Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 82112 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82112 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“No!” I cried out. “Don’t.”
The pain in his eyes sliced through me on top of the other agony I was already enduring. I couldn’t comfort him though. How could I? He’d shot my brother. I couldn’t just let him hold me. What kind of person would that make me?
“Haisley.” Trev’s voice surprised me. I hadn’t known he was so close. He placed a hand around my arm. “We need to get out of here.”
The bodies were everywhere. What would they do with AJ? Would my mom get to bury him? She’d have to bury another child. A sob tore out of me, and I had to grab Trev’s shirt to hold on to him. My knees buckled. This would destroy my mom.
“Baby, please,” Saxon begged, taking a step toward me.
I shook my head frantically. No. If he touched me, I would cling to him. I wouldn’t let go of him. I couldn’t do that. Not with AJ right there.
“Let me get her,” Trev said gently.
I couldn’t look at Saxon. Any more emotion, and I was going to crack. Maybe I already had.
“Come with me,” Trev told me with his arm wrapped around my shoulders. “Lean on me if you need to. Let’s just get you to the car.”
We walked out of the church, leaving AJ’s body bleeding out. I didn’t look back. Seeing him like that was going to forever be burned in my brain. When we stepped out into the darkness of the night, a black SUV pulled up, and Trev walked me over to it, opening the back door for me to climb inside. He held my hand and eased me inside. When he turned, I heard him whispering. Saxon’s voice was a little louder than a whisper.
“She’s fragile right now.” Levi’s voice carried over theirs. “She needs some rest and time. Don’t push her.”
“I’m not letting her leave without me.” Saxon sounded angry, but there was panic laced in his voice.
“Trev, go with her. Take her to Trinity,” Blaise’s voice called out. “Sax, we have business to handle. You are seeing this through.”
There was silence, and then Trev climbed in beside me and closed the door. I looked at the front seat to see Kye and a guy I didn’t know.
“Ready?” Kye asked.
“Yeah,” Trev replied.
As we pulled away, it felt like my soul was being torn from my body. And not because I was leaving my dead brother in an abandoned church. But because I was leaving Saxon.
Thirty-One
Haisley
It was late afternoon the next day before any of the guys returned.
Sleep last night hadn’t come. Although my body was exhausted, my mind wouldn’t shut off. A doctor had come to the house, and Trinity explained to me that he was Shiloh’s uncle and he worked for the family. He had been called to come check on me and the baby. He listened to the heartbeat and checked my vitals. Everything was fine. He had asked if I wanted something to help me sleep, but I’d said no. Maybe I should have taken something.
When I went downstairs at sunrise, Trinity was already in the kitchen, making coffee. She insisted I eat something and reminded me I needed to eat for the baby. I had no appetite, but she was right. I managed to get down a cup of yogurt with granola and berries.
I didn’t think I wanted to talk, and both girls seemed to understand that. Trinity and Aspen gave me space. Aspen brought me a few books, suggesting I take a mental escape with a story. I understood that. I’d done that in my life more than once. However, I couldn’t focus on the words. The events of last night kept replaying in my head.
When Levi and Huck walked into the house, I was sitting on the sofa, curled up in a blanket, looking out the window. Trinity rushed out of the kitchen to wrap her arms around Huck. Aspen had gone out back earlier with a book in her hand.
“I’m working on dinner now,” she told them. “But if you need something to eat now, Levi, Aspen made her brownies earlier.”
Levi ran a hand over his head. “Thanks. Is she outside still?”
“Yes,” Trinity replied.
Levi turned to look at me, but said nothing, then walked to the doors leading out back.
Huck whispered something in Trinity’s ear, and she shook her head slightly. I turned my gaze to stare at the unlit logs in the fireplace. If they were back, then Saxon was home.
Was he at our house alone? Part of me had thought he’d come here. Was he going to leave me here? Could I see him and not fall apart?
Huck’s heavy footsteps left the room, and I thought Trinity had gone with him, but she sat down on the sofa beside me. I turned to look at her, and she gave me a sad smile.