“I’m not able to see the future, Barron, but in my opinion, she will. All you can do is wait for her to wake up,” Natalie said. “Sleep is good for trauma victims, though. Their bodies need sleep to heal.”
“Thank you for checking her for us,” Everly said.
“Of course. I wish I could do more.”
Everly raised her head and looked toward the living room like she could see into it to see whose voices had joined those already there. But then she realized who it was she was hearing — Maverik and Valerie had arrived. “I’ll be right back,” she said. “I’m going to get a drink of water and a little something to nibble on. You should all do the same while Emmalyn’s resting.”
“I’m sitting right here,” Barron said.
“You want me to bring you something to eat?” Everly offered.
“No. I’m good,” he said, nudging his chair closer to the bed so he could be as close to Emmalyn as possible.
“I’ll take something. I’m kind of drained,” Bam said.
“I’ll bring you something,” Everly said.
“Analise?”
“No thank you, Mom. I’m fine.”
“I’ll be right back. Okay?” she asked, making it a point to make Analise and Bam answer her and take notice that she said she’d be right back.
Bam and Analise looked up at her, knowing she’d said she’d be back twice, and was repeating herself.
“Okay. Are you alright, Mom?” Analise asked.
“I’m fine. Just want you know I’ll be back.” Everly walked out of the bedroom and flashed a quick, tight smile at everyone as she moved through the living room and into the kitchen.
Maverik left the living room and walked over to her. “Hey. You good?”
“Hey. It’s killing me to just stand beside her bed and wait for her to wake up. I need to be doing something.”
“Same,” Maverik said. “That’s why we’re here. Getting antsy waiting to hear they caught the fucker.”
“I know the feeling. There’s nothing I can do for Emmalyn here. I’d give anything to be out hunting that bastard that did this to her,” Everly said.
“Yeah, I figured you’d be feeling like that,” Maverik said.
Everly looked up at him.
Maverik looked at the door, then at Everly again, as though showing her how close it was. “I saw you protect Bam all those years ago. You’re not the type of female to wait for a male to handle shit for you. I know you can handle yourself.”
“Damn straight I can. And this asshole hurt my child.”
“I’m thinking of slipping out and joining the hunt,” Maverik said. “Valerie’s here, she’s got Harley. Everybody else is here to provide a united front. They won’t even notice we’re gone.”
“The boys are already out there. They’ll find him.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. They have a tendency to announce themselves. Too damn loud, giving away their locations. Maybe if we slip in all quiet like, we can surprise the fucker after he’s already waited them out. Seems to me it’s only right you get to take your revenge.”
“As much as I relish the idea of making him suffer, I have to take care of Bam. Make him something to eat,” Everly said, trying to talk herself out of it, more than Maverik.
“Do you?” Maverik asked. “Do you really?”
“Yes,” Everly answered. “He’s drained after healing Emmalyn.”
“Avaleigh, would you mind putting together a little something for Bam and taking it to him?” Maverik called out while keeping his eyes on Everly.
