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.His gun went off, but I was able to keep him there until the police got here.”Several officers burst into the room, guns drawn.Jessica and Kyle both looked up in surprise.“Is there anyone else here?” one of the officers asked.“No,” Jessica said.“I’m the one who called.It was just Douglas.At least that I know of.”“We’ll take a look around to be sure.Are either one of you hurt?”“She needs to go the hospital,” Kyle said.“She’s been shot.She also fell down the stairs and hurt her back.”A few minutes later Jessica found herself in the ambulance.Kyle had told her he would meet her at the hospital.Chapter Twenty-NineIn the ambulance, overcome with exhaustion and finally feeling safe, Jessica fell asleep.When she woke, she found herself in a hospital bed.The doctor came in a short time later.“Hello, Jessica.I’m Doctor Nielson.How are you feeling?”“Sore all over.”“Your back is severely bruised and you’ll be sore for a while.But the bullet just grazed your leg, so that should heal nicely.”Relieved to hear that, she smiled.“Thank you.”“You have a visitor outside.Are you feeling up to that?”“Who is it?”“I believe he said his name is Kyle.”Thrilled to hear he was nearby, Jessica said, “Yes, send him in.”A moment later the doctor left, and then Kyle came in.“You’re awake,” he said as he approached her bedside, a smile on his face.“How are you feeling?”“Pretty sore.” Pleased that he had stayed at the hospital, she figured he would leave once he knew she was okay.“I’ll bet.That fall down the stairs looked pretty painful.” He grimaced as he spoke.“And I’ll bet that bullet wound doesn’t feel too good, either.”She tried to sit up, but her injuries prevented her from doing it easily.Kyle immediately helped, positioning her against several pillows.“Thanks.” She smiled, grateful to have him there.She was quiet for a moment before speaking.“I remember you catching me and keeping me from falling all the way down.” She paused as tears filled her eyes.“And then after he shot me, you carried me out of the house.” She paused again, gathering her thoughts.“I was so worried that he was going to kill us.”“He would have if we hadn’t gotten away.”“Where is he now?”“In jail.Charged with attempted murder.”“That’s good.”“Why was he trying to kill you anyway? Does it have something to do with those letters you told me about?”“Yes.He knew I found out that he killed his parents.”“Killed his parents? The last thing you told me was that William was his real father.You never said anything about murder.”Jessica told him what she had discovered that day.“Why didn’t you tell me?”“I almost did, but I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me.”His jaw clenched.“I’m so sorry I doubted what you told me.”“I’m just glad you got there when you did.But how did you know to come?”“I didn’t know.”Confused, Jessica shook her head.“I don’t understand.Why did you come over then?”“I just had a bad feeling.You had told me that stuff about Douglas, and then at the last minute he hired me to do some work.But the thing that made me come back was when I tried to call him and his phone went right to voice mail.He always answers his phone.Everything together just seemed strange and I wanted to check to make sure you were okay.”Touched that he’d been thinking of her, the knowledge that he would soon be out of her life depressed her and she felt melancholy settle over her like a heavy blanket.Kyle paused.“I tried to tell you to stay away from him.”Overwhelmed by all that had happened, in addition to her sadness at having Kyle no longer part of her life, fat tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.“I’m sorry, okay?” she sobbed.“I know I was stupid.And it almost got both of us killed.”Kyle got up from his chair and sat on the bed next to her, then wrapped his arms around her.“It’s okay,” he murmured.“It’s not your fault.”The feel of his arms around her was like heaven, and Jessica pressed her face into his chest, reveling in his closeness.She felt so secure there and wanted to stay there forever.After a few minutes she was able to get her tears under control and Kyle released her.Though she didn’t want him to let go, she couldn’t do anything about it and she sat back against the pillows.He stayed sitting on the edge of her bed and gazed at her.He reached out and wiped away a tear that was hovering on her eyelash.Briefly closing her eyes, she opened them to see him watching her.“I really am sorry that I put you in danger,” she said.He kept his eyes locked on hers and whispered, “I can’t believe I almost lost you.”Jessica blinked, not sure if she’d heard him right.“What?”He reached toward her and stroked her cheek.“When I saw you teetering on the top of the stairs with Douglas’s gun pressed against your head, I thought that was it.I was certain he was going to kill you one way or the other.”Mesmerized by the intensity in his eyes, Jessica didn’t respond.“Then he pointed it at me,” he continued.“And you pushed him backwards, and for a second I thought everything might be okay.But then you lost your balance and fell down the stairs anyway.I stopped your fall as best I could, but when Douglas started shooting, all I could see was an image of you.” He paused.“Shot and bleeding.” He paused again.“And then when the bullet hit you, I didn’t know what to think.”“You used yourself as a shield.To protect me,” Jessica said, remembering.Kyle smiled
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