Page 8 of Jack's Legacy
Rachel's breath caught. “I really like you, too.”
Jack leaned forward slowly, giving her time to pull away. But she didn't want to. She let her eyes flutter closed as his lips brushed against hers, soft and sweet and perfect.
When they pulled apart, Rachel felt like the world had shifted on its axis. This must be what it felt like to be cared for… to be safe enough to give your heart to someone.
An approaching car broke the moment. Shiloh’s familiar sedan came into sight, and with a sweet goodbye, Jack headed down to the ball field.
When Rachel turned to Shiloh, she spied another vehicle approaching. Two men climbed out of the back seat, and Rachel's entire body went rigid. Her blood ran cold. The black sedan pulled into the parking lot, stopping too close to where they stood. Isaiah.
He wore all black, and his hair was slicked back the way it had always been. His face was twisted with rage as he stalked toward them.
“Shiloh!” he shouted. “You can't hide from me forever!”
Rachel couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. She was back in the mountain community, watching the men’s cold eyes assess her like she was property to be claimed.
Shiloh placed herself in front of Rachel.
Isaiah's expression shifted to take in both women. “You thought you could run? Thought you could take what's mine and disappear?”
“I'm not yours,” Shiloh said, her voice steady despite the trembling in her hands. “And neither is Rachel.”
“One of you will be mine!” Isaiah's voice rose to a shout. “Your parents’ land was promised to me!”
“You killed them,” Shiloh said, and Rachel's head whipped toward her aunt. “You killed Edward. You killed our family. You cut their brake lines because they wouldn't give you what you wanted.”
“They were in my way!” Isaiah's face contorted with rage. “All of them! The land should have been mine! You should have been mine! And she will be mine!”
Rachel's hands shook, but she forced herself to move. Slowly and carefully, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and pressed the emergency button.
Isaiah lunged forward, grabbing Shiloh's arm. “You're coming with me. Both of you. Back to where you belong.”
When her aunt struggled, Isaiah backhanded Shiloh across the face, and Rachel screamed. She saw Shiloh stagger, and one of the other men moved forward.
Then everything happened at once.
Jack vaulted over the brick wall, phone still in his hand, recording everything. “Get away from them!” he shouted, his young voice cracking but fierce.
An SUV squealed into the parking lot, and Rachel saw Joseph, Shiloh’s boyfriend, still in his Marine Police uniform. He must have been nearby and gotten a call. He leaped from his vehicle and tackled one of the men.
Shiloh kicked out, her foot connecting with the other man's knee. He dropped with a howl of pain. Rachel saw Isaiah's hand close around her aunt's wrist, jerking her toward the car.
“No!” Rachel ran forward and kicked Isaiah in the shin as hard as she could.
Jack was there in an instant, his arm around Rachel's waist, pulling her back. “I've got you. You're safe.”
Sirens filled the air. Sheriff Hudson's SUV screeched into the parking lot, followed by deputy vehicles. Colt leaped out, weapon drawn, his face a mask of controlled fury.
Within moments, deputies had Isaiah and his companions on the ground and cuffed. Jack kept his arm around Rachel, his body positioned between her and Isaiah.
“He confessed,” Shiloh said, her voice shaking but strong. “He confessed to all the murders. To trying to take everyone's land.”
“I know,” Colt said. “We got it.”
Joseph, now standing beside Shiloh with blood on his knuckles, smiled grimly. “When you dialed me, I was able to hear everything. At the same time, Rachel dialed 911, so the dispatcher has it too.”
Colt turned to Jack and grinned. “And Jack got it on camera. Good work, son.”
Rachel's knees went weak. It was over. Really over. Isaiah was in custody, his confession recorded by three different sources. He couldn't hurt them anymore.
