35. Hayden
35
HAYDEN
“Y ou don’t look okay,” I said to Katie as we walked away.
She looked over her shoulder, then said, “I’m not. I don’t want to go back to the waiting room.”
I stopped. “What’s going on, Katie?”
“Just get me out of here. I need some time to think.”
She pulled away, striding quickly toward the elevators. I groaned and followed her, stopping her before she pushed the call button.
“Dammit, wait up. We can’t go, just the two of us. I can’t protect you by myself against three known assailants. So, hold your damn horses and let me gather a couple of people to go with us.”
I pushed her into the conference room, kicking myself for telling her what Foster told Declan and me earlier. Yes, she had the right to know, but added to the guilt I’m sure she felt, she was using that info to make fucking shitty ass decisions.
I whipped out my phone and texted Lucia, Celeste, and Heidi as Katie dropped into a chair. Her body shook, and she curled in on herself. Tears coursed down her eyes, seemingly unnoticed by anyone but me.
“Okay, I’ve rounded up the girls, and we’ll get you back to the hotel. You want to tell me what is going on?” I asked, hoping that if I got her talking about the craziness going on in her head, she’d realize how stupid running from her problems was.
When she looked up at me, her chin trembled so hard her teeth chattered. When she clenched her jaw, looking away as she shook her head, I swore under my breath.
“Katie…” I began, only to be interrupted by a knock at the door.
“Hayden?” Lucia called.
I opened the door, and Lucia, Celeste, and Heidi walked in.
“What’s going on?” Celeste asked.
“She’s overwhelmed and wants to go back to the hotel. She wants some time alone, and you know she’s not going to get it here. Plus, she needs some actual rest,” I said.
Celeste knelt next to Katie, her hand rubbing Katie’s back slowly. “Katie, the suites are overrun with people that Uncle Matthew and Foster are bringing in to relieve us. I’m not sure you will get the peace and quiet you need there.”
“Not the hotel. Nashville,” Katie whispered.
Fuck me!
“You want to go to Nashville?” Celeste asked, her voice incredulous.
Katie nodded without looking up.
“Katie, Jackson won’t be released for another day or so, but once he is, that’s where we’re going. Okay? The plan is to head to Nashville, then on to Birmingham, then right back to Nashville just as soon as the doc discharges Jackson,” Celeste explained.
Katie sat up, wiped the tears from her face, and said, “Jackson isn’t coming with me. I’m going now. I need to get to Nashville. I have damage control to do after missing an interview with the magazine, not to mention a new publicist to hire.”
Silence stretched out between the four of us, brought in to protect the small, terrified girl sitting between us. All of us glancing around at the others as we blinked rapidly while trying to process what the fuck was happening.
Heidi spoke up, “What do you mean Jackson isn’t coming with you?”
Katie leveled her gaze on Heidi, who stared back in a silent standoff. Katie finally caved.
“Jackson will not be joining me in Nashville, and I will not be attending the race with him. I’m going to Nashville, and Jackson will be doing what Jackson needs to do.”
Katie sighed a deep, depressing sound accompanied by a huff of breath, but she ignored it.
“I’m taking the three of you,” she said, pointing at the girls. Then she looked at me and said, “and Declan…”
“Fuck that. Absolutely not. I won’t let you leave here without me,” I said.
Katie looked at the girls and said, “Can you speak with Declan while I talk with Hayden?”
They all nodded slowly, their eyes wide with shock as they moved toward the door.
“Needless to say,” Katie said, pausing their exit, “I do not want this mentioned to anyone. Do you understand?”
They all nodded again, then Katie clarified, “That includes Jackson, my dad, Walker, and Gran Dad.”
Heidi wet her lips. “Katie, Matthew, and Walker are our bosses. We have to speak with them.”
Katie crossed her arms while staring at Heidi and the others. I knew in that moment she wouldn’t allow us to stop her. She was going to do this stupid, asinine, self-sacrificing thing.
“You can do it once we’re in the air, but not before. Oh, and I need my phone back. I’ve been out of touch with my people for too long.”
“Okay, we will go get Declan and get things arranged,” Celeste said, her face stony and cold. She turned toward the door with Lucia and Heidi following behind her.
Once the door closed, Katie said, “Hayden, I cannot take you with me.”
“Katie, I mean it; I won’t let you go without me,” I said stubbornly.
She stared up at me as she said, “I cannot leave Jackson and take you with me, Hayden. I love him too much to throw that in his face.”
I sighed. “You will take people with you. You understand?”
She nodded. “You heard me. I’m taking Declan, Heidi, Lucia, and Celeste with me. I’m leaving you, Scott, and Foster here with Jackson since his dad and grandfather are here as well.”
I gazed at her intently, studying her face, then I said, “You will not ditch the people who are there to protect you.”
“I promise. I’m not stupid. I cannot take on three people who are gunning for me alone.”
I squatted down in front of her, taking her shoulders in my hands as I pointed out the obvious.
“You know he’s going to come after you, right?”
Tears ran down her cheeks as she closed her eyes. “I know, but I will turn him away when he does. You have to convince him not to come after me.”
“Katie, I wouldn’t even if I thought I could. I won’t mess with him that way. Contrary to how the past makes me look, I am not that guy.”
“Then all I can ask is that you look after him. Keep him safe, Hayden. I’m leaving my heart and soul here, and I’m trusting you to keep them and him safe,” she said, hugging me before walking out the door.
I followed her. My eyes finding Declan’s over everyone else’s heads. Declan stared at me for several minutes, then walked toward me. I moved a few feet away to give us some privacy.
“You told her, didn’t you?”
I nodded.
“You realize that she’s risking them both by doing this?”
I nodded again, folding my arms across my chest. I fucked up. I knew it. “Tell our girl, I miss her. Give her a kiss from me. I’ll be there as soon as Jackson is allowed to travel.”
“At least you know he won’t stand for her walking away from him.”
“Sounds like someone else I know. Take care of yourself. I just got you back.”
Declan nodded, and I turned, walking back to Jackson’s room, taking a seat in the chair Declan had been sitting in moments before my stupidity screwed us all in the ass without lube.
Hayden
I screwed up. I know that. I won’t apologize for making sure she knew that they were still out there and knew where she was, but I will apologize to you for not letting you know I did it.
Declan
Thank you. We’re getting her out of the hospital, sending Celeste to pack all our shit, and then we’ll toss her ass on a plane to Nashville.
Hayden
Okay. Keep me in the loop?
Declan
Of course, Papi. It’s gonna be okay.
“Yeah, I’m not so sure about that.”