Sienna watched in horror as the bear charged toward Anita. The woman seemed to forget what was happening and took off in a run. The bear ran after her.
“Devin…” Sienna whispered, fear sweeping through her.
“Come on.” He grabbed Anita’s gun—she’d dropped it—and then swooped Sienna up in his arms. He ran with her toward the gate, where a guard stood, looking puzzled at the turn of events.
“I’m Special Agent Devin Matthews. Rick and Trina are my good friends, and we need your help.”
“Come on in.” He nodded them through.
Devin placed Sienna on the ground before stepping out of the gate and closing it.
Panic raced through her. “Devin, no! What are you doing?”
“I have to make sure Anita doesn’t get away again,” he said. “I have to end this.”
“But the bear…”
“I’ll handle the bear. And the police are on the way. It’s going to be okay.” He went back to gate and pressed his face into it. “Sienna, I love you.”
She let out a little cry, her face in front of his. She desperately wished she could hold him now. But she couldn’t. “I love you, too, Devin.”
He leaned between the bars and planted a soft kiss on her lips.
Sienna felt herself melting. Something had changed in Devin. She’d sensed him wrestling with his inner thoughts. The wrestling match must finally be over, and he’d decided what would win.
Sienna looked over his shoulder as Anita screamed. The bear still chased Anita, and the woman ran across the road with her arms in the air.
For a moment, her heart panged with compassion for the woman. Even after everything she’d done…it was hard to see someone so terrified.
It looked like that man at the cabin had been right when he’d said there were a lot of bears in the area lately. And it was dawn, so they were coming out now to feed.
Devin turned toward the scene.
He raised his gun in the air and fired.
The bear froze. Rose up on his two hind legs.
Sienna held her breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
The bear remained still upright a moment and then…he darted back into the woods.
As soon as the creature had disappeared, Devin jogged across the pavement to Anita, who’d collapsed onto the ground. Her shoulders heaved with exertion and fear.
“Looks like your plan didn’t work out so well after all,” he muttered, grabbing her arm.
“Shut up,” Anita grumbled. “Nobody could have planned for that.”
Devin jerked the woman to her feet and dragged her toward the gate. “You’re coming with me.”
No sooner had he done that than police filled the area. They must have filtered in behind the downed tree.
Jenson stepped forward, leading the charge. He had cuffs in his hand, and he headed right toward Anita.
“I’ll take it from here,” he said. “Good work.”
With that, Devin hurried back to Sienna.
Maybe this nightmare was finally over. Maybe.
* * *
Two hours later, the majority of law enforcement had cleared away. Devin and Sienna stood on a lovely patio area in the center of the Jennings Center compound. Despite everything, the day had turned out beautiful.
Paramedics had come and checked out both of them. They would be okay, and their bodies would heal in time from any of the injuries they’d received today. Trina had brought them coffee and muffins, and they’d been able to take a shower and change.
Sienna felt one hundred times better.
She still hadn’t seen Colby, but the boy was sleeping. She wanted to let him rest. But just seeing his sleeping figure had filled her with such peace.
He was okay. He was really okay.
This was the first moment she and Devin had alone. As soon as Devin stepped toward her, she instinctively fell into his arms.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she murmured to his chest. She didn’t want to ever let go. Ever.
He kissed the top of her head. “I’m glad you’re okay, too, and that we can finally put this behind us.”
She looked up at him, her eyes glistening. There were things she needed to say. Important things. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“Sienna, about what I said earlier, after I kissed you—”
“I know you just miss your wife and daughter,” she said quickly, remembering his agonizing apology. “I understand.”
He lowered his head and voice as he stepped closer to her. “The thing is, I know I need to move on. That it’s time. I’ve just been…afraid, I suppose.”
She heard the unmistakable sound of affection in his voice and rested her hand against his chest. “I didn’t think men like you were ever afraid.”
“Believe me, we’re afraid plenty. We just have to push past it.”
“And that’s what makes you brave.” She smiled at him, reaching up and skimming her fingers across his jaw. “I like that.”
“I was hoping you would.” His gaze went to her lips, her eyes and back to her lips.
He leaned forward until their lips touched. This time, there was no apology. No, it was only bliss. Pure bliss.
“You guys,” someone said. “Oh, sorry.”
They pulled away from each other and looked over. Trina stood there, an apologetic look on her face.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said, grinning feverishly.
“Is everything okay?” Devin asked, his hands still at Sienna’s waist.
“It’s Colby. He’s awake. I thought you’d want to see him.”
Devin took Sienna’s hand and led her inside and down the hallway. Sienna stepped into Colby’s temporary bedroom and peered into his crib.
He lay there with a smile on his face.
He was okay, she realized.
After all of this, he really was okay. Happy. Healthy. No worse for the wear.
As he reached out his arms, Sienna swept him into her embrace. His baby-clean scent surrounded her, and gratitude filled her.
There were times she’d doubted the ending of all this. She was so glad to be standing here now.
She carried him into the living room so he could wake up. He had a big day ahead of him.
Fifteen minutes later, a car pulled up outside. Devin and Sienna stepped out to greet the people inside. Before they even made it down the steps, two people came running from the back seat.
The Brightons.
Detective Jenson had sent for them.
“Where’s Liam?” Joyce asked, nearly breathless. “Please, can we see him?”
Anita had admitted she took the baby from the couple. There could be some other formalities the Brightons would have to go through, but these people deserved to see their baby. The family deserved to be reunited.
“Follow me,” Devin said.
He led them inside Rick and Trina’s house. As he opened the door, Trina stood there with a smiling Colby in her arms.
Joyce and George nearly melted with happiness and tears.
Colby seemed to instinctively know the couple. He reached his arms out to them. Joyce wrapped the boy in her embrace and hugged him as she sobbed with joy.
Sienna smiled as she watched the scene. There were happy endings. She hoped she would have one herself. With Devin.
As if on cue, he appeared beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist.
Life had been a nightmare over the past few days, but something beautiful had come from all the pain.
And today, a family had been reunited—Sienna glanced at Devin—and maybe a new one was on the verge of forming.