“Not yet.” Hayes rubbed a hand up and down her back.
Ev’s face was mottled red from crying. Her brother was a few floors up in recovery. I couldn’t imagine the war raging inside her. The father who’d come back to try to ruin everyone again, but the brother she’d never been close to trying to do the right thing for once.
I sent a look her way, testing the waters. I’d been the one to end Howard. And I’d never regret it. I’d only regret not being able to do it sooner. She looked up at me, blinking away tears. “I’m so sorry, Ramsey.”
I jerked back a fraction, but she pressed on. “I’m sorry he made you kill him. I’m so sorry—” Her voice hitched. “I’m so sorry he hurt Shy. Again.”
Hayes pressed a kiss to her forehead. “His actions aren’t on you.”
A grimace swept over Everly’s face.
“He’s right,” I told her. “You can’t hold his weight. You’ll drown under it.”
She let out a shuddered breath but nodded. “I know that. I just…I wish I could’ve somehow seen…”
Addie reached out from the chair she was sitting in and squeezed her cousin’s hand. “You’re not psychic. No one could’ve predicted this.”
Not a single soul. But I wished I’d had a little bit of clairvoyance.
“I’m going to go check in with the team again,” Beckett said, pushing to his feet.
Laiken stood then, taking her fiancé’s hand and pulling Boden to his feet. “We’re going to get everyone some food. Any requests?”
No one said a word. I doubted anyone would taste whatever they forced down.
Boden turned to Birdie and Sage. “How about burgers and milkshakes?”
Birdie stared down at her hands. “Can I have strawberry?”
“You sure can. Sage?”
“Whatever you get is fine,” she mumbled.
Hadley leaned over, hugging her close and whispering something in her ear. Sage nodded, then sniffled. “Chocolate, please. That’s Aunt Shy’s favorite. I want chocolate for her.”
“I want chocolate, too,” Birdie said, changing her order.
Laiken gripped Boden’s hand. “We’ll get everyone chocolate in honor of Shy.”
“Thanks,” Hayes said as they passed.
“Call us if you think of anything else you might need,” Boden returned.
Hayes nodded.
My chest ached with the weight in the air. How this family, one of blood and choice, came together when the chips were down. How they’d do anything for each other. Shiloh had to live so she could experience more of that, more of the knowledge that she was so deeply cared for.
Quick footsteps sounded on the linoleum. Beckett skidded to a stop in the doorway. “She’s out of surgery.”
Everyone stood, throwing out questions all at once.
Beckett held up his hands to quiet us. “They’re taking her up to ICU now.”
Intensive care. That wasn’t the news I’d wanted. I’d wanted to hear that she was awake and talking and fine.
“She lost a lot of blood. Her heart slowed to dangerous levels during surgery so they’re watching her carefully, but they’re optimistic,” he explained.
“We need to go to her,” Julia croaked.