The Havoc We Wreak - Becca Steele Page 0,79

be gone? So suddenly? Before we’d even had a chance to talk?

Sorrow washed over me in a heavy, suffocating wave. Despite Allan’s betrayal, despite everything, he’d saved my life.

He’d chosen to give up his life for my own.

Behind him stood a man I vaguely recognised, gun raised, staring down at Allan in abject horror. He whispered something that I couldn’t understand, his face turning ashen as the realisation dawned that he’d shot Allan instead of me.

As if in slow motion, the man’s head swung to the side with a blow from James’ baton, followed by Zayde Lowry leaping onto him, a blade glinting in his hand.

Heaving a sigh of relief, I turned away, my focus returning to my son. They were capable enough.

Edging around the car, I was greeted with a sight that filled me with dread. My son’s lifeless body, Winter over him, and Christine pointing a gun at her head.

I didn’t hesitate.

I lifted my hand and rained down chaos.

The bullet struck straight and true, embedding itself in Christine’s skull. The sound of sirens filled the air, the ambulance I’d called on a hunch almost here, as I dropped to my knees in front of Caiden.

A hand came to my shoulder, and Weston was there, his eyes wild and afraid as he stared down at his brother’s body.

“Take your sister, please.” I spoke calmly, although inside the storm was raging. I would not lose Caiden. I would not allow it.

I performed CPR unceasingly until the paramedics forcibly pulled me away, and then I had to watch as my son flatlined twice in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. I was overcome with total and utter despair, as the paramedics battled tirelessly to save him.

They say your life flashes before you when you die; mine flashed before me during that ambulance ride to the hospital. I prayed with everything I had that Caiden would make it.

I never got a chance to tell him I loved him and I forgave him, too.

“Eventually they managed to stabilise him. He lost a lot of blood, but he’s going to be okay.”

My heart stuttered, and I stared up at Arlo through my tears. “He—he’s not dead?”

He smiled gently. “No. He had us worried there for a while, but he’s a fighter. He hasn’t woken up yet, but he’ll be alright.”

I bolted upright, throwing my arms around Arlo. “Thank you. Thank you for…” I couldn’t get the rest of the words out, I was crying so hard.

His arms came around me, and he rubbed my back in soothing motions. “I know. I know.” His voice broke on his next words. “For a moment, I thought I was too late.”

Then I was the one comforting him, and we cried together.

Eventually he released me, wiping his eyes. “That was a long time overdue. I want to personally apologise to you, Winter. I have a lot of making up to do once Caiden is awake.”

“Let’s start afresh. A brand-new start.” A thought occurred to me as he smiled down at me, looking so much like an older version of Caiden at that point, that it made me ache for my boyfriend. I needed to see him. “I guess we’re not related anymore, huh? Since my mother is gone.”

He squeezed my hand gently. “You’re family. That will never change. Now, what do you say we go and find Caiden?”

“Yes.”

As we walked, I asked Arlo why I was in a hospital room, and he told me that I’d basically flipped out and had to be sedated. Physically, I was fine, but emotionally, I’d shut down.

I didn’t care about any of that. All I wanted was to see Caiden with my own eyes, to see that he was alive.

He’d been so still in my arms.

And the blood. So much blood.

If I’d ever wondered exactly how much he meant to me, I knew now.

“Here we are.” Arlo indicated towards a door. “I’ve paid for the best private treatment possible. You can go in, talk to him. The doctors say it helps to hear familiar voices, and I’m sure yours will be the one he most wants to hear.

I entered the room, my eyes going straight to the bed where my boyfriend lay, all sorts of tubes and machines surrounding him.

“Caiden,” I whispered, my lip trembling as I took in his still form. I collapsed into the chair next to his bed, gently threading my fingers through his, careful not to disturb anything. The only thing that helped me keep it