Trenten runs around the table, not even bothering to wait for an okay from his superior officer. Yanking me to my feet by my upper arm, he undoes them, and I refrain from rubbing my wrists. I will not show weakness in front of these men, especially my father.
“Liam …”
“You will call me Mr. Reynolds!” He walks around and grabs my arm, digging his nails into my skin. “And anything you have to say to my son or me will go through my attorney!” Then he drags me out of the room.
I rip my arm from his hold as we make our way down the long hallway. He stays quiet as we come to a room where Deke is sitting. He jumps out of his seat, and we silently exit together. It’s dark out.
Once outside, my father turns to face me. “I don’t give a fuck what you did. You keep your fucking mouth shut and let me handle it.”
“I already have,” I grind out and walk past him.
His fingers dig into my shirt, and he yanks me to a stop. “What the fuck does that mean, and where the hell do you think you’re going?”
I get in his face. And his nostrils flare as his blue eyes narrow on me. I hate how much I look like him. “It means I took care of it myself! And I’m going to the hospital to—”
“No, you’re not!” He interrupts me. “You’re staying as far away from that girl as possible!”
“Gonna stop me?” I arch a brow.
“I’ll let them throw your ass in jail, Cole!” he threatens. “I’ll let them take whatever evidence they have on you and lock you up forever if that’s what it takes to prove to you that I fucking own you!”
Deke turns away and runs down the stairs. My father smirks, thinking Deke has left me, but he’s really just going to pull the car around because I’m ready to get the fuck out of here.
I place my hand on his shoulder and return his snide smile. “Go ahead.” Then I jog down the stairs myself just as my car comes to a quick stop at the curb. I jump in, and Deke hits the gas.
CHAPTER FIVE
COLE
DEKE AND I run through the sliding hospital doors in a hurry. As we enter the waiting room, Becky jumps to her feet in a pair of cotton shorts and a T-shirt. She must have been in bed when she heard the news and headed straight here. Bennett occupies the seat beside her. He went home and changed as well since we were all at the cemetery.
“Deke?” Becky calls out when she sees him.
“Have you heard anything?” I ask her. I was at the police station for over two hours. And she was shot over four hours ago.
“No,” she chokes out and shakes her head. Deke pulls her in for a hug. “They haven’t said anything yet.”
We sit down in the waiting area, and my legs bounce. I run my hands through my hair, and I can’t seem to think straight. Now that Deke’s and my plan worked, I’m restless. Now what? What if she doesn’t make it? What if the last time I saw her was when I failed to save her?
I can’t fail again. Not her. Not this time.
I jump to my feet and head to the bathroom. Shoving the door open, I turn on the water and splash some on my face. My skin is on fire. My muscles tight.
Leaning up against the wall, I cover my face with my hands. They shake, and I can’t seem to catch my breath.
I was so blind. I missed so much. I didn’t even remember her from when we were kids. But now I do. How could I have forgotten the first time I ever saw her?
Seven years old
“Boys?” my mother calls out from the other side of our backyard. “Come here.”
Kellan, Deke, and I run over to her. She smiles at us and then looks down to her side at a little girl. She has a mustard-colored shirt on and dirty jeans. Her brown hair is a mess, and it looks like her mommy hasn’t brushed it. My mom runs her hands over it as if to try and flatten the tangles.
“Who is she?” I ask.
“This …” She smiles proudly. “Is Austin. She’s gonna be living with Bruce for the summer.” My mom gives me a pointed look. One I know well. “So play nice with her.” She pats the girl on the back and walks away.
The green-eyed girl smiles at me, and I pull my lip back. “Austin’s a boy’s name,” I say.
Her smile disappears, and her eyes narrow on me.
“I think it’s pretty,” Kellan says, taking a step toward her.
“No one asked you.” Deke grabs him by the collar and yanks him back.
“Your mom said to be nice to me.” She places her hands on her hips.
“Yeah, well my mom’s not here anymore, is she?” I step forward and shove her backward. She trips over a rock and falls to her butt. “We don’t play with girls,” I spit out before we walk away.
If only I could go back, I would change so many things.
“Cole?” Deke calls out, popping his head in.
“What?”
“Shelby is out here …”
I shove past him and into the waiting area. Shelby stands with her back to me, talking to Becky and Bennett in a pair of light blue scrubs with her blond hair up in a ponytail. “Is she out?” I ask in a rush as I approach them.
She spins around and gives me a pointed look. “Cole—”
“I didn’t hurt her,” I interrupt Shelby, knowing where she is going with that look. “I promise. I was trying to save her.”
Her eyes soften, and she sighs. “No.”
I run a hand through my hair nervously. “What the hell is taking so long? Why are you out here?” Shouldn’t she be helping? I’m not exactly sure what she does here. I never cared until now.
Her lips thin at my question. “Listen, Cole. We both already know that you are not my favorite person. But I’m also the only way you’ll get any information.” I open my mouth, but she continues. “You are not family, so I’m breaking the law by telling you anything.”
I take a step back from her and nod. “You’re right. Thank you. I just need to know. Please?”
Her brows rise at my words as if she’s surprised. I’ve never said thank you before or told someone that they were right. Even if they were. But things are different now.
She takes in a deep breath. “I have to get back to work, but I just wanted to let you know that Dr. Roberts has removed the bullet. But she has lost a lot of blood and is not out of the woods yet.”
“Oh, dear God.” Becky gasps, placing a hand over her mouth.
“But she’s gonna be okay?” I ask, swallowing hard.
She looks at Deke and then back at me. “I can’t tell you that, Cole.”
“But you just said—”
“She has sustained very serious injuries,” she interrupts me. “Austin was lucky it missed her aorta ’cause she wouldn’t have had a chance. She would have bled to death within minutes.”
Becky spins around and buries herself into Deke’s shirt as she continues to sob. I feel numb.
She lowers her voice. “Austin went a very long time without oxygen to her brain.”
Becky sobs harder as Deke closes his eyes, releasing a long breath, and Bennett’s head drops to look at the floor. Me? My heart stops, and my eyes begin to sting. I feel like someone is sitting on my chest. So much pressure …