is I don’t know about Anna yet She’s playing it close to the vest"

"She’s strong, Josh"

"Stronger than me," he said, and looked up to find Anna’s eyes on hiaze that he hadn’t seen in years

Warret

He shook his head at the last anddown before theood today, Little Man"

"Better than any other Jedi?"

"Better than every other Jedi" He ruffled Toby’s hair and turned to Anna "Proud of you"

Her eyes filled Swearing beneath his breath, he set Toby down and pulled her tight Dropping her head to his shoulder, she did what she so rarely did She co like her heart had just broken

Toby stepped up behind her and very gently patted her on the back

"I’et Grace h-hurt or arrested--"

"She’s not arrested," Josh assured her "And you didn’t get her hurt That was Devon" He tightened his grip on her even as he pulled back enough to see her face "You promise he didn’t hurt you"