Page 114 of Unleashed

“How could he have known you were going to be fine?” My mother shakes her head. “That’s not the kind of situation where you assume everything will be okay.”

Maren presses her lips together, probably because she wants to say more, but has figured out arguing with my mother is futile.

As much as I’m enjoying this bonding moment they’re having, I’ve reached my limit. Between the adrenaline crash, the drugs, and the stress of everything that happened, my ability to remain upright is severely lacking. “I need to sit down.”

Maren and my mom help me get to the great room, positioning me on the couch as Zara watches from where she’s playing with her plastic ponies on the floor. Once I’m settled with my foot propped up, she gets to her feet and carefully makes her way to my side.

“Nana DeeDee said you got hurt.” Her dark eyes fix on the bandage at my calf. “What happened?”

“I fell down.” That did happen. “And ended up with an injury on my leg.” Also technically true.

I hate lying to Zara, but there’s no fucking way I’m explaining to a five-year-old that I was shot by a currently unidentified man who was also aiming at her sister.

I can’t tell if she believes me, but Zara doesn’t press the issue further. Instead, she climbs up onto the couch next to me, bringing along a few of her ponies. She curls up against my side, continuing to play, using the throw pillows and my legs as her new pretend pasture.

I accidentally doze off again, jerking awake at the sound of voices filling my home. I swear my house has had more people in it in the last two weeks than all the years up to this point.

And tonight it’s full.

My mom and dad are still here, along with Maren, but now the rest of my brothers and cousin have arrived, bringing along their significant others and kids. It’s a fucking houseful, and I wish I could enjoy it.

But the only thing I can find room to appreciate is Maren being safe and sound. Seeing her in danger put everything into perspective. Not just the way I feel about her, but also my priorities. What should really matter, and what shouldn’t.

The seconds I had to watch her from behind that rock were the longest of my life. And I didn’t spend them wishing I’d accomplished more with McKinley Security Systems.

I spent them wishing I’d left work earlier last week. Colored with Zara more. Watched more murder shows while cuddling on the couch with Maren. Had more dinner nights at my parents’. Told my brothers how much I appreciate them. That they’ve become great men.

So that’s what I’m going to do. I don’t know how I’m going to make it work, but I can’t keep doing what I’ve been doing.

And I don’t want to.

My brothers and cousin file into the great room, greeting Zara with smiles and teasing words. As everyone settles in, my mother manages to get Maren’s sister to join her, my dad, and the rest of the kids in the breakfast room. The twins and Birdie are small enough they won’t understand anything we talk about, but sending only Zara away would make her feel like she was being excluded. And there’s no fucking way anyone in my family would ever let that happen. She’s one of us.

Just like her sister.

Maren slowly lowers to the sofa next to me, like she’s scared she’ll hurt me.

That’s not gonna fly.

I grab her around the waist, pulling her into my lap. Because I’m more than willing to suffer if it means she’s close to me. Especially since I’m pretty sure I’m not gonna like the conversation we’re about to have.

“Have the police identified the shooter?” Maren jumps right in, asking the biggest question right out of the gate.

“They’re working on it.” Toby seems tired. Likely because he almost lost Brooke again. I can say with complete certainty, my brother wouldn’t have survived it this time.

“He didn’t have any ID on him, but they ran his prints and got a few hits.” Titus picks up where Toby left off. “I called Heidi and let her know what happened. Hopefully she can access whatever information they’re able to get and fill us in, but she and I are both suspicious we’re dealing with another hired gun like the Dead Dans.”

“Goddammit.” I rake a hand through my hair. “Why in the hell is someone willing to spend this much fucking money to come after us?” If we’d done something major enough to warrant what I witnessed today, I’m pretty sure we would fucking know what it was.

“So are we assuming what happened today is connected to what happened to Maren’s trailer?” Brooke asks. “Or do we think it was just a coincidence?”

Maren shakes her head. “It wasn’t a coincidence.” She takes a shaky breath before sharing the news I gave her last week. “My mother died six months ago of an overdose. She couldn’t have been involved.”

The room goes silent, the full extent of what we’re facing heavy in the air. Not just because of the weight of it, but also because there are still so many unknowns crowding together. Collecting.

“But if this is directed at us, I don’t understand why there’s so much time between each attack.” Toby holds up his hand when Tucker opens his mouth to argue. “I’m not saying I don’t think it’s directed at us. I’m saying maybe if we find out the reason for the gaps, we might be able to narrow down why it’s happening.”

Maren’s brows suddenly pinch, her spine straightening as she sits taller on my lap. “Lindsey said something weird after the shooting started.” Her eyes go to Ruth and Brooke. “She thought she was the target of the shooter. That he was aiming for her.”