He closes his eyes, letting out a breath before leaning in. “Just don’t hit him. The police frown upon it,” he warns me, eyeing the cop trying to cut Fisher free, before stepping back, swinging the branch up to rest on his shoulders.
I give Dad a curt nod and he steps aside. I walk over to Fisher, bending down, a wide smile on my face. Seeing him bruised and bleeding gives me warm fuzzies.
“What the fuck do you want?”
“I’ve been dying to say something to you.”
“What?” he snarls, rearing back.
I grin wider, letting him see how smug I am. “Gotcha!”
He struggles against his binds, screaming. “You little fucking bitch. You’ll regret this. You’ll fucking regret it.”
I laugh, the gesture burning my lungs, but I do it, wanting to show him he hasn’t won. “No. I told you you’d regret this. I warned you. Now you’ll never get a chance to hurt another person again. I. Got. You.”
“I’m innocent,” he states, raising his head.
“And I’m an angel,” I snap.
Dad bends down next to Fisher, his hands resting between his thighs. He grins, patting Fisher’s head, causing him to struggle harder. “You shouldn’t have fucked with a Carter.”
“Because now you’ll be fucked all over,” Landon grits out. “In prison.”
“Who are you?” Fisher shouts at me, his face red.
“Someone you really shouldn’t have messed with,” I tell him, wiggling my fingers when the other two cops heave him to his feet. “Bye, motherfucker.”
I stagger back when Rob appears out of nowhere, charging at Fisher. “How could you do this?” he yells, taking a swing at him.
Dad winces. “That’s got to hurt.”
“Dad?”
“Yes, baby.”
“Did you call Mum?” I ask, my vision blurring a little.
He tenses, drawing in a sharp breath. “She’s going to fucking kill me.”
“Why didn’t you come to me?” Rob barks out, storming over to us.
“Hey,” Landon snaps, shoving him back a little.
I grimace. “I couldn’t. You know I couldn’t. I never believed it was you. But could I put another life on it? No! Beau didn’t think it was you either.”
“You should have come to me,” he argues, scanning me from head to toe, guilt flashing in his eyes.
“You would have done the same,” I whisper.
“It’s all over. We have them all,” he informs me.
Reality hits me like a train, and I sway on my feet. “It’s over? It’s really—”
“Hayden!” is roared in my ears before my world turns black.
*** *** ***
I wake up to the brutal sound of my mum shrieking. I open my eyes, watching as she slaps Dad’s chest over and over again, tears streaming down her face.
“How could you leave without telling me, Max? She’s my daughter.”
“I’m sorry. So fucking sorry,” he tells her.
“Hey,” Maverick whispers, pulling my attention away from my mum and dad.
I glance around, surprised to find only Maverick in here. “Where?” I croak, my throat dry.
“We’re at the hospital. You passed out. Everything’s fine and you can go home once the two-hour observation is up.”
“The others?”
“Everyone is out in the waiting area, but Clayton and your brothers have gone to get a hot drink.”
“You okay?” I whisper when his face drops.
“He’s mad at me. He blames me and he has every right to. I kept it from him as revenge for getting my son arrested.”
“You didn’t know this would happen. It’s not your fault,” I murmur, squeezing his hand.
He forces a smile, yet the sadness is there, bright and open for everyone to see. “I’ve been through hell and back with my brothers. Our childhood was not like yours until we lived with our granddad. I’ve done all I can to make sure they have everything they need to thrive, to survive, to live. I failed to protect them during a time when they really needed me to, and I’ve worked my hardest to make up for that. But I let him down. He nearly lost Landon, and tonight, he nearly lost you. I failed him. Again. Failed him in a way he will never be able to forgive.”
“He will. He loves you.”
Maverick’s eyes mist over. “When you have kids, you’ll understand. He loves you more. And as much as I regret my choice, I’m proud of how you fought tonight. Just… please, don’t do it again. We need you to be okay.”
I startle at Dad’s booming voice. “Damn straight she won’t be doing it again.”
I smirk at Maverick. “Yeah, Dad said I can get pregnant.”
Dad chokes on a breath, wheezing when he glances up at me. “It was a stressful moment. I didn’t mean it.”
I shrug. “You said it now. You can’t take it back.”
Maverick gets up, leaning over to kiss my forehead as Mum rushes to the other side of me. “I’ll give these some room and go wait in the waiting area.”
“I’m sorry, Mav,” Dad chokes out, his eyes glassing over.
Maverick stops in front of him. “You were right. I should have told you.”
“No, I, um…” He stares at Mum, gulping. “I overreacted. Kind of. I mean, she’s my daughter. I had a right to get mad.”
Maverick stops Dad, pulling him in for a hug. “Forgive me.”
“Dude, I’m a married man,” Dad yells, forcing a laugh when Maverick turns red at all the eyes watching on.
“Love you too, dickhead.”
“Honey, you need to stop doing these things. It’s not good for my health,” Mum stresses, kissing the good side of my head.
“I’m sorry, Mum.”
“You didn’t say sorry to me,” Dad grumbles.
“Leave her alone, Max. Can’t you see she’s injured?”
“See it? The entire fucking hospital can see it,” he booms.
“Dad,” I groan, wincing at the pounding in my head.
Mum bursts out crying, and I shake my head. “Mum, I’m fine.”
“I can’t keep going through this. I’ll never make it without you. Without any of my kids.”
“What about me?” Dad argues, sitting up.
“Mum?” I call out, smiling.
“I can’t. I can’t lose you. Any of you,” she wails, clutching my hand.
“And me, right?” Dad asks, his voice getting a little louder. He looks utterly dejected.
“I’m fine, Mum. I promise. And it’s not something I plan on ever going through again. Running through rain, in a forest when it’s pitch black, is not as easy as it looks. Movies fucking lie. I have a whole new view on horror movies now. I understand why those fuckers die or get found,” I rant, my sore legs reminding of the hell I went through. “Running! Running gets them fucking killed.”
“Oh, baby,” Mum cries.
“And I’m hungry. Really hungry,” I declare, resting back on my pillow. “I’ve not eaten all night.”