The intense pounding behind my eyes forced them open. My heart raced and my skin felt on fire as I stared up and coming into focus was a white ceiling and fluorescent lighting.

He's not here.

There's no fire.

He can't hurt us.

But that did nothing to stop the fear spiking my blood as Clay lurked behind my eyes.

Was he dead? Had I killed him?

Pulling the oxygen mask up and over my head, I took my first full breath. My throat felt like I'd swallowed nails and my lungs burned. Lifting my head, I could see Adam's dark head of hair and it relaxed me knowing he was here. Running my fingers through is hair the soft rumble of a snore told me he was fast asleep. Lifting my other hand, wincing, the IV stung a little. Ignoring it, I lifted the bedsheet and pulled my fingers from Adam's hair and moved my hand over my tummy, letting myself breathe. I'd remembered waking up from a nightmare and Adam had said the baby was okay.

We were both okay... safe.

I twisted my head and my eyes widened when I saw the picture of Emma, Adam's wife. A shiver crossed my body. It was she who'd got me out of the house somehow. And as crazy as that thought was—I knew it in my heart to be true.

"Riley..." I turned back to see Adam awake. Hair tousled, dark stubble on his hard jaw. "Baby," he was up out of his seat cupping my face and damn, he sure looked like a tall glass of water and my eyes greedily drank him in.

"Do you want anything? Water?" I nodded, and he lifted a glass to my lips.

"Better." Managing a weak smile.

He put the glass down and then his eyes were back on me, his light smile gone. "Never do that to me again, Riley. I thou—I thought," He stumbled on his words. "I thought I'd lost you—I've never been so scared." His hand wrapped around mine.

The fear in his voice was real, and I could see he was getting himself worked up. He looked down at our entwined fingers and his hand shook and when he spoke, his voice was thick with emotion.

"You can't leave me, Riley—not ever."

His intense eyes didn't leave mine, forcing a shudder from me. "You own my soul, Riley. Without you, there is no me. You understand?"

I wanted to tell him I wasn't going anywhere, but the door opened and the room filled with faces, recognising some and not others. Nurses, another doctor and Chris and for the next few minutes questions were fired at me as I was prodded and poked, lights shone into my eyes as Adam watched everything they did carefully.

I just wanted to shut them all out...well not all...not Adam of course. And finally, it was just us again, but I knew he had questions of his own.

With a scratchy voice. "Ask me what's on your mind, Adam,"

His eyes moved from mine, looking behind me, then returned. "Why did you have a picture of Emma? It was in your hand when they found you."

A heaviness tied itself in knots in my chest as I turned and reached for it, bringing it to hold in front of me. "I know this is gonna sound crazier than frogs at a wedding," my voice wobbled. "But I think she saved me—she got me out the house somehow." I tried to think back but everything was a little hazy. "I wish I could tell you more, but I can't."

Adam lifted his hand, stroking over my cheek. "No. It doesn't sound crazy. Not at all."

He believed me?

"What happened Riley?" His gaze travelled lower, resting on my leg.

I opened my mouth when a knock at the door had both our heads turning.

In walked the deputy from the Sheriff's department. Deputy Wallace along with another officer, a younger man, looked about my age, but I didn't recognise him. The Deputy tipped his head in both our directions. "Dr Matthews. Mrs Matthews," His tone was cool, business like.

Bile rose in my throat. Was this about Clay?

Adam rose from his seat, protectively holding my hand. "What can I do for you, Deputy?" There was no missing the cold bite in his words.

"We'd like it if Mrs Matthews could answer some questions... 'bout last night, Sir."

Deep lines burrowed into Adam's forehead as he scoffed. "My wife is in no state to talk to you or anyone else from the Sheriff's office."

"I understand that Sir, but when loss of life—"

Adam interrupted. "Loss of life, Deputy?"

My heart drummed out of control as cold slid right through me and I wanted to vomit and the urge to scream was overwhelming.

"Yes, Doctor Matthews, the fire chief has given us his initial findings, and they found remains—human remains, Sir."

Adam turned to me, running a hand up my arm, which made me flinch. "You okay Riley?" he asked, concerned.

Pressing one hand over my stomach, tears pricked my eyes and I caved like a house of cards. "Clay—Clay Henderson." I blurted it out. "He was in the house." There I'd said it as Adam's eyes pinned mine, dark, deep and consuming.

"Clay Henderson?" the Deputy repeated, his eyes narrowing before his expression grew carefully blank.

"Um, yeah," I sucked air into my lungs, reigniting the burn and coughed.

Adam turned his whole body toward me, worry written across his face. His back facing the Deputy. "This will have to wait," he snarled.

"Don't you be sayin' one more word, Riley Jo!" I spied Connor and Max with matching tight-brow scowls sat on their faces.

Blinking back relieved tears, Adam offered me some more water, which I happily accepted.

Connor continued. "Deputy, I suggest you turn yourself right around and walk out of here. My client can barely catch her breath, never mind be fixin' to talk to the likes of you!"

The Deputy pulled a face and the officer with him cleared his throat, putting his notepad back inside his jacket. "What business is it of yours Connor Jackson?" snarked the Deputy.

Connor's head whipped around, then stalked toward the Deputy, squaring up to the man. The Deputy suddenly looked unsure as he took half a step back.

"I know you heard me right, Deputy Wallace. This here is my client and if you want to go toe to toe with me, then you better prepared, because I'm gonna wipe the floor with your ass."

The two men faced off, but then with a heaved sigh and one quick nod, the Deputy turned and left the room and my breath left my body as I sagged further into the bed.

"Was that him—that Clay Henderson who did this to you?" asked Adam, a darkness passing over his expression.

I nodded.

"Fucker!" Face reddening, he gritted his teeth, nostrils flaring.

"I—I think..." I stopped, trying again. "I think I killed him." All three sets of eyes widened. I took another sip of water and told my story.

"Bastard deserved it and if he wasn't dead. Then I would kill him with my bare hands," snarled Adam, his jaw so tight I thought I might hear a crack any second.

Connor was by my side, gently stroking my hand with the IV attached. "Princess. I know you. You didn't kill anyone." His other hand waved over my body. "You acted in self-defence. That's what you did."

I hoped the authorities would see that. His father was the town sheriff. Connor read my thoughts.

"Princess. I got this. Trust me, you have nothin' to worry about."

Two days later they released me from the hospital. Adam wouldn't let me sit in a wheelchair. No, he insisted on carrying me out and gently placed me in his car, carefully buckling me inside.

We had no actual home to go to. Adam's had burnt to the ground and our new one was still a work in progress. So Adam had accepted the offer from Chris to let us stay there until ours was ready.

Arriving, Adam once again carried me inside, but finally set me down. Looking around, it was quiet inside Chris's home. "Where's Chris?—workin'?"

Adam took my hand, not answering my question. "C'mon," he pulled us toward a large open plan room and turning the corner, I was met with the faces of all the people I loved.

Including my sister.

"Surprise..." they all yelled at once, but I was fixed on Maddy. Adam had told me she'd come and sat with me. He'd also said she seemed frightened.

I was surrounded in no time being hugged and kissed by everyone. Maddy tentatively approached me last. Not caring about what had happened. She was here, and I pulled her into my arms.

"I'm so sorry, Riley Jo. Sorry about everythin'."

Her familiar voice wrapped around me along with her arms, easing the pressure in my chest. Her citrus scent soothed me as it had always done when we were kids. "I know, but it doesn't matter. You're here now," I whispered back.

Pulling back, I cupped her cheeks, soaking her in. I bit back my gasp of concern as standing in front of me was only half a person. Her sunken eyes told me a story and for the first time in my entire life, I feared for hers and I knew in my heart this marriage was killing her. And if she didn't leave that man, I would lose her forever.

"Me and you are gonna talk later." She nodded slowly. "But today. Today is for celebrating. I'm alive. And we're gonna be having a baby." I squealed, and I saw a little bit of light flicker in her blue eyes, my sister wasn't lost to me...yet.