“Oh, God, Beau.” My eyes well up. The first tear falls then the second.

“Shit, darlin’, wasn’t thinking.” He pulls me into his chest. That could have been me.

“Brooks coping?” He pulls back, and takes my face in his hands.

“He’s a mess. Won’t talk to anyone. Kadence just left to pick up Mia from the babysitter’s and bring Kelly’s parents down.” He nods, knowing Kelly’s parents are too old to drive.

“Bell get him back to see her?”

“He saw her briefly, but they rushed her back for surgery.” His eyes darken and his jaw ticks. “I don’t know what to do, Beau. Everyone is just so silent, no one’s talking.”

“Everything is going to be okay. This is Kelly we’re talking about. She’s going to come out of the surgery and everything is going to be okay.” He pulls me back into him, kissing the top of my head. “The woman is just as fucking strong as you, darlin’. I have no doubt she’ll pull through. I won’t accept anything less.”

“Please, tell me this is over for real,” I whisper into his chest. Even if I don’t want him to have blood on his hands, I need to know this is over. That we can live our lives.

“It’s over, darlin’. I promise.” He gives me what I need, what I’ve been searching for. “Come on, let’s go be with our family.” He reaches down and takes my hand.

“Okay.” I steel myself and try to keep it together as I follow him back over to where the rest of the club sit, silently waiting and offering Brooks their support.

“Any news?” He claps Brooks on his back before taking the seat next to him. I take the spare seat next to Beau.

Brooks has barely spoken a word to us girls the last few hours, so I’m surprised he answers Beau right away.

“Nothing. Not a fucking word.” He rests his elbows on his knees and drops his face in his hands.

“It’s gonna work out, brother,” Nix tries to reassure him.

“You find the cunt who did this?” He looks to Nix and Beau.

“We’re on it,” is all Nix says, before Brooks lets out a long deep breath and nods.

“Fuck, she’s gotta pull through. I can’t do this on my own.” His voice is shaky, and it touches me all the way down to my bones.

“You’re not alone, Brooks. She’s going to be fine. I know it.” I reach across Beau and squeeze his hand. Brooks links his fingers through mine and squeezes back.

“I know, sweetheart.” The tension rolls off me as he accepts my comfort and I find myself letting out my own relief.

It was just a small gesture, but to me it’s the world.

Things might be still up in the air with Kelly, but everything out here is sorted. Beau made it so and I believe him. I have to believe him.

What other option do I have?

“How you feeling, Kenz?” Holly takes a seat next to me later that night when I stir from the most awkward nap of my life. We haven’t been home yet, deciding to sleep it out in the uncomfortable waiting chairs until we heard more on Kelly.

“Oh, God, what time is it?” I stretch, trying to relieve some tension in my back and neck.

“It’s after 2 a.m.”

“Have we heard anything yet?” I look around the waiting room. Nix is asleep four chairs down, Sy, Hunter and Beau are talking quietly across from me. Kelly’s parents are sitting two rows back with a sleeping Mia on their laps. Jesse and Bell are talking quietly between themselves, and Brooks is pacing the hallway. Waiting. Praying. Hoping.

“Not yet, but it can’t be much longer.”

“Where’s Kadence?” She was here before I nodded off, with both Low and Z.

“She took the kids home. It was getting too late. She’ll be back up in the morning.” I nod then glance back over at Brooks.

Seeing him like this, I can’t help but be mad at myself. I shouldn’t have left her. We should have left together, or called one of the guys to bring us something to eat.

Turning my head away from Brooks, I lock eyes with Beau. He stands to come to me after noticing I’m now awake.

“You okay?” He hands me a bottle of water and takes the spare seat next to me.

“Yeah, sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” I take a sip of the water before handing it back to him. I haven’t had anything to eat or drink since this morning.

“Don’t be silly. Everyone is tired.” Holly rests her hand on my leg and gives it a gentle squeeze. Ever since I told her and Kadence what happened and why it happened, I’ve been worried they would pull back from me, maybe blame me for everyone being here. But they haven’t. If anything, they’ve rallied around me even more than before, offering comforting smiles, reassuring words and even their shoulders to cry on.

“It can’t be too much longer, right?” I look up just as a doctor appears, stopping in front of Brooks.

The room becomes a flurry of movement and questions as we all stand and step forward, all desperate for good news.

“—An induced coma to help with the swelling.” I miss the first part, but manage to catch up. “She’s stable, but still in critical condition. The next three days are going to be precarious.” The doctor is young, almost too young and I wonder how long he’s been doing this.

“A coma?” Brooks’ panicked voice spears me while I take it all in. “You said the surgery would be enough.”

“Yes, the surgery helped relieve some pressure, but we are concerned with the swelling. We need to control it. Our best chance for it to happen is to let her brain rest.”

Brooks’ hands run through his hair as he takes a step back. “So that’s it? We just wait?”

“I know it’s not what you were expecting, but the next few days will tell us more.”

“Can I see her? I need to see her.”

“Soon. She’s being moved to the ICU now. Someone will be down shortly to take you back.” He offers a comforting hand on Brooks’ shoulder before leaving us alone to process.

We all stay silent, letting Brooks take the lead.

Induced coma.

Swelling.

It doesn’t sound good. It sounds downright scary and judging by everyone’s faces, they all feel the same way.

“It’s gonna be okay, Brooks. Dr. Dawson is thorough. She’s in good hands.” Bell steps forward and wraps her arms around his neck. He accepts her embrace, holding her while his body shakes in sobs.

“I can’t lose her, Bell. I can’t.”

I almost come undone watching him.

Nix steps in next, wrapping his arm around his back and whispering low in his ear.

Wanting to give him privacy, I turn back and notice Kelly’s parents holding each other. Hunter now holds Mia, looking so much younger than I’ve ever noticed.

It all becomes so real. Our world is spinning out of control.

How are we going to survive if she doesn’t pull through? The thought weakens my knees, and before I meet the ground, Beau has me, holding me up.

“We need to take you home,” he tells me, moving toward a free chair and sitting me down.

“I can’t leave, Beau. We need to stay.”

“Beau’s right. We should get some rest. Brooks and Kelly are going to need all the help they can get.” Holly steps in and stops me from arguing. “We can’t be of any help with no sleep.”

I don’t want to leave, but I understand where they’re coming from.

“You guys head out. I’ll stay with Brooks until he goes back to the ICU. We can meet back in the mornin’.” Nix comes to stand near us, as Jesse and Bell move in to console Brooks.

“Are you sure?” Beau asks him.

“Yeah, you take her home.” He nods down to me.

“What about Mia?” I ask, looking back at her sleeping form. “We can take her.” I look up at Beau, hoping he agrees.

“We’ll take her back to the clubhouse,” Holly offers. “She’ll be better off waking up there.” Nix nods, deciding it’s the best decision for tonight.

“We’ll stay at the clubhouse, too.” Beau agrees. “You call us if you need anything, Nix.” Nix nods, and then claps Beau on the back, before turning and doing the same with Sy.