“I still can’t believe you broke his neck like it was nothin’,” Barry mumbled, looking at Max with confusion, maybe even a little bit of wariness. “You just snapped it and then let him drop as if ending his life was easy.”
“You should see him with a knife,” Shane murmured in my ear.
Max crossed his arms and glared at Barry. “I’ll kill any man who harms my family.”
“Big guy, I don’t think you should say that in front of an officer of the law,” Shane advised.
Max turned to Barry and raised a brow. “You don’t get this yet since you’re still pinin’ for a woman you can’t have, but when you’ve got a reason to breathe, a fuckin’ reason to live—you’ve got a reason to kill with absolutely no regrets. He shot my mother, tried to kill my wife, and took a shot at a man who is like my brother. I’d snap it again and lose not a wink of sleep, I can promise you that.”
Barry’s mouth grew taut at the mention of pining for a woman he couldn’t have, and I wondered who he was in love with.
After a moment of considering Max’s avowal to kill anyone who harmed his family, Barry finally nodded. He understood.
The night sky filled with the sound of a helicopter landing just as the doors swung open and security came rushing out, followed by medical personnel.
Barry’s radio sprang to life and he pulled it from his belt.
“I got this,” Barry said, putting his hand out to Max. “Go inside and wait for news about your mother.”
Max shook his hand and jerked his chin. Then he turned and rushed inside. Shane and I followed on his heels and made our way back to the waiting room. When we arrived, Mia waylaid me with a hug as Jack helped Jenn lie down with an ice pack, his jaw clenching as she groused, “Do I have a sign on my back or a tattoo on my forehead that reads ‘hostage for hire’?”
Shane and I took a seat next to Max and Mia, and I tried not to watch the Jack and Jenn Show.
“Stop bein’ cute, this is serious,” Jack sighed.
“Then stop ordering me around. I was heading straight home when he ran us off the road, so don’t you dare threaten me with incarceration.”
“Are you tryin’ to test my last nerve?”
“Yes. My head hurts, I’m worried about Maxine, and I want to hit something.” She eyed Jack from head to toe . . . “Move closer so I can take a swing at you,” she ordered, then her bottom lip began to tremble. Our night was catching up with her as well.
Jack saw it, reached and took her hand, and then mouthed, “Stubborn.”
Jenn’s eyes began to glisten with tears and she choked out, “Bossy.”
The door to the waiting room swung open with a thud and Jack turned quickly, still on alert with his hand on his gun. Two men in black suits walked in flashing badges at him, their eyes trained on his itchy trigger finger rather than his face. He relaxed a fraction, then raised his finger indicating he needed a minute. They both nodded then backed carefully out of the room.
Leaning down, Jack placed his hand on Jenn’s face and ran his thumb across her cheek, “I gotta handle the shit storm that’s gonna come from Heller’s death. Do you promise not to leave this room?”
Her expression softened further and she hiccupped, “I promise I won’t move from this spot until we know Maxine is okay and you take me home.”
Jack’s face grew intense as he leaned down and kissed her hard, mumbling, “Thank Christ you’re okay,” against her mouth.
I curled into Shane and closed my eyes, unable to watch any more. The raw emotions passing between them were private and meant only for them.
The whole night ran quickly through my mind and my shoulders began to shake, so Shane pulled me into his lap. I was on overload. Too much had happened in a short span of time. Emma Jane, Heller’s stalking, which had me wired for months, fighting for Shane, almost drowning, and now today’s events.
“I got you,” Shane whispered, pulling me in tighter.
“I know.”
“I’m not lettin’ you go. You’re my reason to live. My reason to get up each day and take a breath. My reason to kill if need be, just like Max said. You saved me, Sage. Saved me from myself. You’ve been doin’ it since you cornered me in the parking lot and my heart started beatin’ again. Heller’s gone, we can look forward now instead of being stuck in the past,” Shane whispered in my ear. “Breathe, baby, it’s over.”
“Maxine saw the attraction between us,” I sobbed. Apparently, the crash and burn wouldn’t wait until later. I was too worried about her. “That’s why she pushed you so hard . . . she’s going to be all right, isn’t she?”