Liam clears his throat.“He really was slumming it this time.Camp bed with a sleeping bag.Basic utensils.And pretty much camping items.Unlike the hospital, this place wasn’t digital or secure.It had files on a small desk, and a lot of maps.If I had to guess, this is where Sebastian kept his copies.It’s not like anyone would think to look there.The place is a hazard inside.If there were any electronics, Black took them with him.I’m going to scan these onto a computer and then get these originals to the police station.”
“You should pay someone to do that,” Maverick suggests.
“Why?I’ve worked with the police before,” Liam points out.
Maverick arches an eyebrow as he hesitates to reply.In the end, he stacks up the papers, the rubber gloves he has on, squeaking as he does.“Because you have a family saying you are planting evidence on them.If you showed up to the police station with all this damning evidence, what are they going to think?It only takes one person to dismiss the files because they begin to believe the lie,” Maverick answers.
Summer glances at Paisley.“Your gut feeling was right.He was there.”
Paisley doesn’t look happy about it though.“We should have called my brothers.”
*** *** ***
The floorboards creakas I make way upstairs to my room, which had once belonged to Paisley, then my brother.I didn’t even want the room.It meant walking up two flights of stairs and I could barely make it up one set when I’ve been drunk.It hadn’t grown on me until now.Before, I missed the sounds of my brothers whispering in the next room.I missed hearing my mum go to bed.I missed the low hum of the television from another room.The attic space felt like a neighbouring house.It was set apart from the rest of the house.We’ve all complained about wanting more space at one time or another.Each of us shared with someone at one time in our lives.We had rooms we could have used so we didn’t need to share.Our dad’s office being one.Mum uses it the most but it still has his furniture, his favourite chair, and the maps of our land still hang on the wall.The dining room is a guest room, since it had a bathroom, and our grandparents always used that room when they came to stay.Our kitchen is big enough that it could hold our extended family table, so keeping it a dining room seemed pointless.It never occurred to me that we could fix our complaints by moving our belongings to another room.It hadn’t even been suggested.
First Jaxon left, using the factory to sleep.Paisley went next, moving into her bed and breakfast.Then Wyatt.Now we all have our own room.Well, all except the twins.They refused to be separated when given the option.
I push open the door and step inside, expecting to find Summer still lay on the bed, but only Hunter remains.I glance at the bathroom door as the door opens, revealing Summer clad in one of my T-shirts.
She eyes me, then the bathroom.“I love your en suite.Whatever materials you used, you need to tell Maddox so he can replicate it at the farm.You can’t hear anything that goes on in there.”
I snort, my eyes dancing with mirth as she slides into bed.“You do know having diarrhoea is normal?”
She shakes her head, pouting.“Not for women.Not when her man is lying on her bed listening to it.”
“I told you I didn’t hear anything,” I assure her.
It’s a lie.I heard everything, even the pained groans she made each time she farted.I never really thought about what an en suite would do for a relationship.They seem practical, but logically, it has to be a mood killer.If it weren’t for Makayla cheering her on, hollering at her to get it all out, from her own room, Summer probably would have forgot I was in her room.
“You are a bad liar, Reid Hayes, but I forgive you.”
I set her drink on the bedside table before getting into bed next to her.“You should take it as a compliment.It didn’t stop me fucking you the next day.”
She snorts.“Reid, that isn’t romantic.”She lowers her head on my shoulder, dropping her arm over my stomach.“Well, maybe a little.It means whatever I do won’t repulse you from now on, because I can’t actually think of anything more repulsive than that.”
I tug her closer, pressing my lips against her head.“There’s nothing you could do that would repulse me.”
Her fingers run through Hunter’s hair, but stops when my hand begins to shake on her shoulder.She pulls back, placing the palm of her hand on my chest so she can sit up.“Are you okay?”
“Lie down,” I rasp, and move so we can face each other on the bed.Hunter keeps himself between our legs, his head near our knees.
“Are you mad?”she whispers, taking my hand.
I link my fingers through hers, entwining our hands.“No.But, Summer, you can’t do anything like that ever again.”I pause, swallowing the ball stuck in my throat.“You...”
She squeezes her fingers over mine.“I promise.I really didn’t mean to get her hurt.”
I rear back like I’ve been slapped.“It’s not that.I know you’d never hurt Paisley like that.”
“I don’t...I’m sorry, Reid.I don’t understand.”
I let go of her hand to run my hand over her jaw until I’m cupping the back of her ear.“I’m talking about you.Nothing can happen to you, Summer.”Her lips form an ‘o’ shape, her pupils dilating.“You can never risk yourself like that again.”
Tears fill her eyes, threatening to spill.“Reid Hayes, I have something I need to tell you and you can’t run.”
My eyebrows pinch together, wondering what on earth she means.“I can’t?”
“It’s a secret,” she rasps, her voice trembling.
