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Then, my arms are empty and they’re strapping an oxygen mask on her face, taking her vitals. I stand helpless on the curb as they treat her on the stretcher in the back of the ambulance. I’m hit with earth-shattering satisfaction as her chest starts moving with the intake of her breath.
I keep my eyes on her for as long as I can. Distantly, I feel a warm hand clutching my arm, and when they finally slam the doors closed, it’s like a punch to my heart.
And suddenly, I feel all the pain I expected to feel from being in love. The fear of losing her. The regret of letting her down. The guilt of knowing she’s in pain because of me.
So, as the ambulance drives away and the police pull up, I make a silent promise to myself and to her. If I’m given the chance to make this right, I’m going to take it.
Starting now.
Forty-One
Adam
“Adam, stop,” my mother calls after me as I spin away from the road and march back to where I left my mess of a father on the ground.
Caleb’s hand winds around my arm first, but I simply give him a severe expression and he loosens his grip. Somewhere in the distance, the party continues, but I’m too focused onkillingthe man who hurt Sage before the police arrive and take him away.
“You know what he’s done. You know he deserves this,” I mutter through my teeth.
“What are you talking about?” Luke asks as he catches up to us. I continue my walk toward the grassy area where I found him with Sage. My mother trails behind us, still hysterical.
I can’t answer my brother’s question. Not yet.
When I see my father struggling to his feet in the distance, I move with purpose.
“Adam!” my mother shrieks behind me, but it’s all muddled now. Rushing toward him, I wrap my hand around his throat and slam him against the brick wall of the building. He fights me, but he’s too drunk and too weak.
When I feel my brothers ambush me on either side, I can sense their hesitation. They’re trying to push me away from him, to keep me from hurting him. Behind me, I hear my mother sobbing.
And I realize, now is the time. I waited too long already, and while it would feelreallyfucking good to hurt him with my fists, serving him the justice he deserves is going to feel even better.
Releasing my grip on his neck, I take a step away from him. With a scornful glare, I meet his eyes with mine.
“Hold him,” I mutter to my brothers. The look of fear and surprise on my father’s face is gratifying.
“What?” Lucas replies.
“I said hold him,” I bark at my younger brother.
Caleb moves first, snatching our father by the arm and holding him in place. Then Lucas follows his lead.
“Boys, stop it!” Mom shrieks.
“How does that feel?” I ask him, my voice low. Sirens blare in the distance and I know I’m running out of time. I want him to be here when I expose him. I want him to watch as I ruin his life with his own lies.
“Son, don’t do this,” he pleads, and I’m not sure if he means punch him or tell them everything. But as his terror-filled eyes glance toward the red and blue flashing lights in the distance, relief washes over me. He’s about to pay for what he’s done.
“I found out everything he’s told us is a lie,” I announce to my family. “He holds the deed to the very sex club he’s been claiming to take down since we were kids. I caught him there.”
“What?” Lucas mumbles, staring at the old man fighting against his hold.
“He’s been cheating on Mom. He broke my nose when I found him.”
My mother cries louder behind me.
“This is who he really is. A fraud.”
Surrendering, he stops struggling, and he stares at me with remorse. My brothers loosen their hold of him, but he doesn’t run. A moment later, the police are there, and when they ask for the man responsible for the attack tonight, each member of my family points to him.
