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 nursesurged 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.
Paisley fell asleep on Landon about an hour ago, whilst I was too wired to sleep.Malia had finally got them to discharge Milly.It took the police to come in to explain the situation for the hospital and social worker to believe Malia.Then they had to wait for the police to interview Milly.None of us were allowed in the allocated room, only Malia, but from what she shared after, Milly told them she doesn’t remember, but did blurt out killing a man.It tore my heart in two when they confessed she saved Liza from her attacker.I hate him even more knowing he forced a little girl to kill.Thankfully, Malia already worked up a story.Milly told the police she ran away from the man who tried to take her and got lost.Which is how the tracker got brought up.
Liza came out of surgery and everything is looking positive.Everyone has had a quick visit but she’s been unconscious the entire time.
I sit up when I see the nurse who came to speak to us earlier, approach us.It’s nearly six in the morning, so this can’t be good.I tap Reid’s leg.“Reid,” I whisper.
He sits up straighter, his hand going to mine on his leg.“Is our mum okay?”
The nurse forces a smile.“Which one of you is Reid?”
“Me,” he replies, as his brothers wake up from their nap.“I’m Reid.”
“Liza is asking for you.She has become quite distressed.If you can be discreet, we will let you in to see her.”
He gets to his feet, still holding my hand.“Okay.Okay.Can Summer come?”he asks, gesturing to me.
“Reid, maybe one of your brothers,” I offer, glancing at their hopeful gazes.
“Please, go with him.We will go in after, if it’s okay with the nurses.We’ll be quiet,” Jaxon promises.
The nurse’s smile is filled with compassion.“I wouldn’t normally do this, but as long as you are quiet and don’t disturb other patients on the ward, you are welcome to come in two at a time.We’ve all watched the news and saw what happened to you all yesterday,” she admits.“We are doing rounds at the moment, so most patients will be awake, but some often go back to sleep.”
“We’ll be quiet,” he assures her, his voice cracking.“We just want to see our mum.”
She nods then turns back to Reid and I.We are now on the third floor of the hospital in the waiting area between wards.We don’t walk far before we are scanned onto a ward, then taken to another set of doors where she scans us in again.Reid’s hand tightens in mine as we follow her to the end of the hallway.
She pushes open the door, where another nurse greets us.“Just in time,” she greets quietly.“We were going to call for the doctor.”
“No need,” the nurse who got us assures her.
“Reid,” Liza calls out, and my hand flies to my mouth when I see her.Bruises cover her face and parts of her skin the gown she’s wearing doesn’t cover.Her face has swelled, and blood has dried in her hair.
Her neck has been covered in a thick bandage.Her cheek has stitches up to her hair line.
I squeeze Reid’s hand when he freezes.At first, I think it’s the shock of seeing her injuries, but then I remember he’s already seen her.“My boy.You are really okay.I didn’t believe them.I couldn’t.”
“Mum,” he rushes out, coming unglued and moving over to her bed.He gently takes her hand in his.
“He took Milly.Did you find her?”she asks, and the monitors next to her beep like crap.
“Milly is okay,” I tell her when Reid is unable.Tears are slipping down his cheeks as he continues to stare.“She is at home with Malia.Reid, Malia, Liam and Jaxon saved her.”I don’t mention the twins since I don’t think it will do her any good.
Liza’s chest rises and falls rapidly.“Thank God.Thank God.Thank God.I thought...oh God, I thought.”
“Liza, you’re having a panic attack,” the nurse explains, placing a hand on Liza’s chest.“Take deep breaths.”
“Mum, we’re okay.We’re all okay.”
“All?”she questions, panting heavily.
