I debated whether or not I should tell Brandon that it was Jenna that took the shot that killed his mother. I almost chose to keep that detail from him. He’s still a kid and I didn’t want him to resent Jenna in any way. I know she did what she had to do, and I’m glad she did. While Danny was being loaded into an ambulance, she told me why she shot her. If she hadn’t, then it would have been our son who took Julia’s life. That’s a weight I never want on his shoulders, so for that reason alone, I’m glad she did it.
Julia deserved worse. A lifetime rotting in a cage would have been more preferable after learning the things she was going to do to my sons.
In the end, I decided there’d been enough secrets. I didn’t want to add another to the pile, so I told him everything. All that I knew anyway. I haven’t gotten to speak to Danny alone, and Jenna never brought up the last couple of hours before she rescued him. If Danny wants his brother, Jenna, me, or anyone else to know, then I trust he’ll tell us.
I’m not going to be the one to force him to talk about it if he doesn’t want to. There are certainly things I’d like to forget, never think about again. My ex-wife is one of those things.
She’s gone.
She’s dead.
She can never hurt anyone I associate with ever again, and that’s all I care about when it comes to her.
Enjoy Hell, you fucking bitch.
The sound of the sliding doors that led from the outside into the ER open, pulling me out of my wasted thoughts on someone that doesn’t even matter anymore. Seeing Seth and then Cole, I stand. My head swings around, seeing Jenna and Trey still in a private conversation, so I turn back around, waiting for them to reach us.
“Is Danny okay?” is the first thing out of Cole’s mouth. Concern is etched across his face.
“He’s fine. He’ll be released anytime now,” I inform him as Seth stops next to us both.
“And Mal? Are there any updates?” Cole swallows, bracing himself for my answer.
“He’s in surgery, but that’s all I know right now.” I glance over, seeing Jenna and Trey stand, their mouths moving, but their eyes are on where we stand.
“How bad is it?” I turn my head back around, witnessing Cole’s shoulders tense up. The pain he harbors behind his green eyes cut deep. All I want to do is reassure my friend that everything is going to be okay, but I can’t do that, because I have no idea if that’s true or not. The guy was shot multiple times, and I don’t want to give him false hope.
“Hey,” Jenna whispers, stepping in front of me. Taking another step, she walks into Cole’s personal space, wrapping her arms around his waist, embracing him. “It’s going to be okay,” she assures him, talking into his chest. Her head tips back, looking up at him.
“How do you know that?” he croaks out.
Stepping back, Jenna pauses at my side. “Because he’s strong. He’s a fighter. And because he’s Malachi. He has to be okay. That’s why.” There’s a quiver to her voice that’s just now surfacing. I want to reach out, but she’s been through a lot today, we all have. I don’t want to push us or cause her any more pain, so I stand still next to her.
My attention goes to the double doors farthest away from the waiting area. A tall man with milk chocolate skin, wearing a long white coat pushes his way toward us.
“Is the family of Malachi Hayes here?” the man asks, stopping.
My gaze drops to the script displayed on his white coat: Marc Thornton, MD. Trauma Surgery is listed beneath his name.
“We are,” Josh speaks up.
Jenna’s left hand finds my right one, interlocking her fingers with mine.
“You’re all his immediate family?” The doctor arches an eyebrow. “Pardon me for asking, but none of you look related, and it doesn’t say he’s married in his record.”
“You’re damn right we’re his family,” Josh says. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a badge. Flipping it open, he flashes his federal ID. “He’s one of my agents. That makes him family.”
“All right then.” The doctor nods. “Surgery went well. We were able to extract the bullet and mend the damage. With rest and physical therapy, he should recover just fine and be back to one hundred percent with time.”
“When can we see him?” Cole asks.
“About an hour I suspect. He’s still sedated. We’re about to take him to recovery until he wakes. I can allow one person to come in the room once we have him settled if one of you wants to.”
“Cole, it should be you,” Jenna says.
“You sure?” His brows wrinkle as he chews on the side of his cheek.
Taking a step away from me, Jenna stops in front of Cole, looking up at him. Lifting her hands and placing them on each side of his face, she says, “We only get one life. It’s up to us to make the most of it. Either vow to commit to him now or walk out of this hospital and never see him again. You can’t do both, and you can’t keep stringing him along.”
“What if it’s too late and he doesn’t want me?”
“You won’t know the answer to that until you go see him and you talk to him.”
He leans forward, pressing his lips to her forehead, he lingers against her until he sighs out a tired breath. Feeling the bone tiredness throughout my entire body, I wanted to do the same, but then her words hit home and something else blossoms deep within my chest.
We only get one life. It’s up to us to make the most of it. Do those words pertain to us too? I wonder.
“If it’s decided,” the surgeon says. “Then you can follow me. I’ll take you back now.”
“Yeah, I’m going,” Cole says, taking a step away from Jenna.
Everyone is silent as he and the doctor disappear through a set of double doors that leads into the other part of the hospital and out of the emergency room.
“I should probably call Mal’s parents,” Jenna says.
“I’ll take care of it,” Josh informs her from where he and Jessica stand next to one another. Both of her hands are wrapped around one of his with her body pressed close like she’d fuse hers to his if she could. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand the two of them, but I guess that doesn’t matter. I don’t have to. If Jess loves him, then she loves him.
And if Malachi Hayes is the guy Cole likes or loves, then all I care about is what makes my best friend happy.
“Thanks.” Jenna nods, a forced smile spreading across her lips. Glancing at me, our eyes lock for a couple of seconds before she turns, walking away. There was a sadness in her brown eyes that tugs me to go after her.
I’m going to get you back, baby, one way or another, or I’m going to die trying.