Page 127 of Falling Embers

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“Calder,” Hadley wheezed. “Birdie and Sage?”

My heart broke at her question. For all my girls’ lives, they’d had a mother who never put them first. Now, they might lose their chance at having the person they’d deserved all along. “They’re fine, and we got Addie to the hospital.”

Her shoulders sagged in relief. “Good. Tell Birdie and Sage I love them, okay?”

Calla let out a laugh that sounded more like a cackle. “Isn’t this just so sweet? Parting is such sweet sorrow and all that, right?”

“You’re not going anywhere, Hads.”

“Wrong,” Calla shouted. “It’s all for one and one for all now. No one gets their happy ending.”

The cliff came into view, and my gaze darted to Hayes.

His gun was raised, searching for a shot. “Stop, Calla, or Iwillshoot.”

I looked for my own shot, but all I could see was Hadley’s beautiful face, bruised and bloodied.

Hadley’s gaze met mine. “I love you, Calder.”

“Don’t you talk like that.”

“Calla, stop!” Hayes shouted.

Tears streamed down Hadley’s face. “Always have, always will.”

One shot, then a second cracked the air. It was too late.

50

Calder

The droneof fluorescent hospital lights buzzed in my ears as I stared down at my hands. Blood. It seeped into the ridges and whorls of my fingertips, the beds of my nails. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to get it out.

A hand curved around my biceps. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

I focused on the owner of the directive. Everly’s voice was as gentle as her face, full of concern and some sort of understanding.

“I can’t.” My voice broke on the second word. It was all I had left of Hadley in that moment. I couldn’t wash her down the drain.

Everly pulled me into a hard hug, so much stronger than her slight frame alluded to. “You’re not losing her. The doctors said she has a good chance. But we need you cleaned up so when Hadley wakes up, you’re right there and don’t scare her.”

What Everly didn’t say was that there was a bullet in Hadley’s chest. Surgeons were working right now to get it out. To save her life. The woman who was everything to me.

I looked around the waiting room. Julia, pale as a ghost, wrapped in Gabe’s arms. Shiloh, knees pulled up to her chest, rocking back and forth with controlled movements.

Everly released me but held on to my arms. “Once Hadley’s awake, Birdie and Sage will come to the hospital. You don’t want them to see you like this.”

I looked down at myself. So much blood. Too much. It hadn’t just stained my hands. I could see it even on my dark uniform. “Okay.”

“Good.” Everly guided me down the hall to a bathroom. “A nurse told me you could use this, and here are some scrubs to change into.”

“Thanks.” My voice sounded rusty, as if I hadn’t used it in weeks.

I stepped inside, locking the door behind me. My reflection in the mirror made me jolt. Blood smeared my face, down my neck. An image flashed in my mind. My hands pressed to Hadley’s chest as blood seeped through my fingers. Voices shouting as a medivac landed in a meadow on the other side of the trees.

I squeezed my eyes closed, shaking my head. I’d never be able to get those images out of my brain. The panic in Hadley’s eyes before they shut.

I tugged at my clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor. I stepped into the shower, turning it as hot as possible. I scoured my skin as my body trembled. Shutting off the water, I grabbed a towel and dried off. I donned the scratchy scrubs and then bent to riffle through my clothes.


Tags: Catherine Cowles Tattered & Torn Romance