Page 134 of Fought and Freed

“Of course.” He slid out from behind her. “Finish the other half of your sandwich while I fill the tub.”

31

MADDY

Maddy sniffled, then leaned back against Ryder’s chest as they soaked in the tub. “I’m not sure what to do about Grant. What if I choose the wrong thing?”

He held her close. “You won’t.”

She leaned to the side to peer back at him. “What would you do if it was one of your friends?”

“If the tests come back and there’s no brain activity, then my friend wouldn’t be there anymore,” he stated matter-of-factly. “I wouldn’t want them to be kept alive by machines. Now, if there is brain activity, that’s different.”

Maddy took Ryder’s words in. Would Grant want to be kept alive only by machines? Would anyone? Without brain activity, it was just a body. The person’s soul or whatever would have already left.

“I didn’t think of it like that, but you’re right. Grant wouldn’t want to be kept alive by machines.” She relaxed against Ryder. “But if there’s a chance he can come back, then yes, without a doubt, I’ll keep him alive until he wakes up.”

“Tell me about your other uncle?” Ryder asked, changing the subject to something lighter.

“His name is Marco, and we have the same nose and eyes.” She smiled. “He said I look like my mother. She was his older sister, and he was there when I was born, but she later told him I died.” Her smile dimmed. “He admitted that he didn’t believe her, but he never looked for me.”

Ryder’s hand stroked her stomach in soothing circles. “Why didn’t Lucca tell you about him before?”

She leaned her head back against his shoulder and closed her eyes. “My uncle was ashamed that he didn’t search for me and asked Lucca not to say anything about him to me.”

He rubbed his cheek against hers, his stubble gently scratching her skin. “Did he say anything else?”

“No, I was too overwhelmed, and Harry saw it and stepped in,” she admitted. “I told Uncle Marco to give me some time to come to terms with everything, but that I want him to come over and have dinner with us.”

“Sounds great. Can’t wait to meet him. And you’re right, you’ve had a lot to deal with lately.” He reaches for the loofah. “Let’s finish up here, and I’ll cuddle you all night.”

* * *

Despite Ryder’s warm embrace, Maddy didn’t sleep for long. How could she, with everything running through her mind?

Easing out from under his arm, she made her way downstairs and found Cody sitting on the couch, staring at nothing.

The floor squeaked as she took her next step, and Cody’s head whipped around, his blue eyes locking onto her.

She hesitated, remembering their earlier fight. “Couldn’t sleep, either?”

“No,” he said in a low tone.

She walked around the couch and sat down. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry,” he said at the same time.

“You go first,” she blurted.

“I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that after everything Mike has done. But killing someone changes people, and I don’t want that to happen to you,” he warned.

She narrowed her eyes. “Have you killed someone before?”

“No, but I’ve seen what it can do to someone from my dad and uncles.” He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “My youngest uncle is only ten years older than me and a police officer. He had to shoot and kill a teenager while on patrol. When the department put him on leave, he came and stayed with us.”

Cody shook his head. “He was a completely different person. Before, he was like Skylar. He loved to play jokes and was always full of energy. But afterward, all he did was sit and stare when we visited him. I found out later on that Dad found him with a gun out behind our shed. He was planning on killing himself. He said couldn’t live with what he’d done.”

Cody looked at her with pain in his eyes. “Dad got him to see a therapist, and he ended up working at a desk for a while, but he never became his old self again. I don’t want that to happen to you.”

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