“Explosion,” I mutter, then let Makayla tell the story of what happened.
Another car comes to a sudden stop.Jaxon, Liam, Reid, and Wyatt step out.I follow behind Malia as she walks up to them.“How do we find bombs?”
“It won’t be small, small.You’ll be able to spot one.Going by the time that has passed between now and his visit, I don’t believe there is one here,” Jaxon states.
“When we were down in the tunnels, it was rigged with explosives.I’m pretty sure it was dynamite,” Maverick declares, and I flinch at his sudden appearance.I glance around, realising more have followed.
“Malia,” Mercedes screams, racing down the steps.My heart races as I spin around.Nothing seems out of place, and the only other person who looks close to panicked or angry is Magnolia.“He’s eating our fucking food.”
“Max!”Malia roars, storming over to him.
“Don’t go near the house,” I stress, trying to stop her.
He holds a sub to his mouth, taking a huge bite out of it.“Holy crap, who made these?”he asks.
“Me.Don’t touch my fucking food,” Malia screams, then spins around to face everyone who has Carter blood.“If any of you take one more piece of food, I will start digging your graves.Get your own.”
“You’re the one who mentioned food,” Max tells her.“If you’re struggling to buy food, I can get Maverick to give you some money.”
“Fuck you!”Maverick snaps.
I place my hand on her arm.“Malia, why don’t you just take a seat in the car whilst these guys search the house.”
Her eyes, so vibrant and full of life, hold so much sadness.She pulls me in for a hug.“Nothing can happen to any of you.Nothing.”
I hug her back just as tightly.“I love you too.”
“You should order food now,” Max orders.“Mav, give her your card.”
“Use your own fucking money,” Maverick snaps.
“On a teacher’s salary?”he asks, aghast.
Liam hands me his card, glaring at his friend.“Use mine.”
My eyes widen.“Your house just exploded.”
He chuckles deeply.“I got this.”
As they all head over to the house, my gaze follows.Magnolia sidles up next to me.“He’s got this,” she states, still watching him.
I lean in, quietly replying, “His house just blew up with everything he owns in it.How much does he earn to afford to replace that and feed the five-thousand?I can barely afford to feed you guys.”
She shrugs.“Who cares.Order enough so we can have leftovers for a midnight snack.I can see tonight being a long night.”
She heads off in the direction of Meghan, who hasn’t moved from the blanket she’s sunbathing on.I step away from everyone, moving further and further away, until I’m alone.I lean back against the fence, pulling my phone from my pocket.
My cousins glare at Max, which goes unnoticed by him.The atmosphere is easy going, but there’s a heaviness in the air, one I don’t think the others are quite grasping.They could have died tonight.We all could have.
I need my mum and dad.I badly want to hear my mum tell me everything will be okay.I want to feel the tightness of my dad’s arms around me.
I drop to my arse, knowing I can’t do that, not without worrying them.And my dad’s heart...it’s not as strong as it used to be.
I’m alone in this worry.
So alone.
