Now I was standing there staring at my dad’s desk, unable to move.
Fear and relief mixed, making me dizzy.
I was pissed and happy and I didn’t understand how I could be both of those at once.
“Hadley?” I turned and saw Brady standing in the doorway. “You okay?”
“No,” I croaked.
That was all it took for Brady to close the distance and pull me in his arms.
He smelled like a campfire and the sob I’d been holding back finally broke free.
“Shh, they’re okay.”
“You,” I sobbed.
Brady’s body went solid before he relaxed. “I’m good, babe.”
I sagged in his arms and he held on tight.
It wouldn’t be until much later, days later when I thought about that day for the millionth time that it would dawn on me—he’d called me Hadley. No hesitation. No guessing. He knew I was me and not my twin.
Almost a year later – Hadley
I came to a screeching halt in front of my parents’ house and jumped out of my car.
Shots fired at Mom and Dad’s.
That was all Addy had told me when she called.
But it was worse. Way worse. I knew it by the hard look on Brady’s face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Get to Quinn, babe. I have to go.”
I grabbed his bicep as he passed me. “What’s happening?”
“Some bitch nabbed Delaney. Got to get on the hunt, Hadley. Take care of Quinn.”
Right. Take care of Quinn. Lock down my fear and see to one sister while the other was missing.
“Please be careful,” I begged.
Brady’s eyes softened, but the storm clouds were still present.
“Always am, honey.”
And with that, he was gone.
Once again putting his ass on the line for my family.
It wasn’t the first time nor would it be the last. But the next time would be the worst.
Almost another year later – Brady
“No!” Jasper let out a blood-curdling roar and I froze.
Right there in the ambulance bay of County ER, I felt my heart stop.
I watched in absolute horror as Jasper’s legs gave out. Neither Levi nor Lenox were fast enough to catch him before he went to his knees. Nothing, but nothing, took Jasper to the ground—unless it was family.
Jesus fuck.
My eyes took in the scene. Brice Lancaster, Quinn Walker’s man and still in his turn-out gear, was on his ass, back against the wall, knees up, pure terror on his face.
Fucking Christ.
Nolan Clark and his son, Jackson, both stood looking shell-shocked until Jackson broke away and knelt in front of Brice.
“Brother?”
“Two GSWs to the chest. We…um…fuck.” Tears welled in Brice’s eyes. “We lost her right before we pulled in. We started CPR, then she was wheeled up to the OR.”
Jackson shot to his feet and Brice closed his eyes.
Quinn Walker took two to the chest.
Christ.
I felt her before I heard it.
A heart-shattering sob.
I turned and there she was, Hadley Walker.
Even in her grief, she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.
She turned to rush out of the sliding glass doors. I easily caught up to her and folded her into my arms.
“Brady,” she wailed.
“I got you, baby.”
My arms wrapped tighter around her.
“Which one?”
Fuck, she didn’t know. Didn’t know which family member had been injured. Just knew if her dad was on his knees, it was bad.
“Quinn.”
Hadley’s body convulsed in my arms and I’d have given anything to take away her pain. Anything to make sure Hadley Walker never shed another tear.
It would be a long time before Hadley stopped crying. A long time with her standing in my arms before she whispered, “How bad?”
“Bad, baby.”
She nodded against my tear-soaked tee and nuzzled closer.
Jesus fuck.
It was too soon.
She needed more time.
But with each day, it was harder not to claim what was mine.
Hadley tilted her head up and I caught her gaze. Pain, fear, worry. But there was something else behind those beautiful glossy eyes. And I knew what that something was. I knew it because I felt the same. Every time I looked at her, I knew when the time was right, she’d be mine.
But with her sister clinging to life, today would not be the day I told her.
“It’s always you,” she whispered.
“Always me?”
Hadley didn’t answer but she did repeat herself and when she did, I let her words settle over me.
“It’s always you.”
I knew in my soul Hadley Walker was my forever love. She made me wish I was strong enough to face my demons, be better, be the man she needed.
I could love her from afar but she’d never be mine, I was too damaged.