The undeniable, twisted carnage.
Nothing will ever top the beauty of the crimson puddle expanding around my father’s head.
He got what he deserved.
The sharp contrast between life and death makes my head spin when my gaze moves from Rhett to Hailey. Vaughn’s still breathing, sputtering blood like he’s desperate to say something. Judging by his terrified eyes glued to his daughter’s face, he wants to apologize.
“Help me,” she whispers and begs with those gorgeous blues as they flicker toward me. “Please... don’t let him die.”
I couldn’t even if I wanted to.
Letting Vaughn bleed out would bring Hailey pain and that’s one thing I can’t fucking handle.
Dropping to my knees beside her, I lift Vaughn’s shirt, counting the gunshot wounds. Rhett fired off a whole round, but most of the bullets missed the target.
It’s not much consolation. Three found their mark and Vaughn’s bleeding out fast. With two holes in his stomach and another in his thigh, his survival hinges on making fast decisions.
“Broadway, call an ambulance,” I bark, tying my belt around Vaughn’s thigh. “Tell them we’re in the underground parking lot. Koby, get Jeremy Smith here and tell Dante what happened.”
Within moments we’re in the elevator and Hailey’s kneeling by Vaughn, begging him to stay with her. His eyes are hazy, but trained on her pretty face while she swears that he’ll be okay.
For the longest time, he clings to life, clings to her and her words. He feeds off her strength... until he doesn’t.
The ambulance sirens grow louder in the distance when Vaughn heaves his last breath. His chest doesn’t rise again, the hand Hailey’s holding goes limp, slipping out of her grasp, his eyes close, face pales...
And once again all hell breaks loose.
Hailey dives into a frenzy.
The wail that tears from her mouth will haunt me till the day I die. She screams, begs, then thrashes against my hold with such ferocity I struggle to keep her safely caged in my arms.
My heart breaks for her, for the nightmare she lived through, and the new one that’s just begun.
43
CARTER
I’ve lived through my fair share of darkness. I’ve seen more death and pain than thousands of people combined, but nothing hit me as hard as watching the paramedic stab a needle into Hailey’s neck to push a tranquilizer into her bloodstream.
She lost her fucking mind when Vaughn stopped breathing. When the ambulance arrived less than a minute later, Hailey was amidst the worst panic attack I’ve ever witnessed.
My muscles are still like rocks eight hours later as I sit by her hospital bed, holding her hand. I haven’t moved since we arrived. Despite the late hour, no one has asked me to leave.
Not since I threatened Hailey’s doctor. I’ll gut him if he hurts one hair on her head.
Broadway, Koby, and Ryder spent the whole day in these uncomfortable plastic chairs but to my surprise neither of them have voiced a single complaint. They take turns popping their heads in every hour to check on me and Hailey.
I’m in fucking pieces.
Seven cups of coffee haven’t sharpened my brain in the slightest. I’m still processing everything and wondering how much damage the last few hours might leave on Hailey’s mind.
I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees and rake both hands through my hair. Broadway brought me a change of clothes, which is a fucking blessing because the white shirt I arrived in was soaked in blood, enough to sell by the pint if someone took the time to wring it out.
Lifting my gaze, involuntarily glancing at the angry red lines Hailey’s carved down her neck and arms, I inhale deeply, my guts twisting into elaborate knots. She would’ve done more damage if I hadn’t immobilized her, but before I managed to, she almost drew blood while scraping her throat.
Another hour goes by. The IV drips into a tube connected to Hailey’s arm, keeping her asleep. I’m dreading the moment she wakes up. I have no idea how I’ll survive another meltdown.
Her doctor stops by at seven in the evening on the dot. He gives me a wide berth until his purposeful steps halt at the foot of the bed. A few lines of incomprehensible gibberish and a lot of page-flipping later he calls in a nurse.
