He crossed the room in seconds and pulled her into a careful hold, his arms going around her without pressing too hard. He stayed mindful of her injury but close enough to reassure himself she was there.
That she was alive.
He’d feared that might not be the case.
She leaned into him, trembling beneath him. “Thanks for coming.”
“I should have been here earlier.”
“You had no way of knowing this would happen.”
“That doesn’t matter.” His jaw twitched at the words.
Her gaze held his a second longer before she said, “It was Kenny.”
Max blinked, the words not landing at first. “Kenny? Why wouldKennycome after you?”
“I have no idea. I’ve never even talked to the man before. I didn’t know he even knew who I was.”
Why would Kenny leave Lyndee and risk being caught by coming here? It didn’t make sense. It didn’t match the narrative Max had formed in his head.
Footsteps approached him from behind.
Sheriff Sutherland stepped closer, his expression grim. “He didn’tjustcome after her. From what Hadley described, he intended to kill her. And he made it clear he’s not giving up.”
Max curled his hands into fists. This was even more reason to despise the man.
Sheriff Sutherland glanced between Max and Hadley before continuing, his tone shifting. “We need to get her to the hospital. That cut’s going to need stitches, and I want her checked out properly.”
Hadley started to protest, but Max didn’t give her the chance. “I’m going with her.”
Sheriff Sutherland nodded once. “Of course.”
Max’s gaze returned to Hadley, taking in the bruise, the way she held the bandage against her arm, the lingering fear she hadn’t shaken.
This wasn’t over.
Not even close.
Hadley leaned her head back against the seat as Max drove her away from the hospital.
The visit had been a blur of bright lights and questions. It had taken six stitches to close the cut on her arm. The doctor had prescribed pain medication and given her instructions she only half remembered.
Her mind was still stuck somewhere between the moment her bedroom door opened, and the second Kenny ran.
Max hadn’t said much since they left, but he’d stayed close the entire three hours she’d been at the hospital.
Hadley turned her head and studied him. His hands were tight on the steering wheel, his jaw set, and his gaze fixed on the road ahead. He’d been worried about her, she realized. He wasstillworried about her.
Even though their relationship was new, he truly cared about her. The thought brought her a strange measure of comfort. She’d felt alone for so long. She hadn’t realized how much she missed having someone to watch her back.
“You’re thinking pretty hard over there,” she murmured.
Max exhaled, the sound controlled but heavy. “Something about this doesn’t add up.”
“You mean Kenny?”
He rubbed his jaw and shook his head. “It just doesn’t make sense that he’d come after you.”
