“Hopefully,” I agreed as we stood. The meeting was intended to be short, the face time important in continuing our alliance as we worked to take down the Rossis together.
The text from Gunner came in just as Cole and I were preparing to ride to the station.
She knows. Get home, man.
I took in Gunner’s message, knowing exactly what he meant, dread exploding in my gut with a sickening boom. I should have told her. Why the hell hadn’t I told her?
“Everything all right?” Cole asked as I fired off a response to Gun telling him we were hitting the road.
“Nope,” I gritted out, firing up my engine, knowing I was in for an excruciatingly long drive. “But it will be,” I added with determination. “I need to get home, this’ll have to wait.”
He nodded, accepting my statement without argument.
By the time we hit Hawthorne city limits it was close to midnight. With a two-finger salute, Cole peeled off, headed for home, while I continued my journey up the mountain to Max’s where I knew my girl was.
The lights were still on when I pulled up the drive and cut the engine. The front door swung open and both Max and Gunner strode in my direction.
“What are you still doing here?” I asked Gun in confusion.
He rubbed a hand over his shaved head, looking stressed in a way that put me immediately on edge. “We just got back.”
“From where?” I demanded.
He and Max shared a look I didn’t like one fucking bit.
My fists clenched at my sides. “From where?” I demanded again.
“From the hospital,” Max admitted. “She’s all right, Mad—”
I was already striding for the house, determined to get to Francesca as every horrible scenario played on a loop in my brain.
A firm grip pulled me back as Max tried to reel me in. “She just fell asleep and she needs it. Cool it, man.”
Max being protective of Francesca when that was my fucking job set me on edge. “Love you like a brother,” I growled, “but you keep me from my woman, I will put you down.”
“Don’t doubt you’ll try,” he rumbled, and I knew he understood my state of mind. He was half crazy over Wren the majority of the time. “But the stress isn’t good for her. And regardless how you’re feeling, I know you’ll put her needs before yours.”
“Fuck!” I roared, mad at myself and no one else—there was no one else to blame, after all. I shoved out of Max’s grip and paced the gravel driveway in torment. “Is she hurt? You have to tell me if she’s hurt.”
“She’s not hurt,” Gunner assured me quietly, something flashing in his gaze that I didn’t understand.
“But she’s sick?” I demanded. “I know I fucked up. But you know that woman is my world, Gun. It’s killing me not knowing what’s wrong with her. What the fuck is going on?”
“What the hell, Maddox?” Olivia’s screech rent the air as she came storming out of the house.
“Calm down, Liv,” I ordered.
She glared at me, her hand on her hip. “Don’t tell me to calm down when you’re the one being an idiot,” she hissed before visibly taking a breath. “You hurt her, Mad.” The disappointment in her gaze cut me twice as deep as her anger.
I swallowed hard. “I know.” I put my hands on my sister’s shoulders, meeting her gaze, knowing she saw the utter torment in me. “Livie, what’s wrong with her?” I rasped desperately.
“She’s finally asleep—” Emmie’s voice sounded inside the door a moment before she appeared in the doorway, her brown eyes popping wide. “Oh, Mad. I didn’t realize you were here.” She closed the front door behind her and joined us on the driveway.
My hands clenched in fists, my entire body taut with worry and frustration. “If someone doesn’t tell me what the fuck is wrong with my girl in about two seconds I’m going to lose it,” I growled.
Everyone looked to Liv, as though deferring to her for what to do. She drew in a breath. “You have to be calm, Maddox. She needs calm,” she told me firmly.
I nodded, all too happy to agree to anything as long as I knew what the hell was going on.
