I called Beau from the ambulance, but he hasn’t showed up yet and I’m about to lose my mind.

Scenario after scenario plays over in my head as the hands on the old worn clock start to taunt me. Each second drags me deeper into a sad darkness threatening to destroy me completely. Each minute reminds me of how fast everything can change.

After enduring another fifteen minutes, my nerves settle when Brooks, Beau, and Nix burst into the waiting room.

“Have you heard anything?” Brooks asks first, coming straight to me.

I shake my head just as Beau pulls me up into his arms. I watch Brooks head to reception over Beau’s shoulder as he holds me tightly.

“You doing, okay?” He pulls back and cups my face. Panic rages through his eyes and I force myself out of my head just enough to comfort him.

“Better now you’re here.” I return his embrace, hoping to calm him. Brooks is already losing his shit trying to find out answers on Kelly’s condition. We don’t need Beau doing the same.

“Tell me everything that happened.” Beau forces me to sit back down in the uncomfortable chair. I do as he says, because the need to be closer to the ground is growing.

“I–I don’t know. I didn’t see. But I know it was Mayor Morre.”

“How do you know?” His grip on my arm tightens at his name but releases when he notices my grimace.

“’Cause he was at the diner when I was there to buy lunch. He said I didn’t know who I was dealing with and then he mentioned Missy’s Place and that Kelly was alone there. He knew everything, her name… Oh, God, this is all my fault, Beau.” I fall into his chest as the need to breakdown pulls me closer into its clutches.

“Don’t even go there, Mackenzie. It’s not your fault. This family has been fucking around with your life for too long.”

“But if I didn’t come back, if I didn’t use you…” I stop my words before I speak them out loud.

“Don’t, darlin’. I’m gonna make it better. Gonna fucking fix this. Fix everything.”

“So more people can be hurt? No, Beau. Maybe I should just come clean. He already knows something is up.” I work my bottom lip between my teeth, weighing up my options. These people don’t deserve this, to be dragged into what I have started. Not when they have done so much for me.

“No, this ends. You’ve come too far for this asshole to fuck with you. He knows nothing, darlin’. He’s bluffing.” Beau stands and brings me up with him. Just then Holly and Kadence rush in, holding X, and Low, followed by Z, Sy, Jesse, and Hunter.

“What are you going to do, Beau?” I hold on to his cut, keeping him in front of me. I can’t focus on filling anyone in on what happened right now. I need Beau to see reason.

“What I should have done before this got out of hand.” He presses his lips to mine, and then pulls back.

“Please, Beau. Don’t leave,” I beg, but we both know there’s no point. I can see the determination in his eyes. He’s done. “Beau, talk to me.”

“What’s going on?” Kadence comes into my line of sight.

“Is she okay?” Holly asks from the other side of me.

“Kadence, you need to sit with Kenzie. Nix you with me?” Beau ignores my pleas and shares one of his looks with Nix. One that’s code for I need back up. Nix nods then pulls Kadence in a quick hug, kisses Low, then tells Z to look after his girls.

“Beau, don’t do this.”

“Trust me, Kenzie. I’ve got you,” is all he says before releasing my hand and walking back out the doors of the emergency room.

I know he wants me to trust him, but my head is screaming at me to follow him and stop him from making any rash decisions.

“Kenzie, let him go.” Kadence takes my hand, stopping any chance of me running after him. I twist back and hold her eyes, silently pleading with her to let me go.

“Girl, I know that look. We’ve all had that look,” she states looking at Holly, who nods in agreement.

“Kadence. Please, don’t stop me. I need—” I start to pull out of her grasp, needing to chase after Beau to make him stop.

“No. You need to sit down and tell us everything.” She moves me back to the waiting chair. I watch as she hands Z some dollar bills for the vending machine and then points her don’t-leave-anything-out stare at me as soon as he is out of hearing distance.

“You have ten minutes before he’ll want something else, so start.” My eyes land on Jesse, Sy, and Hunter as they follow Beau and Nix out.

“What about Brooks?” I point over to Bell and Brooks. Brooks is still pacing, but Bell is trying to calm him enough to speak to a fellow nurse.

“Bell knows everyone here. If she can get any information, she will,” Kadence assures me. “Who did this, Kenzie?” I sit back, no longer sure I can fight it anymore. These people are my friends, even if I don’t deserve the title anymore. They have to know why Kelly is here.

Knowing there is nothing left to say, I start from the beginning, not leaving one thing out. I am done lying to my friends. They have to know. If Beau is about to do something we can’t come back from, it’s the least I can do.

Even if it means losing them all.

Twenty-Eight

Beau

“What’s the plan?” Nix falls into step with me as we make our way out of the hospital.

“We’re going after Mayor Morre.” I reach my bike and place my helmet on. “Call in T. We’re gonna need him in on this.”