Jennifer stopped, crossed her arms, and clicked her heel like she intended a huge fight. "Who's this?"
Alice's blue eyes were moist and wet. John rushed past Jennifer who stalked toward his brother. Then Alice threw her arms around his neck. If the heavens knew how to set a man's soul ablaze from one touch, then they blessed her with the skill. She hugged him and life surged back into his spine. With her face nuzzled in his chest, she asked, "Is this over now?"
Her hair was like silk as he ran his rough fingers through it to cradle her head. "Yes."
Without letting go of his neck, she trembled. "Can we go home? I want to talk to you, alone."
Smith was still out there. Officer Rafe Soliz had his APB and location. John decided to trust the police and turned all his attention toward Alice. He massaged her back. "Of course."
She let go of his neck, but took his hand as she dragged him toward the door. It was clear she didn't want to be in the Morgan mansion. Alone, he could tell her that all was right with the world now that they were together again.
Chapter Thirty Two
Her heart hammered in her chest. Alice tugged John's arm. She couldn't wait to tell him. She turned to the huge house and the green trees that created the illusion of shade. It was fitting they were here. She turned him into the garden next to the driveway, as she wasn't ready to drive to John's house. They walked toward the gazebo. The sun shined down and birds chirped in the air. She held onto his arm. "I didn't want an audience to hear me."
He rubbed her hand and nodded. "It's fine. We'll go home soon."
She closed her eyes. This was it. She took a deep breath and everything else around them faded away. As she opened her eyes, he had an ethereal glow around him. "John, I'm so in love with you."
Deep dimples appeared on his cheeks. Her heart raced as he cleared his throat. Then he leaned his forehead on hers. "Good, because I love you too."
Her stomach fluttered. "You do?"
His hands clasped her waist, and an electrical jolt rushed through her. "Yes. And I've tried to tell you for weeks, but you won't listen."
She laughed. "What?"
He kissed her nose, and then went down on one knee. Her heart fluttered as she stared at him. "I want to ask you a question."
Her hand covered her mouth. "What?"
As he reached into his pocket, his face went white. Then he bolted upright. "Wait right here. Don't move."
A smile grew across her face. "Okay, my love."
His mouth brushed against hers. She tried to hold him close, but he stepped back. She laughed as he ran toward his car.
A moment later, he slammed the car door shut and ran back toward her. Then he went down on one knee and held out a jewelry box. "It's been in my jacket."
That whole weak-knee moment was real. Her eyes watered. John opened the box and revealed a diamond larger than she'd ever seen. "Will you marry me, Alice?"
Alice jumped up in the air, pulling him with her so she could wrap her arms around his shoulders. "Yes. Of course."
With a huge grin, he slipped the ring on her finger.
A sigh escaped her lips as she stared at her hand, resting and sparkling on his shoulder. "John, we're doing this. Really?"
He hugged her. "Even if your mother disapproves."
"I would rather spend my life with you than have a life without you."
Out of the blue, her phone rang. Alice reached into her back pocket to silence it, but she saw it was her mom. "She's right on time."
John held her in his arms as she answered. "He—"
"Sweetheart, stay safe." Her mother's voice was so high that it took a second to understand. Alice stepped back and covered her mouth.
Her gaze stayed on John though his eyes narrowed. She asked, "What?"
"Give me the phone." The man that tied her up and left her to die. Smith. Alice recognized his voice. She fumbled to get the phone on speaker.
Now that John could hear, she screamed, "Who was that?"
John motioned with his finger for Alice to stay quiet as he used his cell phone to text someone. She was so dizzy that she couldn't form a sentence.
Then Smith caused both of them to freeze as he said, "Alice, your mom is coming with me as insurance that I get to the airport."
The front door of the main house opened and the police, Victoria, Peter, and Jennifer followed. "Where is my dad?"
Smith's inhale reverberated in the air with a ring. "You have a dad that lives here?"
Colt and Clara were also there, unless he went to the beach condo. Alice held her tongue, not wanting to give away her family to Smith. Officer Soliz and the others stayed behind her, though it was obvious that they rushed around to do something.
Her stomach clenched and her vision blurred. She closed her eyes and rocked on her feet. At any moment her father might walk in and then this would get so much worse. Her dad had a heart issue. "Oh, God."
John texted Colt. She grabbed his arm to keep him next to her, as she saw the name on her screen.
With her hands shaking, she begged into the phone, "Please leave my family alone."
Smith sighed. "I will. Tell your mom to get in the car."
No. This was wrong. She rubbed her forehead and tried to loosen her tight shoulders. "The police arrested Serena. Now is the time for you to run."
Then gunshots echoed in the house. Black spots danced before her eyes and her pulse rushed. The phone turned off as Mom screamed.
Alice trembled and the world became black even as there was a swarm of activity around her. John's arm around her waist was the only warmth she felt as he picked her up and rushed her toward his car. Alice needed her mom and in the end the arguing never mattered.
Chapter Thirty Three
Palm trees flashed by her car window and she focused on the yellow line of the road. Alice's nerves were raw. She flinched as the yellow line disappeared and the paved road turned rocky. The farm. Strawberries scented the air, and her muscles tensed.
The police sirens behind them did nothing to help her tension. As John stopped the car in front of her old house, she fought off the image of her parents dead on the floor. They had to be fine.
A moment later, her mother ran out of the front door and threw her arms around her. "Alice."
Her mother hugged her hard. "Mom."
John placed his hand on her lower spine. "Are you okay, Mrs. Collins?"
Her mother pulled away, but she kept their hands locked together. "Yes. No. Colt has that man tied up in the kitchen."
Alice stayed near John so she could smell his woodsy scent. "How is Dad?"
Her mother brushed her hair out of her face. "He's grateful you weren't here. I took Clara to our neighbors until this is over."
Alice folded her fingers over her mothers. "Good idea. Can we go in?"
Her mother lifted her hand and let the diamond shine in the sunshine. "What is this you're wearing?"
Alice took her hand away from her mother. "Mom, John and I are getting married."
Her mother's face went white. "The man wanted to kill us because of John. Now you're marrying him?"