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“I know, Ace,” I say, knowing full well that when Cole is in that kind of mood the best thing to do is just give him space. He never could have predicted this.
Neither of us say anything else as Ace runs light after light, getting us to the hospital in record time.
The second we pull up, I spot Remi and Hadley hovering by the main entrance, waiting for us.
He kills the engine and we both run.
He scoops Remi up in his arms seconds before I do the same to a terrified looking Hadley.
I feel better the second she’s in my arms. She might be Cole’s girl, but there’s something about her that touches a part of me too. She’s really something special, this one.
“He’s going to be okay, baby.”
She stills at my words and pulls her tear-stained face from my shoulder.
“I was… I was p-pregnant.” My eyes widen in shock, her words taking a few seconds to register.
“Was?”
“I-I lost it. Just one of those things. But he thinks… fuck.” Her expression falls. “He thinks it’s his fault.”
“When did this happen?”
“This morning in Colton. I’ve never seen him like that, Con. He was… he just… he totally lost it.”
“It’ll be okay,” I repeat, pulling her back into my arms. “I’m so sorry, Hadley. I’m so fucking sorry.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Hadley
It’s been hours. The five of us—James, Remi, Ace, Conner and I—haven’t left the family waiting room, desperately awaiting news from the doctors working on Cole.
All Conner managed to tell me was that Cole was unresponsive when they brought him in.
I’ve been through some horrific things in the last few years, but nothing has come close to how I felt hearing the words.
Cole OD’d.
He took a lethal concoction of pills and liquor...
He wanted to die.
I can’t comprehend that. No matter how dark my life has gotten, I have never wanted to end it all.
I guess we’re not all the same, after all.
Conner clutches my hand in his. He’s been my rock, holding me together while I broke for the boy who will always own a part of my heart—even if he no longer wants it.
Ace has barely said one word the entire time we’ve been here. I know he blames himself. He’s Cole’s big brother, the person who raised him. He feels a deep sense of responsibility toward his brothers. Remi is nestled into his side, whispering words of reassurance and love into his ear.
Unlike the four of us who are glued to the uncomfortable plastic chairs, James hasn’t stopped pacing. He’s the epitome of calm and collected. I’ve only ever seen one other person handle a crisis with such composure and confidence.
My father.
Only, James does it out of love. He has the best doctors in there working on Cole and has insisted on complete discretion. Unless the Jaggers want someone outside of the five of us to find out about this, they won’t.
He’s protecting Cole’s future—
