Page 42 of When You're Broken
At that moment, the door burst open, and uniformed officers poured in—Clint leading the charge, with McNeill behind him.Their flashlights flooded the scene, illuminating Amelia’s bruised form, Finn crouched near the fallen Wendell.The reek of blood and sweat saturated the air.
McNeill strode across the debris to check on Amelia.She let out a ragged cough but gestured that she was okay, or as okay as one could be after near-strangulation.“Not bad, Winters,” McNeill said softly, his tone revealing an uncharacteristic flicker of respect and care.
A bitter smile crossed Amelia’s lips.“That’s about the highest praise I’ll ever get from you, I guess.”Her voice rasped as she tried to stand, only to nearly collapse.
He smiled.“Let’s get you seen to.”
Medics rushed in behind the officers, kneeling at her side to assess her injuries.Meanwhile, an officer cuffed Wendell, who let out a faint moan of protest, pinned by McNeill’s men.
Finn struggled to rise, wincing as the paramedic turned to him.“I’m fine,” he insisted, though blood trickled from a split in his lip, and his leg felt like it was on fire.He grimaced, glancing to see Brendan stepping over with concern in his eyes.
Outside, strobing lights colored the night.With Wendell secured and medics on scene, the tension inside the old station ebbed.The paramedics carefully lifted Amelia onto a stretcher, strapping her in while they offered oxygen.She coughed, wincing at the strain on her throat.
Finn limped behind them as they guided her out, but the lead paramedic halted him with a raised hand.“Are you immediate next of kin?”
Finn shook his head, eyes darting toward Brendan.
Brendan, battered but determined, stepped forward.He looked lost as he took in Amelia’s pale face.“Amelia,” he whispered.“I… I’m sorry I never found you sooner.”
She glanced at him with watery eyes.“We’ll have time to fix that,” she managed.“I promise.”Then she closed her eyes, letting the paramedics wheel her out toward the exit, leaving only the battered remnants of the building behind.
Brendan hesitated, torn.Finn placed a hand on his shoulder, speaking quietly but firmly.“Go with her.She needs family.”
The paramedic repeated, “Only room for one.Who’s coming with?”
Finn watched the swirl of red and blue, the bustling police and medics streaming around them.He looked at Amelia’s on the stretcher, her hair matted with dust and dried blood.Everything in him wanted to remain glued to her side.But he forced himself to step away.“I’ll follow in a car, Brendan here will go with her… He’s her brother.”
EPILOGUE
Finn parked the car outside Rob's house, switching off the engine as the last glimmer of dusk deepened into true night.Two months had passed since the final confrontation with Wendell Reed in that derelict police station, yet the sense of relief in Finn's chest still felt new, raw, and immense.He glanced at Amelia, who sat in the passenger seat, adjusting the collar of her coat.The faint bruising along her neck had mostly faded, but Finn knew the mental scars of nearly being hanged by Wendell would linger longer.
“You ready?”Amelia asked softly, meeting his eyes.She wore a calm expression, though a swirl of emotions no doubt churned behind it.
Finn nodded, turning off the headlights."As I'll ever be," he replied."Let's go see how Sleeping Beauty is doing."
Her lips twitched in a small smile.“He hates that title, you know.”
“Then he shouldn’t have stayed in that coma for weeks,” Finn said, pushing open the driver’s door.A slight chill in the April air brushed his face as he emerged.He walked around the bonnet, meeting Amelia at the sidewalk.Together, they took the short path leading to Rob’s front door, the glow of lamps inside revealing a warm interior.
It was a modest but charming detached home perched on a slight hill.The house had a small garden area out front, where the first hints of spring flowers poked through soil.The windows along the face of the building cast soft, welcoming light on the well-kept lawn.Finn recalled the bleakness of weeks prior, imagining the ambulance lights flashing, uncertain if Rob would make it.Now, things seemed… brighter.
Amelia rang the doorbell.Instantly, they heard footsteps inside.The door opened to reveal Eleanor, her blonde hair twisted up in a simple clip.She wore a relaxed yet stylish outfit that spoke of her art world background, and her wide smile gave way to a teasing spark.
“Finn, Amelia!”she greeted, stepping aside to let them in.“You’re right on time.Rob’s just about managed to make it off the couch, in typical stubborn style.”
Finn stepped into the warm hallway, inhaling the scent of roasted vegetables and a hint of rosemary.“Thanks for having us over,” he said, smiling politely.The interior felt cozy—soft lighting, the murmur of a simmering pot from the kitchen, and faint music playing from a small speaker somewhere.
Eleanor led them to a lounge at the front of the house, where they’d set a simple dinner table, presumably repurposing a low coffee table.The place was tidied, though still showing subtle signs of a nursing environment: a couple of pillows to keep Rob comfortable, a half-folded blanket draped over the armchair.
Amelia’s brother, Brendan, was already there, perched on one side of the sofa.He looked remarkably better than the day Finn found him tied up in that police station.His posture was more solid, color in his cheeks.He rose with an easy half-smile.“Hey, you two.”
Amelia’s grin brightened, and she moved toward Brendan, giving him a brief side-hug.It was still new, that closeness, but each day they bridged a bit more of the lost time.
Then Finn spotted Rob.The man was sitting with both legs outstretched.He wore comfortable, loose clothes, the kind that wouldn’t press on his healing bullet wound.The lines of fatigue showed in his face, but nothing could hide the raw relief that sparkled in his eyes.
“Finn!Amelia!”Rob exclaimed, lifting a hand.“Don’t mind me, just a bit stiff.”
Finn moved over to him, chuckling under his breath.“Better stiff than a stiff, right?”
