Page 37 of The Fear
And Hala was just holding on tight. Because she knew exactly what he meant.
She just stayed there in his arms,kissing him right back,until his clone yelled his name. Urgently. Saying there was a fire in town and the volunteers were being called out now.
Grady had to go.
Hala just stood there next to Ayla, and watched Grady and Gunn as they left. To help someone else in need. Because that was the kind of men they were.
Ayla bumped her shoulder lightly. “They’ll be back, you know.”
Hala just nodded. But she was afraid. “I know.”
“You seduced him yet?”
“I think…it’s the other way around, really. That man…everything haschanged,Ayl.”
“Believe me, I can understandthat.”
Hala looked at her other bestie. She adored this woman, through and through.No onehad as sweet a soul as Ayla Fisher. No one. She was good for Gunn. The two of them together…they’d change the world someday. Hala had no doubt.
Ayla still had visible bruises from where she’d been attacked. They were fading now, but…Hala would never understand how someone could be so evil inside as the man who had hurt Ayla. “I am afraid.”
Ayla nodded. “Me, too. But…I’m afraid of what I’ll miss, too. More than anything. I…amlessafraid when I am with Gunn, if that makes sense? The world feelsrightwhen he’s holding me.”
Hala just nodded.
Yes, that was a good way to describe it. She just wished he would hurry back. Something just feltwrongtonight.
30
Grady recognizedthe woman standing next to Hudson once the Value Volunteer Fire Department stepped aside and the larger paid Barrattville crew finished putting out the flames at Hudson’s place. He hadn’t seen her standing there before, but he had been busy doing his job. Hudson’s house would stand, but the end where the master bedroom and bath had once been had taken some serious damage. It would take some time to rebuild. Thank God Hudson’s kid was safely tucked into Calvin’s room sleeping over tonight. It would have terrified that little boy to see this. Given him nightmares for a long time.
Now Grady headed straight to his sister. Fear had him moving fast. “Gia, what in the hell are you doing here?”
“I need to get her to the hospital,” the man next to her said, just holding Grady’s sister close. “Addy’s cleared us to leave, but I’m blocked in.”
“My truck is over there. I’m going to tell Gunn what’s going on. He’ll have to catch a ride with Travis Deane or the water truck or something.” They drove their own trucks to call-outs. It would take too damned long if they didn’t. Some local farmers had water trucks, too. Deane’s had come in handy tonight. Andwith as far apart as the properties in the county were, that could make a difference. Their own water truck was right there, overseen by their foreman. It had helped tonight. “We didn’t know she was over here with you. How badly is my sister hurt?”
Hudson was practically wrapped around her—and she was wrapped in a blanket. Shock could make a person cold.
“A few burns probably,” Gia said, in a shaky voice. “Glass in my feet. My legs. I was closest to the window when it broke. Whatever that was splashed on me.”
Hudson scooped her up. “Let’s get her to the truck.”
“Hudson, your feet are hurt, too. Put me down.”
“I’m good. Feet as tough as old leather.” Hudson had a soothing tone in his voice. And he wasn’t letting her go. Man practically had a death grip on her.
Grady held out his arms. “I can take her, man. She is my sister, after all.”
Hell, hadn’t she said she was going somewhere toworktonight? Apparently, he’d found thesomewhere.
“I’ve got her. Just…let’s get to the hospital and then you can take her home. I need to talk to Addy soon.”
“Clay can meet us at the hospital.” Gia’s arm was around Hudson’s neck and she was clinging to him. “We’ll both talk to him, Hudson. You aren’t just tucking me away somewhere while you deal with the dark.”
Something in her tone made Grady pause. Look closer.Thinkfor a minute, past the fear and concern. She’d left the house before dinner—saying she needed to talk to Hudson about their latest case. That had been hours ago. She’d texted Genny a few hours ago and said she wasworking.He’d thought she’d meant at the office.
It was ten o’clock at night. His sister wasn’t in the jeans he knew she’d left in—he could see the pale skin of her legsright there. She’d been barefooted and bare-legged, just hanging around herboss’shouse, preparing for a trial?
