“Come out with your hands up.”

Deputy Alex Trevino.

This wasn’t her attacker. This was her rescuer. God had answered her prayers. Though why He’d send Alex, of all people, she couldn’t fathom.

Shaking her head at her own idiotic thoughts—who was she to complain about how God answered her prayer?—Maya slowly rose and stepped out from behind the bushes. “Alex.”

He quickly holstered his drawn weapon, for which she was thankful.

He hurried to her side. “Maya? Are you okay?” He gripped her shoulders, visually searching her, his gaze warm and concerned.

She let go of the stick she’d expected to use as a weapon and hugged her arms around her middle as a measure of relief ebbed through her veins. She could only imagine how frightful she must look considering her trek through the woods. And why that should even matter she didn’t know. The only thing that mattered was her brother. “I’m fine. But Brady...” She swallowed back the bile of fear burning her throat.