For an instant, Nelda appeared shaken, but she quickly recovered. “And spend the rest of your life hounding me? Is that what you want to do?”

“No, because that would mean I’d be a sacrifice on your altar.” She smiled faintly. “But I can live my life and still go after you. Look over your shoulder, and I’ll be there. I can delegate. Rick left me the money to do it.”

“It won’t work,” Nelda said. “I’ll win, I always win.”

Beth silently shook her head.

Nelda’s hands clenched at her sides. “You’re pitiful. You can’t even see how overmatched you are. I’ve had years of experience at getting exactly what I want. Who do you think you are?”

“The one person who’s qualified to take you down. Look at me, and you’ll see yourself. I may have things to learn, but I learn very fast. After all, I’m your granddaughter, Nelda.”

Nelda gazed at her for a long moment, a myriad of expressions chasing across her face. Then she made a low exclamation, whirled, and left the room.

Beth drew a long shaky breath and closed her eyes.

Eve gave a low whistle. “Interesting…”

“Not for me.” Beth’s eyes opened. “It was terrifying.”

“You were afraid of her? You didn’t show it.”

“I wasn’t afraid of her. I’m afraid to be her.” She paused. “And I could be her if I let myself. I could feel the power and the will…” She swallowed. “I won’t let that happen to me. Then she would win, just as she said. And I won’t let her win. It may take me a long time, but I’m going to find a way to take her down.” She closed her eyes again. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll rest now. You go somewhere and rest, too. You don’t have to stay with me.”

All the energy had drained away from Beth, yet Eve was still aware of a strength and endurance that hadn’t been there before. She had suffered and made mistakes and fought her way through the wall of thorns that had held her prisoner, and it had taken a terrible toll. Beth was changing, growing, becoming what she would have been if she hadn’t been caught and held for those nightmare years.

And Eve couldn’t wait to see what that change would bring.

“Oh, I’ll stay with you.” Eve once more took her hand. “It will be my privilege.”

*   *   *

“GOOD NEWS?” EVE LOOKED UP from her magazine as Joe came into the hospital room four hours later. She smiled as she read the answer in his expression. “Very good news.”

“I convinced the board they wanted to get rid of Beth as soon as possible.” He crossed the room and kissed her. “And that keeping her in that hospital was more legally risky than letting her go. It was all about protecting the hospital and their positions on the board.” He glanced around the room. “Where’s Beth?”

“She’s at the atrium down the hall with Kendra. She was getting restless cooped up in this room.”

“And a little nervous?”

She shook her head. “She’s … not the same, Joe. You’ll see.” She paused. “I want to take her home with us. Is that all right with you?”

“Of course, it is. She’s walking wounded right now. She needs us.”

“That’s what I thought.” She stood up and went into his arms. Lord, that felt good. They had not had more than a few minutes together since the horror at Drogan’s shack. “But I had to check with you. You’ve gone through a hell of a lot for Beth since we came here.”

“And you haven’t?”

“She’s my sister.”

He chuckled. “I’m fully aware of that fact. I believe that’s what this has all been about.” He gave her a quick, hard kiss. “Are you afraid I’m feeling imposed upon?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t. She’s part of you, blood kin. That’s enough for me.” He kissed her again. “Now go down the hall and tell Beth that she’s a free woman and is going to be our guest for a while.”

She started to turn away, then looked back at him. “Truly free, Joe? I called you and told you what Nelda Avery said to her. Is there any way the police can find a way to arrest her? She seemed so confident.”

“She has a right to be confident,” he said grimly. “Nelda Avery is holding a strong hand. I think she’s been planning on getting rid of everyone who has been a threat to her for a number of years and had everything in place for when it became necessary. She used some of the tools that Pierce had in place but probably also some of her own. But we’ll keep gnawing away until we get a break. There’s no way we’re going to let her get away with murder. Right now, she’s playing her son’s death as a murder committed by a maniac who wanted to kill him because he was going to be the next president. The media are going along with it. After she secures her position, will she go after Beth?” He shook his head. “I don’t know. I admit I’m afraid for Beth.”

“Don’t be.” She smiled. “Beth’s not afraid. She may even look forward to it.”

She was still smiling as she walked down the hospital corridor toward the atrium. She could see how Joe would be wary of Nelda Avery, but he hadn’t seen the confrontation between Nelda and Beth. Both Eve and Joe were more worried than Beth. She was right about being a mirror of Nelda Avery. She had strength and endurance and even a little of the ruthlessness that Beth, herself, feared would come to the forefront.

She might be Sandra’s daughter, but Eve could only see Nelda’s strength and not her mother’s weakness in Beth.

Sandra.

She had to call Sandra and tell her that Beth was fine now that the situation had stabilized.

“I saw Joe going into my room.” Beth turned away from Kendra as Eve came into the atrium. “What news?”

“You’re free to go anywhere you wish to go. You’re a free woman.” She held up her hand as Beth gave a cry. “I imagine you’ll not get an apology or admission of misdiagnosis. That would be a confession of guilt. But the hospital is officially releasing you.”

“Yes.” Beth’s face was flushed and luminous, her eyes glittering. “I don’t care about confessions or punishments. All I want is to be done with that place.” She gave Eve a hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Eve returned her hug and laughed. “I think you’re happy.”

“And I’m going to stay that way. No one’s going to bring me down again.”

Beth’s glowing expression made her look as young as the teenager she’d been when the nightmare had started, Eve thought. It was strange that Beth, though appearing grown, seemed younger than her years, while Bonnie, though appearing young, seemed older than her physical body. And where was Eve? Somewhere between and loving both of them with all her heart.

“They wouldn’t dare try to bring you down,” Eve said. “Joe and I would like you to come home with us for a while. We’ll form a united front to repel all invaders.”

Beth’s smile faded. “And I’ll be safe and comfortable and protected by both of you.”

“Yes.” There was something in Beth’s expression that caused Eve to stiffen. “Is something wrong, Beth?”

“What could be wrong? You’re two wonderful people who care about me. I’d be foolish not to snatch what you’re offering me.”

“Yes, you would.” Kendra spoke for the first time, her gaze on Beth’s face. “But maybe you have a right to be foolish.” She turned and moved away from them. “Not my business. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

Eve’s gaze had not left Beth. “I don’t understand. You don’t want to go with us?”

“I do want to go with you,” Beth said passionately. “I want to be safe. I want to be with you, to get to know you even better, to be part of your life.” She paused. “I want that so much that I know that it’s wrong.”

“Explain.”

“I don’t have the right to be safe. I haven’t taken any chances, I haven’t experimented, I haven’t made terrible mistakes, I haven’t conquered Mt. Everest, I haven’t learned how to make friends and keep them. For God’s sake, I’m still a virgin.”

Eve had to smile. “I believe we’ve addressed that particular problem before. We have no intention of keeping you from doing any of those things, Beth. We just want to be there to support you.”