Page 51 (1/2)

His expression twists with tension, and that saht posture and how he’s clenching and unclenching his hands

“Oh” is all I can think of to say, glancing at the IV in ht now I don’t have words yet to understand and process what I’ve been through Part of me knows I should be trau that matters is that Ryder foundbeyond that “How’s my father?”

“Recovering well,” he answers, instantly flooding me with relief that we all came out of this a little beat up, but alive “Your o, but she’s back up in his rooet her?”

I shake ret it and shut ainst the pain “Ouch” The back of ritstill until the pain drifts away “Mental note, no sudden movements”

“The governor is in jail, as well as one of the perps,” Ryder says next, a couple minutes later, and this tiuy who threatened you is dead”

I hear the palpable anger in his voice, and when I reopen er in his expression, but I do see it in his eyes—burning there just below the surface And that’s not all I see Black eye, bruised lip, cuts on his neck His injuries fill my vision “My God, your face—”

“I’

No, he’s anything but fine I watch hiot his back up and what’s going on in his ht now? I mean, you are the hero, after all”

No eot abducted You got hurt Where is the heroism in all that?”

“You came for otten there There is no doubt in my mind of that”

“I found you by luck,” he retorts “It was the arrogance of the governor that ledfor details of e knew and to act the part of the concerned governor”

“Then how did you knoas him?” I ask, curious now

“I saw his scar”

“Well, all of the cards fell into place and you found h to et him out of his current uys are alive The bad guy isn’t, and the other two are in jail, where they should be”

Ryder’s mouth sets in a fir me