Page 36 of A Burning Rage

“Northwestern,” Tyler says. “It’s the closest level 1 trauma center.”

“Tyler, is he—” I can’t even say the words aloud. Is he going to make it?

Tyler looks me in the eye. “He’s strong, Beth. He’ll fight hard.” Tyler grasps my hand and squeezes it.

A chill settles over me. “He saved me.”

“Yes, he did.”

“He swore he’d never let Andrew hurt me again.” My voice is numb, as are my words. “Oh, my God, Tyler. I have to call Bridget and Calum and the rest of his family.”

Tyler grips my knee. “I’ll take care of it. I’ll tell Jake, and he can notify the others.”

“And Mom! I’ve got to tell her.”

“I’ll do that.”

“And, oh my God, Cooper. He’ll—” My voice breaks as tears begin to stream down my cheeks. “He’ll be devastated.”

Tyler starts his engine, and we follow the ambulance.

As we pass by the Morton’s car, I observe two officers standing over Andrew’s lifeless body. Someone has draped a tarp over him. His parents are standing together, their arms around each other, Cynthia sobbing into her husband’s neck. They both look shattered.

In spite of everything, I can’t help feeling sorry for Richard and Cynthia Morton. Their only child is dead, and even though he was a monster, they clearly loved him, and they’re going to grieve.

Soon we’re out of the garage and heading toward the hospital. Tyler does his best to keep up with the ambulance as it cuts through congested Chicago traffic.

Like a refrain, the words Andrew is dead keep looping in my head.

He’ll never bother us again, but at what cost?

I pull out my phone and call Cooper.

“Hey, sugar,” he says. “What’s up? Is the hearing over? How’d it go?”

My chest feels like it’s being squeezed in a vice. “There was no hearing.” My voice is shaking.

“Why not? Did they reschedule?”

“Cooper—” I choke on the words because I know how much this will hurt him. Shane’s more than just Cooper’s best friend. They’re like brothers, and they’ve shared so much, both in the military and afterward as they built McIntyre Security together from the ground up.

“Honey?” His voice turns guarded. “Is everything okay?”

“No—” My voice breaks. “It’s Shane.”

“Beth, tell me what’s wrong.”

“He’s—” I can’t say the words. If I say them out loud, it means this nightmare is real, and I can’t face that.

Cooper’s voice sharpens. “Beth, tell me what—”

Tyler takes my phone from me and calmly relays the facts to Cooper. As he explains what’s happened, I stare out my passenger window as hot tears burn my eyes. I notice it’s raining outside now, which seems to perfectly mirror the bleakness in my heart.

“Northwestern is the closet level one trauma center,” Tyler tells Cooper. “We’re on our way there now.” A pause. “No, she’s not injured.” Another pause. “Of course, I’ll stay with her. But Cooper? You need to hurry. And call Jake so he can let everyone know.”

Tyler ends the call with Cooper and immediately makes another one. “Ian.” In a low voice.

I tune my brother out, not wanting to hear those horrible words all over again. Each time, it’s like a knife digging into my heart, deeper and deeper, shredding what’s left of it.