Chapter 38

Picking up my phone, I swipe my finger across the screen and bring it to my ear. "Hey, Max."

"Jesus, Cat, you're going to put me in an early grave," my older brother's words growl against my ear. "Can you hold off for a while on the dramatics and let my damn heart heal before something else happens?"

I laugh. Only my brother would request such a thing, like I had any control over what happened. I know he's joking though. "I'll try."

His breath crackles in the speaker when he exhales. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I tell Max, unsure if it's the truth.

"Let's try this again. Are you okay, Cat?" he presses quietly, knowing me all too well.

I stare down at my coffee sitting in front of me. Am I okay? I honestly don't know. It feels like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Sure, last night's events were horrifying. Just thinking about what Jimmy did and what else he wanted to do freezes my blood in fear. With what I went through the first time, coupled with last night, you'd think I'd be a catatonic mess, barely functioning.

I'm fine, though. Or as fine as I'm capable of being. Maybe it's because I know it's over. Henry is dead. I don't know where Jimmy is, but I know Hunter will take care of him. Perhaps those five years I spent hiding the truth have actually helped me to build my mental strength.

Athena, Scarlett, and Presley still tap on the walls in my head, but they seem content right now. As if they're letting me call the shots, but they're there if I need them. Maybe it was them who have been making me stronger this whole time, instead of keeping me weak like I first assumed.

"I'm getting there," I say, giving him only what I can.

"Emily, Skylar, and I are coming down next month. We'd be there sooner, but I need to organize someone to take over the ranch while we're gone."

"Max, you don't need to come. I'm fine, I promise. And if I wasn't, I've got Hunter, Mom, Dad, and Ginger. Don't uproot your life for me."

"I'm not doing it for you," he replies. "I'm doing it for my own peace of mind."

Sighing, I pick up my coffee and bring it to my lips. It's cool enough now to take a sip without burning my lips off.

"Fine. But no hovering. I get enough of that from Hunter."

"He loves you, little sister, so he worries about you. Especially with everything that's happened and your unique situation."

My nose wrinkles. "You mean when someone else takes over my mind when the stress becomes too much?"

He chokes on a rumbling laugh. "To put it bluntly." His laughter dies off. "You need anything, call me."

"Will do." I hear voices coming down the hall. "I've got to go. Mom and Dad just got here."

"Love you, Cat. We'll see you soon."

"Love you too."

Just as I set the phone down on the counter after hanging up, I'm spun around and yanked off my stool. I let out a huff of air when I'm forcefully pulled into Mom's arms.

"My baby," she cries in my ear. I can already feel her tears wetting the shoulder of my shirt.

I wrap my arms around her, hugging her tight. "I'm okay, Mom."

After a moment, she grabs my arms and pulls back from me. When she sees the damage on my face, more tears glisten in her eyes.

"Mom, stop. I'm fine, okay?" I smile even though it hurts, hoping it'll lessen her worry.

She doesn't respond. Just snatches me forward for another nearly suffocating hug. I let her do her thing because she's a mom and it's what she needs to do.

As soon as she lets me go, Dad reaches out and pulls me into his firm arms. He handles his emotions better, but I know he's just as worried as Mom, and just as relieved.

I do this a couple more times with Ginger and Mason, although Mason's embrace is shorter than the others. I get hugs from the boys too, and their curious eyes latch onto my face, but they don't say anything. Ginger probably talked with them before they arrived.

After everyone has seen that I'm okay, Hunter walks over and takes the stool next to the one I was sitting on. Grabbing the waistband of my jeans, he pulls me backward until I'm wedged between his legs.

Since last night, he's been touching me constantly and keeping me in view all the time. I'm surprised he left me in the kitchen to answer the door a few minutes ago. I fully expected him to toss me over his shoulder and cart me around with him. I don't complain. This whole ordeal has been hard on him, and if hovering makes him feel better, then he can do it to his heart's content.

"Ginger, why don't you and Mason take the boys into the living room? Mom and I want to talk to Cat and Hunter alone."

As I look at Dad, I see his eyes firmly fixed on Hunter. Ginger doesn't argue as she collects Aiden and Josh from the kitchen and she and Mason take them to the living room.

As soon as they clear the doorway, I ask, "What's going on Dad?"

He doesn't look at me, but keeps his keen gaze over my shoulder at Hunter. "I want to know what's happening?"

"We've already told you," Hunter replies, resting his hand on my waist.

"Don't take me for a fool, Hunter," Dad says, a scowl forming on his face. "What happened here last night was never called in. I would have heard about it."

I glance over my shoulder at Hunter. His lips are flat, and I can see indecision in his eyes. Dad's right. One of his hunting buddies works for the police department. William would have called Dad as soon as the call came in. If that had happened, my parents would have been here last night.

"It's being taken care of. That's all you need to know," Hunter responds, his voice firm.

"How?" Dad asks anyway.

"Let's just say Jimmy is no longer a threat and leave it at that. And Henry isn't an issue either."

"Hunter—"

"With all due respect, Jacob, I'm going to insist you leave it alone. The only thing you need to know is that Cat is safe and no one will ever touch her again."

Dad seems poised to argue, but his mouth snaps shut and he jerks his chin up. "That's all I can ask for." He pauses. "But I'm still going to make a request. Make it slow," he adds.

Everyone in the room knows what he's saying.

"It will be my pleasure." A shiver runs down my spine at Hunter's dark response.

"And painful."

Shocked, my head snaps to Mom. Hunter and Dad look at her too, but either they aren't surprised or they're concealing it. Mom is one of the most gentle people I know. But right now, she looks like she could easily pluck out Jimmy's eyes and jam them down his throat without batting an eye.

Her gaze moves to me. "That bastard has hurt my baby too many times. He's taken far too much from my family, and I know he'd take more if given the chance. No matter how badly he suffers, it'll never be enough."

"Mom," I croak, leaving Hunter and walking to her. I pull her in close. "He'll never hurt me again. He'll never take anything from any of us again."

She sniffs and pulls back. "I know he won't. Because Hunter will ensure it." She looks at him over my shoulder before bringing her eyes back to me. "Justice will be served the way it's supposed to be."

I nod.

She dashes away her tears and gives me a tremulous smile. I can still see the pain and anger in her gaze, but she drops the subject and turns to Dad. "Go grab the groceries from the car, dear." She smooths her hands down her navy blue slacks and walks around the bar. "I'm making spaghetti lasagna."

* * *

After my parentshave left and Hunter and I are getting ready for bed, my phone rings. At first, I consider ignoring the call, but when I see the name on the screen, I accept it. As much as I want to fall into bed and sleep for a week, I can't leave my best friend worrying about me.

"Hey, Megs," I say, leaning back into the pillow against the headboard.

"Are you okay?"

The sound of tears in her voice makes my chest spasm. I would be just as worried and upset if I were in her position and she was the one hurt.

"I'm okay, I promise," I tell her softly, hoping she can hear the truth in my words.

She lets out a muffled sob that crackles through the speaker. "I called as soon as I heard. Peggy let me know everything. I wish you had called me. I want to be there for you."

"I was planning to call you tomorrow. I just… needed another day. Mom and Dad came by earlier with Ginger and her family and they were about all I could handle right now. I'm sorry."

"No, no." She sniffs. "I get it. When can I come see you?"

I smile. I knew she would understand, even if she wants to rush to my side. "Can you give me a couple more days?"

"Yes." Her voice drops. "But promise me that if you need anything, you'll call me."

God, I miss my best friend so much. "I promise."

Hunter emerges from the bathroom wearing only boxer briefs, his concerned eyes moving toward me. I mouth Megan's name and he nods, taking a seat on his side of the bed.

"Is this Saturday okay?" she asks, and I focus back on our conversation.

"That's perfect. And you can tell me the latest news about Wyatt."

Her laugh is strained. "There's a lot to tell. I'm actually at his place right now, but we'll talk about it this weekend."

If I weren't so tired, I'd insist she tell me right now. But what I really want is to curl up in bed with my husband wrapped around me. I've had my fill of socializing today.

"I'll call you in a couple of days," I tell Megan.

"Okay. Love you, Cat."

The sincerity in her voice brings tears to my eyes. "Love you, too."

Once my phone is on the nightstand, I'm pulled across the bed into a firm chest. Instead of staying with my back facing him, I roll over and smash my face against his chest. As if knowing exactly what I need, Hunter's arms tighten around me, securing me against him in his protective bubble.