Page 134 of Ever With Me

But that didn’t matter now because Pops was all that was important. Getting him to the hospital.

Brian led them to his truck. “I can take him. Maybe meet the ambulance if necessary.”

“We’ll all go. None of us is staying out here with that lunatic,” Brooks said in a voice that left no room for argument. Not that she disagreed.

Pops looked back toward the dock. “The boat?—”

“Don’t give it another thought. It’ll be fine.” Maddie held the passenger side door open for Pops, and Brooks helped him in.

As Brooks closed the door, their eyes collided. “You okay?” He scanned her face, his expression anguished.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Bruised and sore—she shoved me—but I’m fine.”

“I’m sorry.” His gaze held an intensity to it, a level of pain that she didn’t know how to interpret.

I can’t handle this right now.

Maddie shook her head. She couldn’t talk about this right now or she’d start crying. Opening the back door to the truck, she slid inside, then Brooks followed with Audrey.

No car seat, but it didn’t matter.

Nothing mattered but getting Pops to the hospital.

Please, you can’t die.

35

BROOKS

“He’s out of surgery,and he’s stable. He’s resting now, and we can let his wife in to see him once he’s out of recovery, but everyone else will have to come back tomorrow during normal visiting hours,” the nurse said.

Brooks stood at the fringe of the group waiting in the hospital—Maddie’s parents and all her siblings had come.

Kayla had already left with Audreywithan armed security guard.

And even though she’d said it wasn’t his fault . . .she’s wrong.

Everything was his fault, from start to finish.

He should have been there, not off in the woods getting a blow job.

He shouldn’t have left Audrey for that.

Kayla would kill him if she knew that part of it.

The guilt ate through his soul, searing his gut with acid. He’d failed to protect Maddie, Audrey, and Peter.

Peter had a massive heart attack and needed to be rushed in for emergency bypass surgery.

Maddie had a concussion.

Audrey had been terrified and sobbed when her mother showed up.

All my fault.

Not to mention that the stalker had been there because of him.His stalker.Who had gotten away.

The police had taken a report at the hospital, and he’d barely been able to contribute. He hadn’t been there.

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