“To them,” Hawk added, clearly still worried about Jessie.
“I’ll look… but it’s going to take me time.”
“I need some air.” Stone charged out of the office, nearly slamming into Lachlan.
“Sorry, man. You okay? You don’t look so good.”
“Yeah, sorry. Just need…” Stone didn’t finish his thought. His headache was worsening, and dizziness washed over him as he stumbled down the hall towards Mae’s desk.
“Stone?” He registered Sloane’s concern. His hand landed on the counter top, bumping into someone’s drink.
“Oh shit.” The mug toppled off the table, smashing on the ground, scattering hot coffee and a thousand shards of ceramic all around.
“Careful, Sage!” Lily gasped. “Get up off the floor…”
Get up.
Get… up…
A sharp pain lanced through Stone’s head. The image of Mae, down on her knees in front of him with tears streaming down her face flashed through his mind.“Get up, Mae.”
Stone gasped, his body folding in half as nausea and pain blinded him.
When will you finally be free, my love?
I will never allow myself to hurt you again. The fear in your eyes. The fucking way you were looking at me when I woke up with my hands…
His friend’s voices flared in the background as he blinked through the blinding pain.
I’m pregnant, Stone. There’s a baby and I need you to wake up because I’m scared. I’m scared to do this all on my own…
Get up, Mae.
I’ll never forgive you…
A black SUV.
What the fuck are you doing here?
One gunshot.
I’ll never forgive you…
Another gunshot.
Get up, Mae.
Payback, old friend.
You’re not dying with things still left to say to my sister.
I’ll never forgive you…
“Doc?”
Stone’s knees hit the floor in the bathroom just as his stomach started to pitch. His body revolted against the assault of memories. Tears streamed down his face in rivers of despair, his breath pulling in between bouts of retching. And when the nausea finally passed, he was left crumpled on the floor, his head pounding as his heart shattered all over again.
He really had lost Mae before. That whole time, she was there for him because she was so selfless. She pushed her own pain to the back to care for him. And what had he done?
