Page 19 of Echoes of You

Dad had been on his feet and at her side in a flash, and all my siblings and I had gone deathly silent. But when her lips formed two words, a part of me had died.“It’s Maddie.”

My father had taken the phone, getting all the information from his friend at the police station. I hadn’t moved an inch while they talked. But I’d wanted to run when Dad crossed to me. Wanted to escape whatever nightmare he was about to tell me.

But it was worse than a nightmare. It was a living, breathing terror.

Dad squeezed my shoulder again, bringing my focus back to him and away from the memory of the night before. “Maddie isn’t gonna look like she normally does.”

He was talking to me like I was eight, not twelve. “I know.”

“You just have to remember that the doctors are helping her. She’s going to be just fine.”

My fingers tapped against my thigh in a rapid rhythm. “Can I go in now?”

Mads needed me. It didn’t matter how I felt about any of it.

My dad nodded and stepped aside. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

He always was. Because my dad was nothing like Maddie’s father. And that just made me hate myself a little more. “Thanks,” I mumbled.

Moving toward the door, I pushed it open. The lights in the room were low, just bright enough that you could see to use the machines or get where you needed to go, but no more. I started toward the bed, but my steps faltered. The sight in front of me froze me to the spot.

Maddie. My Mads. But it wasn’t her. The face that was always glowing was sickly pale now. And that only made the marks marring it stand out more. Her right eye was swollen shut, already turning colors, and a thick bandage wrapped her head.

Bile surged up into my throat as I stared at the girl I’d loved every day since kindergarten. The kindest person I’d ever known. And someone who was supposed to love her the most had hurt her.

“Nash?” Maddie croaked.

Her voice catapulted me out of my frozen state. I hurried toward her bed, sliding into the chair next to it. A cast covered one of her arms, and the other had an IV and an oxygen monitor. But I needed to touch her, show her I was there.

So, I laid a palm on her forearm instead of her hand where the wires were. “Mads. Why didn’t you tell me?”

I would’ve killed him. I didn’t care what it would’ve taken or the price I would have had to pay. I would’ve ended her father and not thought twice about it.

Tears filled Maddie’s eyes. “I didn’t want anyone to know.”

I needed to hold her. Never let her go. But I knew that would only cause her pain.

“He’s gonna pay,” I growled.

She swallowed hard. “My mom’s so mad.”

“Your mom’s a piece of shit.” Because that woman must have known what was happening—the hell her daughter was in. And she’d done nothing. I’d never liked Maddie’s mom. She’d always been just a little bit mean and never took care of Maddie like my parents took care of me. But I’d never expected this.

Tears slid down her cheeks. “Not everyone’s as lucky as you. Not everyone has a family that loves them.”

My heart thudded in my chest, each beat driving the cracks deeper and deeper. “I’m your family now. I love you, Mads. And you’ll always have me. Always.”

Maddie let out a low moan, pulling me from the memories taunting me. The sound was one of distress and pain. The way she twisted in her sleep told me her ribs were killing her. And yet she’d driven all the way from Atlanta.Alone. She’d spent days cleaning this disaster of a cabin. That knowledge twisted guilt deeper into my gut.

I brushed her inky strands away from her face, and the contorting of her features eased a fraction. Her breaths became even again, and her muscles relaxed. Reaching between us, I pulled my phone out of my front pocket.

Me

You got time for a patient this evening? I’ll owe you one.

There was nothing for almost a minute, and then a text came through.

Doc

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