“I hope so, but I’m not holding my breath.”

He started walking to the door, but she caught his arm. “We’re good, right?”

“Yes. Don’t worry about it. We need to focus on the immediate threat.” He just hoped there weren’t more surprises yet to come.

Izzy knew Aiden was slowing his jogging pace so she could keep up on their evening run, but he wouldn’t admit it. That was just the type of guy he was. She shouldn’t put him on a pedestal, but he hadn’t given her any reason to do otherwise.

When her phone started vibrating in her shorts pocket, she pulled it out and stopped. “Your dad’s calling.”

Aiden frowned. “That’s strange.”

She placed the call on speaker. “Hi, Jay, I’m out jogging with Aiden.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s something you need to know right away.”

Fear struck her as she started to imagine worst-case scenarios. Had something happened to one of her friends? “What?”

“He’s been murdered,” Jay said flatly.

“Who?” She had no idea what he was talking about.

Jay sighed loudly. “Him.”

Izzy dropped the phone, and it bounced into the grass.

Aiden picked it up. “Dad, we’re still here. I’m lost. Is this a case you’re working?”

Izzy felt flushed as a swirl of emotions bubbled up inside her. She was certain Jay was talking about the man they’d agreed never to name again, but she had to be one-hundred-percent sure. “The sergeant?” she whispered.

“Yes,” Jay responded.

“But how? When?” Her mind raced.

“Two days ago. And, Izzy, I’m not going to tell you any more than that.”

“Why?” A moment ticked by. A moment too long. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“The less you think about him, the better. I just wanted you to know that he can never hurt you again.”

Deep inside her, she felt a mix of relief and fear, because there was more to the story. As her feelings swirled, she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to cry or celebrate. But that was something she would keep to herself for now.

“Dad, we’ll talk to you later. I’m going to get Izzy home.”

“Thanks, son.”

The call ended, and Izzy stood as still as a statue.

Aiden pulled her into a tight hug. She took a minute just to try to steady her breathing.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered into her ear.

Those words were all it took to break her. The tears started flowing down her face, and her whole body shook as sobs threatened to overtake her. The man who had done so much to damage to her—both physically and emotionally—could never hurt her or anyone else again.

After what seemed like an eternity, she willed herself to let go of Aiden.