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Snake tightens his arms, his head going into the crook of my neck as he whispers over and over, "I've got you, baby, I've got you," but he doesn't; he left me, chucked me away like trash like I didn't mean anything to him.
I start to struggle again, my screaming overtaking me as my father shouts, "SEDATE HER NOW," from down the hall before Doc walks toward me, a needle in his hand, and I stop fighting.
I need the pain to stop.
He injects the needle into my neck, rasping, "I'm so sorry, darling…" before everything goes black.
The last words I mutter are, "Hunter."
Chapter 18
Snake
"Hunter…"
I squeezed Sarah tighter to me as her body went limp, my heart squeezing my chest at her broken rasp. Gently, I take a deep breath, pick her up bridal style, and walk her back to my bed. I can hear her Momma and mine both sobbing, but I try to block them out as my father comes into the room with my brother.
"We should have seen this coming; for months, she's been blocking her emotions, heck, probably fucking years."
I can't keep the anger out of my voice. She always felt like she needed to protect her parents, and in turn, she's bottled up too much while I pushed her away.
"Son…"
I cut my father off, and as I look at my girl, bags are painted underneath her eyes, and she's lost weight. My anger heightens. "I know what you're going to say, but Dad, it is their fault, partly anyway. She blocked herself off, and they automatically thought she was strong, so they were there for Mary fully instead." I look at my dad, his eyes showing concern for me and my girl. "I'm not just angry at them, though. I'm angry at my girl for keeping everything inside. I'm angry that she didn't let Doc tell us the truth because, let's face it, she wanted me to push her away. She was watching her sister die, so why not push the one other person on this planet who could hurt her away? I'm also angry at myself because I decided to believe that crap Celine and Shelby told me; I listened to them because I, too, was scared of her hurting me while my gut was screaming at me, telling me that I knew my girl, that she gave all of herself to me when she hadn't with anyone else, and fuck, fuck, I'm so mad at Mary for not fucking fighting longer, which is selfish because she was in pain."
My eyes tear up as I shake my head, looking at my girl again. Everything in me wants to climb in with her, but I need a minute. I need to do something to keep my hands busy; wanting to punch something is pulling me hard. Taking a deep breath, I lean down and kiss her forehead, lingering a little so I can inhale her jasmine scent that I've missed so much before I stand and walk out of my room, my dad and brother following me as I make my way through the common room. I don't stop to talk to anyone, ignoring my Momma too as she tries to grab my arm as I head down the hallway where my office is. I need to keep my mind busy. I need, fuck, I need to do something.
I bang into my office before sitting on my chair behind my desk. My father and brother follow before my mother and Sarah's parents walk in, shutting the door behind them, but I just shake my head before putting it in my hands.
My anger is consuming me, the guilt clenching my chest hard.
"Son…"
I shake my head, "Dad, please, I just need..." Gerry cuts me off, "You need to vent, but you won't because—because we've just lost our daughter, and now there is a chance that we could lose our other because we did over the years rely on Sarah. She put up a front, and we allowed her to; we were too hurt to be able to carry her as well, and we were selfish."
I nod as I look at him. Tears run down his cheeks; he's a father grieving, and he is right. I won't have a go at him because right now, he needs to mourn and be there for his family, but it's not just him I'm mad at; I'm mad at myself for everything I did two weeks ago, for what I did a week ago.
I shake my head again before looking down at my desk when I see a flash of red blinking. I realize I have a message on my work number, which makes me sigh before I press it, hoping to distract me from the people in my office.
"You have one new message; to listen to your message, press one."
I press the number as my father goes to speak, probably to tell me now isn't the time, but he stops because of the voice on the machine, and my heart fucking stops because I forgot I gave her both my work and mobile number.
"Hi, Snake, it's Mary."
I quickly press the pause button and look at the Reynolds'. Gerry's eyes are wide, while Hailey seems ready to break.
I take a deep breath. "What do you want me to do?" I need to know if they want to hear it.
Hailey sniffles, "Please, please play it."
I give her a nod as my Momma grips her hand, my father gripping Gerry's shoulder, while my blood brother Sniper comes and stands behind my chair, supporting me. With a deep breath, I press play.
"I don't know h-how I feel getting your machine; e-every time I've rang, well, you've answered."She takes a deep breath, and I bit my bottom lip. After listening to the crap about Sarah, I went off the deep end and drank a lot. Too much."I guess it just means y'all always have this message."Her dad smiles, but it soon disappears with her next words, Hailey letting out a sob:"I've not got long left; I can feel it; soon I'll be with the boy I gave my heart to, Toddy, who I gave myself to with the help of my big sister, my best friend, but-but don't tell my parents that. Anyway, I know I haven't got long left, and I-I needed to get this off my chest. I'm mad at you, Hunter, and yes, I'm calling you your given name; you hurt my sister, and I can't come and kick your butt because I'm basically in-in-a-a bubble,"She gets out of breath. I squeeze my eyes shut at how much pain she's in. She spoke again and rasped,"She's in love with you,"and my eyes popped open again in shock. We never said the words, but that's how I felt; I didn't know she felt it."She's stubborn; she knows how she feels for you but unwilling to do anything about it. Watching me slowly-slowly fade away, it's killing her, and there's only one person she wants to hold her tight, but he can't because, well, he's an-an idiot."
My brother smirked, mumbling, "Got that right," making me smile a little as she took a deep breath.
"You need to grovel, big. I can't leave this world knowing my Sissy will be alone and heartbroken. I-I just c-can't; she needs you, Hunter, not just to hold when I'm gone but to keep grounded, to keep her-her living; for-for years her-her,"she takes a deep breath,"for years her main purpose has been me. She didn't go to the college that accepted her with a full-full ride."Another deep breath:"She worked two jobs while going-going part-time just to-to help Momma and Daddy with my bills."
