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“Sore, but I’ll live.”
Shoving his hands into his pockets, he nods. “Mom and Levi are out in the waiting room,” Jaxon tells Mia.
“Your parents and T are out there also, Mac. I wanted to come see you first and let you know that Shady is in critical condition. He had internal bleeding on his brain. They had to go in to relieve the pressure. They’re still waiting to see if he wakes up and the extent of the damage.”
My only response is a grunt. If it weren’t for the fact that Jaxon would probably be charged with murder if Shady doesn’t make it, then I would wish to hell that he never woke up.
“Shady pulled a knife on Jaxon and went after him with it. Isaw it happen. So, if he doesn’t wake up, Jaxon is clear of murder charges. It would be self-defense,” Nick says, walking up beside Jaxon.
I look at both Jaxon and Nick, looking for the truth in Nick’s words. They both look back at me with steady eyes, giving nothing away. When I bring my eyes to Mia’s, she’s not looking at me; instead she’s looking at her brother. I decide that I don’t give a shit. Whatever the truth is, Jaxon is covered.
“In that case, I hope the bastard dies in his sleep, quietly suffering in his own head,” I tell no one in particular. “What about Tessa?” I ask, my voice hard.
A look like pride appears on Jaxon’s face as he looks at Mia. I vaguely remember Mia in her bra and panties sitting on top of Tessa, beating the shit out of her.
“She didn’t fare as badly as Shady, but it was close. You should have seen Mia, Mac. I had to pull her away, or I have no doubt she’d be right next to Shady,” Jaxon says, his lips twitching.
“Shouldn’t have pulled me off her,” Mia mutters beside me. “The bitch deserved more.”
I pull her closer to me and kiss the top of her head.
Nick speaks next. “She’s here, but her injuries aren’t bad. As soon as they release her, she’s going to jail. There’s an officer stationed outside her and Shady’s rooms.”
That makes me feel better. I wouldn’t put it past Tessa or Shady to try and escape. Of course, from what Jaxon said, Shady won’t be going anywhere for a while.Thank fuck for that.
“Mia told us what Shady and Tessa told you both. I’m sorry man,” Jaxon says, after a few minutes.
I flex my hands at my sides, trying to relieve some of the tension there when Jaxon brings up the fucked-up situation with T.
I don’t really want to talk about it yet, but I tell Jaxon the same thing I told Mia, “I doesn’t matter. T will always be mine.”
Again, Jaxon nods, not surprised at my answer.
“How did you find us?” Iask Jaxon and Nick.
“It was actually Jesse,” Nick says. “When I made it to your house, the door was open. I tried calling your phone, but there was no answer. I must have gotten there right after Mia was taken. I called dispatch to find out if they heard from you and told them what happened. I called Jaxon and explained shit to him as well. Another deputy and I went to the old barn. Saw your truck and knew something happened to you as well. We started gathering people together to look for you both. About thirty minutes later, Jesse called. He was coming back from town after visiting a girl he’s seeing. He knew the situation with Shady and Tessa. Said he thought he saw Shady’s truck outside an old house right outside town. Jaxon and I hauled ass over there. You know the rest.”
We’re all quiet for a few minutes, lost in thought. If it weren’t for Jesse driving by, there’s no telling what might have happened, but I have no doubt it would have been much worse. I owe Jesse big time.
“We’re going to go so Maryann, Sam, and T can come in,” Jaxon tells me, and then looks at Mia. “You want Mom and Levi to come in, or do you want to go out and talk to them? She’s pretty upset, so I don’t think I can hold her off from seeing you.”
Before Mia can answer, I tell Jaxon, “Let them come in.” No way am I letting Mia out of my sight. She’s staying right here beside me.”
He nods and leans over to give Mia a kiss on the cheek. Nick does the same, and then they both walk out.
I roll toward Mia and gather her as tight in my arms as I can get her, the pull on my sore muscles nowhere near stopping me. There’s a big chance I could have lost her tonight, and I need to feel as much of her as I can. She wraps both her arms around me tightly as well, as if she’s thinking the same thing as me.
Now I have the heartbreaking task of telling my mom that the man who tried hurting, and possibly killing, her son and Mia is the same person she gave up when he was a baby. I have no idea how she’s going to take the news, but I know it’s going to be hard. It’s going to hurt, and it makes me want to hunt down Shady andfinish the job Jaxon started. That’s one regret I will always have, that I never got the chance to take Shady down myself.
I also have to make the decision on whether I should tell T I’m not his real dad. I don’t really see the benefit of telling him yet, but I don’t want it to come out from somewhere else. I’ll talk to Mia later about it and get her opinion.
I lean my head back from Mia. “I don’t want to tell my mom yet. Let’s wait until we get home and away from here.”
She looks at me with understanding. “Okay.”
I pull her back to me and we lie like this for several minutes. I breathe in her familiar scent and thank God Jesse was on that highway last night.
MY MOM TOOK THE news of Shady just as I expected. She cried on my shoulder and then cried on Mia’s, and then on my dad’s.
