Page 123 of After Us (Next Generation 6)

“We’re here,” Sammy said gently.

Hesitation coursed through me when I looked out at the large building. I wanted my baby girl back in my arms but then I also worried about how I would react when I saw Jaron. No one told me how he was actually doing. Just that he was shot, and he was fighting. No more details were said.

The door opened, revealing Sammy. “Come on, kiddo. They need you. Jaron…” His jaw clenched.

“Sammy?” I whispered.

Cyrus joined him, clapping his shoulder. “He’ll make it through this.”

Sammy shoved away from him. “You don’t know that.” Spinning on his heel, he stomped away.

My eyes welled, my chest constricting over the thought of losing Jaron. “Cyrus, I…”

“I know.” He held out his hand. “Give Sammy time. Jaron’s like our little brother, so it’s…hard.” When his voice cracked, a sob escaped me. “Shit.”

I covered my face, letting the cries shake through me.

“Piper.” Cyrus reached into the back seat and pulled me out of the vehicle and into his arms. “He’s a strong, stubborn fucker. He’s going to make it through this. He has to.”

I latched on to him, the scent of his leather cut wafting into my nose. While the smell was familiar, it wasn’t Jaron.

“Come. Everyone is here, including your parents. You need them and so does Jaron.” Cyrus wrapped his arm around my shoulders, closing the door behind me and leading me to the front doors of the building.

I was like a zombie, walking with him. Both he and his brother had been good to Brynlee and me. I remembered back to when Sammy first held Brynn. He was gentle with her. It shocked me at first because there were rumors that he had a violent streak. Whenever I had picked them up from Rouge after they had too many drinks, I had seen the women fawning over Sammy. But he would either give them a look or mutter something in their ear that would make them slap him or run off crying.

“Do you think Sammy will ever find his person?” I asked, my voice weak and hoarse.

Cyrus looked down at me. “You don’t worry about that shit, darling.”

“I just want you both happy,” I murmured.

“And we love you for that, but you know Sammy. He’s struggling. He won’t admit it, but he is. It’ll take a strong woman to put him in his place and not back down when he gets in one of his moods.” Cyrus shook his head. “But enough of that. You have more important things to worry about than our love lives.”

“It’s distracting.” But before I could say anything more on the subject, we reached the floor where I could only assume Brynlee was.

“This way.” Cyrus led me down the hall. “Your dad texted me that they were here with her.”

“You texted my dad?” I asked, my head whipping around.

Cyrus gave me a small smile. “Ever since Jaron went to jail, kiddo. I got your parents’ cell numbers and gave them mine in return. So did Sammy.”

“How come?”

“Because Jaron asked us to take care of both you and Brynn. His girls.” Cyrus nodded once. “They’re this way.”

As we continued down the hall, I kept thinking over Cyrus’s words. I wasn’t sure why I was surprised that the twins had my parents’ numbers. Looked like they took Jaron’s request and ran with it.

When we neared a room at the end of the hall, I could hear voices. My dad’s deep one along with my mother’s higher pitched voice. They were talking to someone.

Once I stood at the entrance to the room, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. A part of me kept thinking that my daughter actually wasn’t here, and that Price still had her but when everyone glanced my way and my eyes landed on her, a sob broke free from my lips and I ran toward her.

Piper

She was back inmy arms. My daughter. I didn’t know I could love someone as much as I loved Jaron. Not until I held Brynlee in my arms for the very first time. What would have made it better was if Jaron had been there, but he was making up for it. He loved her. I could see it. With the way he looked at her, spoke to her, interacted with her. She was his world and this second baby, would be as well. We were his life.

Please, Jaron, fight to come back to us. We need you.

“How are you doing, sweetheart?” Mom asked, running her hand over Brynlee’s head.

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