Free Bride Interrupted by Taylor Anne Page B

didn’t see anyone. “Colton. Maggie,” she called out. No answer.
    A loud thud sounded from the storage building. Everyone turned their attention to the small wooden structure. Sawyer and Miller had their guns drawn. Kayla eyed the pistols and shivered at the sun glinting off the dark metal. More scuffling noises came from inside. The door creaked. A foot jutted out, stopping the door from shutting. Kayla’s heart quickened.
    The tennis shoe foot swung the door open all the way. Colton stepped out, carrying Maggie in his arms. Kayla screamed. Alec’s wail filled the air around them.
    Kayla couldn’t take her eyes off the man walking out. Blood smeared his face. His white t-shirt and khaki shorts were streaked red and brown. Sand clung to the wetness. Sweat dripped from his dark hair, down the chiseled features of his face.
    In his arms lay Maggie’s limp body. Her arm dangled by her side, flopping with every step Colton took. Colton looked bad, Mags looked – well, barely alive. Beaten and bloody.
    Alec stepped towards her, but the sergeant put a restraining hand on him. “Hold up.” Tears streamed down the young man’s face.
    Sawyer’s snarky, condescending voice penetrated the area. “I had my suspicions it was you. Once wasn’t enough.” He aimed his gun at Colton.
    Colton looked at Kayla. His eyes begged her not to listen to Sawyer. All she could do was stare. She didn’t know what her expression relayed to him, but he cringed as if she slapped him.
    He turned hard eyes on Sawyer. “Fuck you. I didn’t do this.” He took another step forward. Maggie gasped for every breath. Kayla wanted to help her, but didn’t know how. “Get an ambulance here. Now,” Colton roared.
    Kayla tensed when Sawyer stood next to her. She didn’t look at him, but could imagine the smirk that would be on his face. “Told you not to trust him.”
    The ambulance arrived, and the next several minutes went by in a rush of activity. Medics tended to Mags, Sawyer and Miller detained Colton, and Alec jumped in the ambulance with his bride-to-be.
    While the law enforcement officers were conversing, Colton stepped closer to Kayla. She shivered at the sight of him. He was drenched with Maggie’s blood.
    “Kayla,” he whispered.
    She stiffened. “Don’t.”
    “Look at me. I didn’t do this. Let me explain. I found her in the storage room like that. I was trying to save her.”
    Kayla shook her head. She didn’t know what to believe. Not only had she trusted Colton, but she slept with him. Gave him her body, mind, and soul. He knew her inside and out. There was no way he could be responsible for the attacks on these women. However, seeing this scene in front of her had her doubting even herself. Had Sawyer been right all along? Why else would they cuff and arrest Colton?
    She looked him in the eye. “You used me. Betrayed me.” Tears slipped down her face. She swiped at them, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry. “So tell me, when was my turn? When were you going to attack me? Or were you just going to keep attacking women to sabotage my wedding business?”
    “No, baby. You have it wrong. I love you. I would never hurt you, or your business.”
    What did his words mean to her now? She couldn’t trust him.
    Sawyer joined them, catching the last words Colton spoke. “Love. Right. Just like you loved Andrea. And we know what happened to her.”
    “Bastard.” Colton lunged toward the detective. He raised his handcuffed hands above his head and slammed them into Sawyer’s face. The detective’s cheek swelled instantly, blood oozed from the cut. He grabbed Colton and threw him to the ground.
    “I knew I should’ve cuffed your hands behind you.” Sawyer bent down and grabbed Colton by the shoulder, jerking him back to his feet. “Let’s go.”
    Colton looked back over his shoulder, locking eyes with Kayla. “Top desk drawer there’s a card for my lawyer. Call him.” She simply stared at him.