“I don’t think she’s processing,” Andy explains, running his fingers through his blonde hair.
“She just doesn’t care,” I say with a trace of bitterness to my voice, Sawyer’s lost and sad gaze at the front of my mind.
“What do you mean?” Both Andy and Jonah frown at my words and my tone.
Their surprised tone catches me off guard, and I look up at them, my brow crinkling. “Sawyer said he never really told anyone how bad his home situation was, but I assumed he’d have toldyouguys at least part of it.”
“We know it was tough, that his dad died while he was overseas and his mom is a hoarder. But not caring about him?” Jonah turns his dark gaze to Sawyer. “He never gave us the impression things were that bad.”
I hug my middle, wishing there was more I could do for Sawyer other than staying alive and waiting for him to wake up. “They were. When he says you two are the only family he’s ever had, he isn’t exaggerating.”
The room falls into contemplative silence for a while, and I look at the two men who are like brothers to Sawyer from my seat on the other side of Sawyer’s hospital bed. I realize that, more than me being special in any way, Sawyer’s sudden willingness to take a chance on a real relationship has to do with them.
He gave up a military career that he loved to be close to Andy and Jonah because they gave him a sense of belonging and helped him understand that it’s something he can choose to have, a real family. And he chose me for that, just like I chose him.
Andy squeezes Jonah’s shoulder. “I’ve got to get moving. We have the nuchal translucency screening today.”
“Is that when you know the sex of the baby?” Jonah asks, a smile breaking through his somber expression and reaching his eyes.
“No, that’s in a few more months.” Andy picks up his jacket. “Did I tell you Trista’s also pregnant?”
“She is?” I look up in surprise, realizing how long it’s been since I’ve talked to my family.
“Yeah, twins.” Andy looks me over, his turquoise eyes serious and his expression contemplative. “She’s farther along than Phoebe, but she only realized a couple of weeks ago since, well, it’s Trista.” I crack a smile because that really is right up her alley to only figure out she’s pregnant eight weeks in. “Talk to the clan before you drop off the grid, okay?”
“What?” Jonah looks up in alarm.
“I can’t do that.” I take Andy’s hand in mine when he comes to stand next to me. “Your duty right now is to take care of Phoebe and that baby, nothing else, understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He offers a small smile and bends down to peck my cheek. “You and Jonah are like bunkers, anyway. I’m still not entirely sure what happened out there.”
“We’ll tell you when it’s over,” I promise, and Andy sighs in resignation before leaving us alone.
Jonah folds his arms over his chest. “Where are we going?”
“You’re staying here.” I stand, walking over to him and placing a hand over his crossed arms. “I know you think it’s your job to protect me now because of Sawyer’s message, but what I need is for you to stay right where you are. I need to know someone is watching over Sawyer, and I need you to help me with things that require a physical presence.”
“You make it sound like you’re a ghost.”
“I’m about to be.” I turn to look at Sawyer, tears filling my eyes. “I should have done this the first time around, but I was so smug, so sure I could hunt Daniel Harlow down.”
“Maddie…” Jonah places an arm around my shoulders.
“My instructions were to follow the digital trail and report in, but I got cocky. I hit gold, and I just kept digging instead of turning away like I should have.” I bunch the ends of my sleeves in my hands, twisting the fabric between my fingers. “You were right, Joe. This is my fault.”
“No, Maddie. You were right.” Jonah squeezes my shoulder with a sigh. “We never should have tried to trick you into getting protection.”
“No, you shouldn’t have,” I agree. “But the fact that my uncle still did should have tipped me off as to how dangerous a situation I’m in.”
“Harlow will come for you,” Jonah warns. “If you drop it, he’ll let you be, but if you don’t, he won’t stop until you’re dead.”
“I don’t know, Joe.” I sigh and turn my face up to look at him. “So many things still aren’t making sense. Maybe Harlow really does have a split personality. Who knows?”
“Do you really believe that?” Jonah asks, and I shake my head.
“No, but I’m coming up blank on other explanations.” I sigh and drop my hand from his arm. “The only thing I know for sure is that the longer I manage to avoid him, the more mistakes he’ll make, like at the warehouse.”
“I thought he never set foot in the warehouse.”