CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Summer
The atmosphere in the hospital waiting room is charged with volatile moods.
Unlike our previous visits to this stifling, sterile environment, sadness isn’t the only emotion choking people.
The hairs on my arms are standing on end due to the electric current running over my flesh.
It’s coming from everyone in the waiting room. No one is okay.
Yet my gaze keeps going back to Paisley and Evie because there’s a sinking feeling one or both will break before the night is over.
Thankfully, Paisley has Landon and Isaac sitting on the other side of her.
Evie has Rebecca, but both chose to sit away from us.
Not enough to not overhear if a doctor comes out, but close enough that they could be another patient waiting to be seen.
It’s the vacant look in Evie’s eyes that has me worried.
When Rebecca spoke to her, it’s like Evie hadn’t heard her.
I lower my head, feeling so fucking guilty I could cry.
These people have been living in hell, not knowing when this man would strike next.
It’s been a part of their every thought.
Me? I forgot about Andrew Black. Not completely.
But I forgot about the danger that lurked around us because I’ve been so consumed by Reid.
I feel guilty for being blissfully happy whilst they’ve been looking over their shoulders.
When I called Reid, I only knew about the bed and breakfast being under attack. I thought it had been about my cousin’s past and the life they escaped from. I didn’t know about anyone else being attacked until Malia sent the message.
Milly has been taken.
She’s just a little girl. She’s already been through so much. This will have traumatised her. None of us knew what to do, so we decided to group up at the hospital since Makayla needs her wrist x-rayed, Magnolia got her head glued, and Meghan has had glass removed from a gash on her arm.
I glance back down at my phone, and despite the message we received over an hour ago, I won’t believe Malia has Milly until I see her with my own eyes.
And I already know I won’t be okay until I see Reid.
Paisley said he had been there when Liza was attacked.
When Milly was taken. She told me he had hurt his head.
Magnolia places her hand on my knee that has been bouncing for the past ten minutes. “They’re going to be okay,” she whispers. I watch her closely, trying to conjure up the right way to say what I need to. “Just ask me.”
I blink away my confusion because I know I didn’t speak that out loud. “Okay,” I give in, taking a breath. “I ask this because I know how much you love her. But how are you so calm about it? I’m going out of my mind, scared she is hurt.”
She takes my hand in hers. “Because I knew Malia would find her,” she replies and then leans in. “And I know if Milly’s been hurt, Malia will get vengeance.”
“Jaxon,” Lily cries, getting to her feet with the help from her mum.
I’m on mine in an instant, watching Jaxon, Reid, Maverick, Myles and Max walk inside. I race over to Reid. “Where is Milly? Is she okay? Are you okay?”
He pulls me into his arms and I shove my face into his neck, breathing him in. “She’s with Malia. She’s good,” he promises.
I pull back, kissing his mouth, once, twice, before peppering them all over his face. “I was so scared.”
He drops his forehead to mine, keeping me against him. “I was too,” he admits quietly. “Is Mum okay?”
“They took her to surgery a while ago for a burn,” I explain, then lower my voice. “What happened?”
He closes his eyes, anguish filling his features. “They had her trousers down when I got there,” he rasps. “She was beaten badly and they, um... they burnt her neck with something.”
Tears spring to my eyes. “I’m so sorry,” I choke out. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
“They took Milly. Then...” he trails off, unable to meet my gaze.
“I don’t need to know the rest unless you want to tell me,” I assure him. “But nothing will ever make me see you different.” I grip his face, staring into his eyes. “Nothing.”
“Fuck, I love you,” he growls.
“Reid Hayes in love...” Hayden taunts as she walks past. “Craziest thing I’ve ever witnessed.”
Reid snorts. “Your dad has a psychopath wanting to keep him. I would reserve the pedestal you were about to put me on for him because he seemed really taken with her.”
“Wait, he was serious?” she questions, her brow scrunching up before she goes and finds her dad.
Reid huffs out a breath. “I will never understand that family,” he murmurs, then looks down at me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m good. Makayla is having an X-ray on her wrist. Magnolia got a cut glued, and Meghan has had to get glass removed from a gash on her arm. Otherwise we are good.”
“Any news on Mum?” Wyatt asks, stepping up behind Reid since we haven’t moved from the entrance.
I spot Malia behind him, Liam at her side holding a bundle wrapped in a blanket. “Milly,” I cry. “Is she okay?”
Malia nods. “She needs to get checked over.”
I tug the blanket down, and tears slip when I see a bruise on her cheek. Thankfully, she’s asleep. “You said she was okay.”
Malia pulls me in for a hug. “I love you.”
I hug her back just as tightly. “I love you too.”
She pulls back and eyes me, then Reid. I see the silent question in her eyes. “He hasn’t told me. You don’t need to either unless you want to. It makes no difference because how I feel about you, and how I see you, will never change. Okay?”
She nods and goes to speak, but a hysterical Evie grabs my attention. The very thing I’ve been worried about happens. She falls to her knees in front of Wyatt. “How can you look at me? How can you not see him? What he’s done to your family,” she wails.
Wyatt gets to his knees in front of her, grasping her face in his hands.
“I don’t see him when I look at you. I see the love of my life, the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.
I see someone who loves so fiercely and completely.
I see the woman who will carry my children.
I love you Evie. I love your kindness. Your generosity.
He is not your father. I don’t care what DNA says, he isn’t.
His children turned out evil, Evie. They are cruel in a way you can’t even stomach.
That’s why I only see you. He is nothing.
” He leans forward and whispers something in her ear.
She pulls back, her pupils blown, giving off a feral look. “Do not lie.”
His head bows. “I’m not.”
Her voice lowers. “He can’t hurt anyone else?”
He shakes his head and she throws herself at him, sobbing uncontrollably. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
“Turn that up,” Isaac yells. “Can someone turn it up?”
Everyone’s gaze goes to the television as Max jumps onto a chair, pressing the volume button.
“Early this evening, specialist officers were deployed to Oakland prison facility in Leicester.
A riot had broken out at 3.45 this afternoon, injuring three inmates and causing the death of one inmate.
Katherine Black, who has been on the news recently for the embezzlement of funds from her company, Kratos Properties and Investments, was found dead in her cell at 4.
30 this evening. Her arrest charges also consisted of endangering a minor and resisting arrest.
“It is unknown why the riot broke out at this time. Detectives are still investigating. The ministry of justice has responded with the following statement:
“Riots are not a common occurrence at our prison. We will be making amendments in our procedures to make sure this never happens again. We will be working with detectives to find out who is responsible.”
The statement continues, but the nurse on the front desk mutes the television, glaring at Max.
“You weren’t joking,” Reid whispers.
I go to question who he is talking to, but suddenly, Milly arches her back, screaming. “No, no, no. Bear. Bear. Malia,” she screeches. “Liza! Liza!”
Liam is quietly rocking her in his arms despite her not being a baby. Malia reaches up, running the tip of her finger over her cheek. “Baby, it’s okay. Liza is okay. She’s okay.”
“Maybe we should take her in,” Liam rumbles.
And that’s when I look at their clothes. “You weren’t wearing those earlier,” I state quietly. I know because I passed Malia and Liam on my way to the farm. She was talking to a guest, and Liam was outside with Liam Carter, talking.
“No, we weren’t,” she tells me. “I will explain later.”
“Hey, they’ve arrested their mum,” Luke announces.
I glance back at the television and see the woman who was on the steps of Kratos with her son. She’s handcuffed, being led to a police car waiting for her.
“It’s really over,” Paisley whispers, clutching on to Landon.
“We can go back home,” Lily declares, leaning into Jaxon when he pulls her closer.
“No more being scared,” Rebecca confesses.
“We can forget about them,” Evie adds.
I feel the relief in Reid when he relaxes against me. “We can start to heal.”
I run my hand over his forearm after he pulls my back against his chest. No one else speaks, and I guess, they all need to process.
Al except Max, who is defending his choice in friends to his wife for some reason.
*** *** ***
The doctors and nurses urged us to go home last night and get some rest. No one moved or made plans to leave.
Just before midnight, Jaxon and Maverick got Lily to go back to Rose, despite her not wanting to leave Jaxon.
Rebecca left for her daughter, Sienna, and after some talk, Evie joined her.
Which was for the best since the woman was unable to keep her head up. Everyone is exhausted.