Page 49 of Every Sunset
“You both scared the shit out of me!” Cat cried as she hit out at Tate playfully.
“Thank you,” I whispered as I looked up at Tate and smiled a little. He had dove in to save me with no thought of his own safety, and I knew he had just saved me from severe injury or even worse.
“I’m just glad I was here,” he puffed out as he smiled gently. “You sure you’re okay? We landed pretty hard.”
“I’m fine. Are you? You hit the side walk. I only hit you,” I reasoned, and he just smiled.
“Just a few scrapes. I’m okay.”
“Anna? Do you need anything?” A voice asked, and when I looked up Neil was above me looking concerned. Just seeing him reminded me of what had happened and I looked to Tate again.
“W-were you outside the store a few minutes ago? The hardware store?” I asked. Had he been the person I saw and my brain created the rest? It was certainly way more likely than Callum being stood there.
“No. I came straight from the bar. I was heading over to grab some lunch from the diner,” he explained, seeming puzzled. “I hadn’t even made it to the hardware store when I saw you and just ran.”
“I…I need to call the guys. Can I use your cell?” I asked urgently. Something didn’t feel right and I needed to know for sure my son was safe.
“Why don’t you both come into the diner and sit? You can call the guys from there,” Cat suggested. I didn’t want to wait that long, but I also didn’t want to look anymore unstable than I already did, so I stumbled to my feet, grateful when Cat grabbed for me and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. The adrenaline was making my legs shaky. I looked to Tate as he jumped up way too easily. He had crashed into a concrete sidewalk and absorbed the impact of my weight landing on him, yet it seemed he was pretty much untouched by it.
“I’ll get your things and bring them over for you, Anna,” Neil called after me, and I just nodded with a tight smile.What the hell was going on? Had I really seen Callum?Seeing him after Maddox telling me he didn’t think my crash was an accident just seemed like too big of a coincidence, and it had me breaking out into a sweat all over as fear consumed me. It couldn’t be him. It just couldn’t!
“Who was in the car?” I asked shakily as we entered the quiet diner.
“Some old man. He’s not from around here. He was driving way too fast. Neil said he’s really badly shaken. They’ve called an ambulance for him,” Cat explained. She led me over to the closest table and helped me into a chair.
I sighed with relief that Callum couldn’t have been in the car trying to hit me purposely. But that didn’t mean he hadn’t been outside the store. My heart was racing and I was sweating hard. My adrenaline was at an all time high as I tried not to let my anxiety spiral.
“Anna, it’s Maddox,” Tate said, startling me. When I looked up Tate was close to me, holding out his cell. I lifted a shaky hand and took it, desperate to hear Maddox’s voice.
“Madd?” I uttered shakily.
“I’m here, baby. Tate told me what happened. I’m on my way now, and Logan’s coming too. Are you alright?” he asked.
“Max,” I said instead. “I n-eed you to go to Max. I need to know he’s safe, Maddox.”
“He’s at work. I’m sure he’s fine. It’s you I’m worried about.”
“No! Please listen to me. Max might not be safe. I need you to go and pick him up right now! I think I was wrong. I…I think someone is coming after us.” My words were more of a whimper by the end, and I didn’t miss the way Tate stepped a little closer to me.
“Shit! Logan’s in the city. He’s an hour out at least,” Maddox growled as he finally seemed to grasp the seriousness of what I was telling him.
“I…I’m okay. Go to Max, please. He’s all that matters right now.”
“I’ll stay with you, Anna. Tell him you’re safe for now,” Tate told me, obviously having heard everything.
“You hear that?” I asked.
“Yeah, okay. Stay with Tate then. I’ll get Max and I’ll be there as soon as I can. But it’s time, baby. Logan and I need to know everything if we’re gonna keep you safe,” he warned, and I knew he was right.
“I’ll tell you,” I agreed. I trusted them to protect Max – not that any of my earlier fears really mattered if Callum really was there. It was time for the truth.
CHAPTER 20
MADDOX
“How is she?” Logan demanded after answering my call on the first ring. I’d already text him while I was talking to Tate, telling him we needed him back here and what happened briefly. At the time I had just wanted him home so we could both be there to comfort and take care of Anna after she’d likely been hurt again, but now I needed him back so we could do everything in our power to protect Anna and Max.
“I don’t know. I’m not with her. It’s bad, Logan. She wants me to get Max. She said someone’s coming after them,” I explained hurriedly. I was swerving down the last street to the outdoor pool where Max worked. I didn’t have a weapon on me if anything went wrong, but as terrified and angry as I was for both Anna and Max, I was confident I could handle whatever I may encounter with my fists alone.
