“Allen’s down there. Injured or dead,” Hayes called.
Deputy Young took off her gun belt, kicked off her shoes, and dove into the water.
Hayes and I lifted Addie as soon as we could stand, carrying her to land. We laid her on the ground, and I immediately sank to my knees, placing my face next to her mouth. I felt the faintest breath against my cheek.
“She’s breathing, but it’s shallow. Call Hads and Jones. We need a backboard.”
Addie’s body began to convulse, shaking as if she’d touched a live wire.
“Help me get her on her side,” I barked.
Hayes and I rolled her, and I did my best to protect Addie’s head from any rocks or sticks. As she seized, I took in the stain on her shirt. Blood. Too much of it.
I blinked as I stared down at the swirling brown liquid in my cup. My eyes burned as if someone had dunked them in acid. At least that little bit of pain gave me something to focus on.
Mom took my free hand and held it. “You should close your eyes for a bit. See if you can get some rest.”
I wanted to laugh. Did she truly think I could sleep right now?
Hadley met her gaze from across the waiting room and shook her head.
Mom’s lips pursed, but she stayed quiet.
I pushed to my feet, shaking my mom’s hand free. I needed to move. There were too many eyes on me. Dad sat next to Mom, rubbing a hand up and down her back. Hayes’ had his arms wrapped around Ev, her eyes red and puffy. Calder and Hadley sat across the way. Shiloh was tucked into a chair in a corner. But all their gazes found me every couple of minutes as if waiting for me to lose it. That attention only brought me closer to the edge.
I set my coffee down on the table. “I’ll be back.”
“Beckett—” Mom began, but Dad halted her words with a squeeze to the back of her neck.
I strode out into the hallway. It wasn’t particularly long. The hospital in Carson County wasn’t large enough to make me comfortable, but it was the closest option. Addie hadn’t regained consciousness once on the ride here, and they’d taken her into surgery almost immediately. The wounds on her stomach were clearly infected, and the doctors had needed to see what was going on inside.
Allen hadn’t made it. The only reason I was sorry about that was that I wouldn’t have a chance to end his life myself. To make him suffer. I could only hope he’d pay for his cruelty for all eternity.
A hand caught my elbow, and I whirled. Shiloh stood there, shuffling from one foot to the other. “Can I do anything for you?”
I bit back the urge to scream and just shook my head. “No. Thanks, though.”
Shy’s hands clenched and relaxed at her sides, the movements a staccato beat. “I need some air. I might wait in my truck. I told Mom to text me when or if we get any news. I’m sorry—”
“Don’t apologize,” I cut in. Shy had hated hospitals ever since her kidnapping. “You don’t have to wait here. Addie would understand.”
“I’m staying. I’ll just be outside.”
I nodded. I so badly wanted to hug my sister. Not just for her but for me, too. She moved so quickly; I barely saw her coming. She wrapped her arms around me in a hard squeeze but released me before I had a chance to reciprocate. “Love you, Beck.”
“Love you, too,” I whispered, my voice going hoarse.
I leaned against the wall as I watched Shy take off down the hallway. I slowly let myself sink to the floor, dropping my head to my knees. “I need you to be okay.” The words were a plea and a prayer.
I couldn’t do this life without Addie. She made everything make sense. She made it fun. She
saw me in a way no one else ever had.
Footsteps sounded on the linoleum, and I lifted my head. An Asian man in scrubs strode towards me. My heartbeat stuttered as I scrambled to my feet. He took in my appearance in a pair of borrowed scrubs. “Dr. Easton?”
I nodded, clearing my throat. “Yes.”
He held out a hand to shake. “I’m Dr. Kim. I operated on Ms. Kemper.”