52. Hailey

FIFTY-TWO

"Lolly, oh my God, Lolly."

Torment ripped through my insides, tearing me to shreds as I struggled to gather Lolly in my arms. Lolly who was gurgling and choking.

Frantic, I pulled her against me, her head cradled in my lap. "Lolly. It's okay. I'm right here. You're going to be okay."

The words toppled out. Pleas of desperation.

Her grayed eyes that were wide in shock softened when they focused on me, and I ran my hands through her hair. "I'm right here," I whispered again.

Strong arms circled me from behind.

Cody.

Cody who I'd thought I'd lost.

Cody who was here. Cody who had stood for us. Cody who had been willing to give everything.

Cody who wrapped me up and pulled Lolly closer to us.

Holding us in the sanctuary of his massive arms.

He peered down over my shoulder at Lolly who was bleeding in my arms, her name constantly falling from my tongue. "Lolly. Lolly."

The faintest smile pulled at the edge of her mouth, her love surrounding me, so real and alive.

"You're going to be okay," I begged her.

She clung to my hand, and she pressed the back of it to her lips, her words barely audible. "I am, Hailey. I am okay. Because this is the only thing I wanted in this life—the one thing I promised to see through—to see you free. And that's what you and Maddie are. Free."

"Lolly." It was a garbled cry, and I held her closer as her eyes drifted up to Cody who held me tight from behind.

"I knew you were strong enough." It cracked, and her mouth curled into a weak semblance of one of her playful grins. "Take care of my girl. In the bedroom and out. And don't you dare forget all the important things."

"I won't," he promised, his voice raw.

Her eyes came back to me. "Don't cry, sweetheart. I will always be on your team."

A wail burst out of me when I felt her spirit float away.

"Lolly! No, Lolly, no!" I hugged her to me, just as fiercely as Cody hugged me.

Sobs ruptured as I rocked and rocked her.

Sirens blared all around us, a disorder that passed in a garbled haze. A stampede of footsteps and frantic voices bounced off the trees as more officers and an ambulance arrived on the scene.

Somewhere in the chaos, my father was shouting, spouting more lies as he was being cuffed.

"I didn't know, Hailey. I didn't know what Pruitt was involved in. I didn't…"

Maddie's little cries lifted from where she was in the back of the SUV that was now surrounded by officers, Ezra's voice calm and soothing as he tried to assuage her fear. "You're safe, Maddie. It's over."

Two paramedics were suddenly kneeling in front of us. "Ma'am, I need you to let her go."

How could I? How could I let her go when I wanted to hang onto her forever?

Cody held her close to us for a few seconds more before he pressed his lips to the top of my head and murmured, "Let go, Hailey. She's gone. Maddie needs you. Can you stand?"

My nod was weary, but I could.

I could finally stand.

But Cody?

He could not.