Page 111 of Hold the Line

At my feet, my mountain of a brother folded in half, his shoulders shaking. Hannah curled around him, arms wrapped tight, while Cormac rubbed slow, soothing circles on his back.

“I’m okay, Caleb,” I forced out. My throat felt like sandpaper.

As if reading my mind, my mother brought a straw to my lips. I took a sip. The cool water was the best thing I’d ever tasted. When I could finally think past my own thirst, I scanned the room. My father stood beside my mother, one arm around her, the other resting on my knee. My siblings were gathered at my feet. Deacon was still gripping my hand like he might lose me all over again.

“Where’s Hailey?” I blinked up at him. “Is she okay? Did you find her?”

He nodded, but his mouth stayed pressed in a hard line.

“She’s fine.” My mother brushed my cheek with the back of her hand. “Cay and Deke found her on their way to you. She was checked out by an EMT. They gave her a clean bill of health and sent her home with the Spellmans. As soon as I have a minute, I’ll let them know you’re awake. She’s been worried.”

“Good,” I whispered, tears burning my eyes. “I was so worried about her.”

Finally, Deacon spoke. “You kept her safe. That was all you.”

“Anyone would have.”

He lifted my hand to his mouth, pressing his lips to my skin. “I’m so damn sorry, sugar. You wouldn’t have been there if—”

“No. Don’t you dare try to take the blame for this.” I pushed myself up as best I could with one working hand and a throbbing head.

“What are you doing?” His eyes widened in panic. “You almost—you gotta lie down, Phoebe.”

I grabbed the front of his shirt. He was wearing hospital scrubs. “Come closer to me, and I will.”

His exhale fanned across my face as he bent over me, pressing gently on my shoulder until I was resting against my pillow again.

I touched his face. “I got through it so I could come back to you. If you try to take yourself away from me, none of it will have been worth it.” His jaw shook as he stared at me with glassy eyes. “I know you were afraid. I was too. But it’s over now. All of it.”

He shook his head like he couldn’t believe I was saying this. “You’re comfortingme? After everything?”

I gave him a tremulous smile. “You look like you need it.”

A raw, pained sob tore from his throat as he dropped his head onto my chest. I stroked his hair, knowing I would never take any of this for granted.

My dad’s warm hand squeezed my knee. “Do you remember what happened?”

“I think so.” I brought my hand to the side of my head, finding a bandage. “He tried to shoot me.”

Images came to me in successive, jarring bursts. The deafening crack of the gun, Deacon’s face in my mind, Richie’s weight crashing down on me, the burning in my scalp, then…nothing. Just darkness until I woke up here.

Caleb slammed the foot of my bed. “We thought you were gone, Phe. There was so much blood, and you weren’t moving.” His face was ravaged. I’d never seen my strong brother so destroyed. “I never wanna see anything like that again. My heart can’t take it.”

Our dad went to him, pulling him into his arms. “We need to take a walk. Catch our breath. Track down the officer who wants Phoebe’s statement.” Dad turned to look at me. “Are you okay if we leave for a minute?”

“I’m good. I promise.”

Dad’s eyes went soft. “You’re always trying to make everyone else feel better, even from a hospital bed. My sweetheart.”

I crinkled my nose to keep from crying. “Love you, Daddy.”

“To the moon, baby girl.”

Dad, Caleb, and Cormac shuffled out. A team of nurses and a doctor entered, buzzing around me, checking vitals and asking questions. They told me I had a concussion and quite a few stitches.

The pain in my head throbbed where I’d hit it, and the burn along my scalp was sharp, but otherwise, I felt...okay.

Not wonderful. But like I’d survive.

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