Page 108 of The Other Side

Hadley looked up then and spotted Gage where the officers led him out. A guttural sound burst from her, and she clamped her hands over her mouth. Running toward him, she dodged everyone in her way.

Gage pulled slightly against the officers who had a hold on his arms, trying to get closer to her. “Hadley.”

Thea’s heart broke. Would they really take her brother?

Hadley lunged for Gage and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” Hadley sobbed against him.

“Are you okay? I didn’t know what was happening until it was too late, and I didn’t know you were in the car.”

“I’m fine,” Hadley said again. “What are they doing?”

Gage pressed closer to her and rested his cheek against her hair. “I’m okay. It’s fine. They said we have to talk.”

Hadley reared back. “This isn’t fine!” She grabbed his arms and tried to shake him. “What happened?”

Gage glanced over to Thea. He’d done this for her. He could lose everything.

“He shot Cain, but he was defending himself,” Brett said low. “They probably need to question him.”

Hadley turned to one side and then the other. “This isn’t right. He was only trying to help his sister!”

Thea pressed a hand over her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t watch them take her brother. Not in front of Hadley.

“Please!” Hadley begged.

Gage leaned to the side, trying to catch her attention. “Hadley, it’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

“Ma’am, please step aside,” one of the officers said. “We just need to question him right now.”

“Okay,” Hadley said in a shaky voice as she backed up a step.

Matt pointed to the flat board they placed on the gurney. “Mrs. Patton, do you think you can move to this board?

She rubbed her hands over her cheeks to wipe away the tears, but they kept coming. “Yes, I can do it.”

Once she was on the gurney, Brett was beside her, clamping her hand in his. “I’ll be right here. I won’t leave you.”

“Won’t you have to stay?” The police were still getting statements and making reports.

“Asa said he’ll come with us, and I can give a statement when we get there. I already told him most of what happened.”

“What about Linc? Is he okay?”

Brett looked back over his shoulder. “I think so.”

Asa walked up, and Brett pulled him to the side. “Is Linc okay?”

“He’s fine. They’re finishing up his statement, and he’ll be free to go.”

More paramedics and officers poured from the building. Cain was strapped to a gurney and covered in blood.

Thea rested her head back and stared up at the bright sky. “I can’t look.”

“He’ll be fine. I think he lost a lot of blood. Gage hit his shoulder,” Brett said.

“What about Gage? Is he okay?” Thea’s entire body shook now, and she couldn’t release the tension to stop it.

“I’ll keep in contact with him. I’m sure they’ll let him go once they hear what happened,” Brett said.

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