Chapter 4 Hayze #2
“Fuck,” I quietly gasp, hovering at the edge of the room. The fact that he’s hurt is no surprise, but I wasn’t expecting an injury so severe.
Just then, the door to Nolan’s bedroom swings open, and he exits, fingers deftly buttoning his pants.
My brows dart together. Before he has a chance to shut the door, I catch sight of the person behind him.
Twenty-Two. She’s completely nude, swollen belly protruding from her abdomen.
I frown. Henry said Nolan had stayed behind with her, but …
Confusion crashes through my head. We don’t know who the father of her child is yet.
It’s our way that we share the women, but she shouldn’t be with Nolan …
not like this. Not in these circumstances.
Not until it’s verified that it’s his child.
I clench my teeth together, holding my breath.
Based on my father’s lack of reaction, I can’t tell whether he completely missed seeing Twenty-Two in Nolan’s bed or— No.
Nothing else makes sense. This isn’t good.
It’s a definite breach of the rules that have always been in place.
“Finneas,” Nolan grits out. “Arrow told me you’d returned.” His keen eyes assess the state of the man at my side, traveling over him from head to toe. “Looks like we have more than one of you in need of my attention tonight. I expect we’ll discuss things later.”
My father nods, pressing his lips together. “Check Kiefer’s boy over first.”
We remain where we are while Nolan takes a minute to shine a light into Malakai’s eyes, then nods.
“Concussed.” After that, he spends some time prodding at the back of his head.
More than once in that process, Mal audibly sucks in air through his teeth.
“You’re gonna have a whopper of a headache for a while. I’ll give you some meds.”
As Nolan finishes up, from behind us Kiefer spits, “Well, shit,” his tone laced with astonishment. “It’s nice of you to finally rejoin us.” My father simply eyes his longtime friend and allows the rant to continue. “But hey, at least you’re among the living. We weren’t certain.”
Bristling at my side, Finneas growls, “Don’t know, Kiefer. Perhaps I was foolish to assume you’d step up and make sure the bridge got repaired.” The muscle at the back of his jaw jerks as he stares down the other man. “I. Fucking. Waited.”
“Shit like that takes time, or have you forgotten how long it took us to construct that bitch twenty years ago?” Kiefer’s brow raises.
The tension between them is thick as the ever-present morning fog around here when his eyes suddenly dart to the others.
“Son, what in the fuck happened to you?” Kiefer’s voice is rough and gritty as he charges forward, reaching Malakai in a few long strides.
“Don’t know.” Malakai shifts slightly, turning, and his eyes widen when it registers that he has the full attention of not only his father but also Finneas.
My eyes meet Cross’s, as I slowly walk over to join him. He shakes his head in response to the questioning look I shoot him and shrugs but wisely doesn’t voice his opinion of anything aloud. Not yet. Instead, he swipes a sponge over Mal’s back, mopping up some of the blood.
Nolan gestures to the other exam room. “Finn, we’ll head in there for some privacy.” He catches Cross’s attention with a jut of his chin. “Can you finish up with Mal? Throw a couple stitches in there, like I taught you.”
“Yes, of course.” Cross squeezes the sponge into the waiting bucket before rinsing it out and going again.
“I can help,” I offer, “just let me know what I can do.”
Nolan is already backing toward the other room, but then he stops and chuckles. “Attempt to clean the mess out of his hair first, but frankly, I think it should be cut short. It certainly would make it easier to monitor the healing process,” he rumbles.
Malakai’s head swings around on his neck, and he blinks like an owl. It’d be funny, but I know the asshole and his father have had words about the fact that he’s kept his hair long since his arrival while the rest of us are made to have frequent trims. This has the potential to go sideways fast.
Kiefer leans in, staring straight into Malakai’s eyes before reaching out and tugging on a damp clump of hair hanging in his son’s face. “Agreed. It needs to be cut.”
Malakai rears back, glaring at his father, then Nolan, too, for good measure. “Fuck. And. No.”
In a flash, Finneas grabs his chin, harshly jerking his head. The agony that rips from Mal’s lips makes me shudder. “You are a breath away from spending the night in one of the cells. Watch yourself. You’re lucky I have better things to do right now.”
The three of us remain silent for several awkward beats after the Collective leave the room.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I can’t help but wonder what the real story of my father’s disappearance is.
I’m certain he lied to my brothers and me …
and I have a sneaking suspicion I know why, but I don’t know if he’ll ever admit it.
Only two people know the truth, and I believe Delilah might be one of them.