Page 100 of Well Aware

My heart gave a pulse of happiness to see someone familiar.

“I let Beau know that you were finishing up, and he went to grab you a snack.” Lysander smiled. “Never seen my brother so smitten in my life. It’s cute.”

You know what was cute? The entire Vanderbilt clan.

I smiled, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “How is he?”

I knew he couldn’t be good. But I hoped that he was okay, despite the terrible circumstances.

Lysander’s small smile fell. “Not good. Koen’s body was retrieved from the truck only about two hours ago.” He looked horrified, sick to his stomach, and ready to cry all at the same time. “The sheriff’s deputy who let Seraphina go without a warning is kicking himself. Both Cain and Seraphina are going to spend the weekend in a jail cell.”

Thank God.

I wished they would spend the rest of their life, but I knew luck wasn’t going to be on our side. Not with two rich as fuck people being the ones in trouble.

“Good,” I grumbled. “What are the odds that they’ll get out?”

The way his face twisted, he held the same hope as I did.

“Good,” he answered. “Dad already got Seraphina a lawyer, but they don’t think she’ll really need one since she wasn’t the one to cause the accident. Cain’s got more money than God, so I imagine that he’ll get off with a slap on the wrist. But my brother and his club won’t let that happen if they can help it.”

I had a quick thought that I should slip him something that’d stop his heart, that wouldn’t be able to be detected in an autopsy but quickly dismissed it. I couldn’t kill a man.

Not even if he deserved it.

The man had done unthinkable things to my sister, forced her to think her only escape was suicide. He’d taken away everything and forced her to make that impossible decision that stole her away from me. But, even then, I couldn’t do it.

“Where are they?” I asked.

Instead of answering, he jerked his head toward the long length of the hallway.

He walked me to a room that said “bereavement family room” off to the side of the surgery waiting room and I felt tears well in my throat at the sight of so many people.

Beau was the first one to me, pulling me into his arms and burying his face in my neck.

“Beau, I’m so sorry.”

His breath hitched.

He squeezed me tighter. “Did she make it?

“Nobody’s been to talk to you yet?” I gasped.

Surely someone had. Right?

“No one,” Boone croaked.

I pulled out of Beau’s hold and took Boone’s hand. “I’m sure that the doctor will be able to tell you more when he gets in here, but she’s alive. She’s going to make it.”

Boone’s shoulders slumped in relief.

Nettie came at me like a battering ram, throwing her arms around my shoulder. “Thank you for helping save her.”

“I didn’t do what the doctors did, but you’re welcome anyway.” I patted her on the back. “She’s going to be okay. She’ll be hurting for a while yet, but they expect her to make a full recovery.”

At least physically.

Mentally? That was a completely different story.