Hayden (A Next Generation Carter Brother #4) - Lisa Helen Gray Page 0,118
gripping Liam’s ankles.
I grip onto a load of ivy and branches, keeping us close to the side as Landon climbs up with Liam’s help. There is no way I’m willing to risk the water sweeping us away. It feels like it’s angry at us, punishing us as it tears its way downstream.
“Hold her up,” Liam strains out, his face red.
I heave her up over my head as much as I can. “You got her?”
“Got her,” Liam wheezes, dragging her up with Landon’s help.
I drop my chin to my chest, inhaling and exhaling deep breaths.
She’s safe.
I’m not going to lose her.
“C’mon, man,” Liam yells, reaching down to me.
I grasp his wrist as he grabs mine. “Thanks.”
“Don’t look so surprised,” he rasps out, heaving me up. “I didn’t want her to skin me alive because I left you to swim with the fishes. And she has a thing for kneeing guys in the balls when they piss her off.”
I fall to my stomach when I reach the top, my heart stopping at the sight of Landon doing compressions.
“Come on, Hayden,” he shouts, pushing his hands down on her chest.
“No, no, no,” I hiss, crawling over to her, running my hand over her hair.
Her body is too small for the force he is using. With each jerk of her body, my heart lurches.
“No,” Max croaks, swaying next to the man responsible for all this, his broken gaze on his daughter.
Fisher splutters out a laugh before spitting blood to the ground. “Got the bitch.”
My heels rise from the ground, ready to tear into the callous human being, but the animalistic sound that tears from Max’s chest, stops me.
I’ve never seen rage like it. Hayden warned me her dad could get mad when one of them were hurt, but nothing could have prepared me for the sight before me. His face morphs into something I don’t recognise as he turns to Fisher, his jaw clenched.
He headbutts him, screaming in his face. “I’m going to tear you apart.”
Hayden flinches beneath me, and I glance down, my heart racing before the most beautiful sound ever reaches me.
She lifts her head, coughing as water spills out of her mouth.
“Thank God. Thank God,” I breathe out, my shoulders shaking as a low groaning sound bubbles from my throat. “Thank you.”
I pepper kisses all over her face, my eyes filling with tears as Landon falls on his arse beside her, his knees drawn to his chest.
“Max, he’s unconscious,” the older Liam drawls, striding over to us.
“I thought I told you to stay with the others,” Beau growls, his brows pinching together.
“The police have them. They’ve called social services to come sit with the boy. Turns out, the brother has custody of him. He’s shook up.”
“Is the ambulance here?”
“No, I’ve called it. I told them to meet us on the road, in case Hayden was hurt. Is she okay?” he asks, stepping closer, his expression drawn tight as he glances down at Hayden.
“She died,” Liam, her brother, croaks. “You all need to stop fucking dying.”
“We should get her to the road. They won’t be able to get here,” he explains.
I run my hands over her hair, tears streaming from my eyes. “Hayden, I’m here. I’m here. It’s okay,” I assure her.
Max skids to his knees next to me, gently running his palm down her cheek. “You’re okay. You’re okay,” he chants, staring down at her.
“Stop being a pussy,” she rasps, her voice husky as she squeezes my hand.
“I told you she doesn’t like sissies,” he reminds me, wiping the tears from his cheeks.
“Dad,” she whispers hoarsely.
“It’s okay. We can toughen him up if you decide to keep him.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I growl, glaring at him.
He arches is eyebrows at me, his lips twitching in amusement. “If I wanted you gone, you’d be gone. The only reason I haven’t is because she can hold a grudge. And as mad as she’ll get at me, she’ll miss me more. No one should be deprived of my company,” he says, his attention returning to Hayden. A few quiet seconds pass before he adds, “She loves me more than she loves you.”
Hayden makes a noise in the back of her throat. “Make him stop,” she croaks.
Gently lifting her badly bruised hand in his, he presses a kiss to the top. “You need to stop doing this to me. Why can’t you get knocked up like normal girls?” he argues, kissing her forehead.
“Dad…”
“Yes, baby?”
“When I get some energy, can you remind me to slap you?”