Chapter 59

59

The hospital was right there. FCGH.

Heather just stared for a moment. Then she saw a man there, in a business suit. Standing outside the doors to the ER.

A very tall man. Six five or six six. Strong and tall. Muscled.

All the men in Finley Creek just seemed so tall. So unbelievably tall. She'd noticed that before. Hope kept saying she was going to test the Finley Creek water to see what made the men grow so strong and beautiful in Finley Creek.

Her sister could be so funny sometimes. She really wanted to see Hope. To make sure Hope was okay too.

This man was tall. Tall, like Gunnar. Beautiful like Gunnar too. But it wasn't Gunnar right there. But he could get what she had to Gunnar. She knew that.

Heather just walked right toward him. And just kept walking.

Then she stopped. Waited.

Until he stopped pacing and just stared at her.

She waited. Right in front of him. Not even blinking.

Beautiful blue eyes widened. And he stared at her. He was very beautiful. But he always looked like a politician, in the navy suit, and red tie, with his chocolate brown hair so perfectly perfect. He was always so politician-pretty and preppy-perfect.

His hair wasn't so perfect now, though. It stuck up everywhere.

And his beautiful blue eyes were red-rimmed.

Of course. She understood why. He'd been worried and afraid.

Heather wet her lips, wincing from the sting. As she looked at him. "Is Powell okay?"

"How…how did you get here?"

"I got away from them. I climbed out a window two stories up, and then I climbed down a tree, while they were setting the building on fire. And then I ran. I run really fast, you know. It's a Coleson thing. I got away. I got away, and then I hid, and when they left, I walked here. Is Powell here? Is she okay? I really need to know if Powell is okay right now. Please."

"She's okay. She's inside. Resting. Gunnar is with her," Powell's brother said.

Not their neighbor.

The other one.

The really annoying one. The one who had made her so angry before.

"Everyone has been out looking for you for hours now," he said.

She was vaguely aware of her new best friend introducing himself, saying he had found her walking along Barratt Road. Saying that he couldn't let her walk by herself as hurt as she obviously was.

Barratt. Heather wasn't lost to the irony of that.

And she just kept staring at him. Waiting.

She couldn't think what to do next right now.

She'd just let him decide.

He was probably good at making decisions for people—even when they didn't want it. He was the type.

"Heather, what happened? Talk to me, baby," Powell's oldest brother said. The prettiest one. "Tell me what happened so I can help now."

He was just so irritatingly pretty. He always looked so pretty that it irritated her. Each and every time.

Heather just couldn't really remember his first name right now.

"I killed a man, Barratt. Maybe…maybe even…killed two men. One wasn't moving when I got away. He is probably dead. The other man is definitely dead. I had…a box cutter. It was really sharp. It was…one of the really big ones too. Industrial. I cut my hand on it too. I had…a pipe…too. I did what I had to do. I had to do it. I did. And then I climbed out a window while his friends were setting the building on fire. And then I got away."

"Where…where were you? Where did those bastards take you, baby? Where are they now?"

"Luc's warehouse. Another one. Older than the first. They took me to Luc's warehouses southeast of town after Powell got away. I could see the signs. There is one of your sister's billboards right by the entrance. I thought that was ironic. They were going to kill me there, in spite of their boss having told them not to, they were so angry she got away. And they were burning the evidence. Leaving me there for him to find. But Luc wouldn't care about me. Not me—I'm just his…half aunt, not his sister. He doesn't even care about Cashie or Crispin, and they are his sisters. But…I got away. I told them I was walking out of there, and they weren't. And I did." The next part felt more important than anything. "They didn't. They didn't walk out of there. But I did, Barratt, but I did. I am so damned tired of being disposable. "

Her fingers hurt. Everything hurt.

She didn't like the way he was staring at her. Not at all. Heather looked down at her bleeding hand.

She still held the hard drive. He was a man with power. Lots of power. Everyone knew that. He was a Barratt, after all. Every damned street in her neighborhood was named after Barratts , even. She held it out. "This…you are a man with power, I think. Far more power than I will ever have. I know that we Colesons…we don't matter here in Finley Creek. We're just cannon fodder. Disposable to people like the chief and the governor, and…Butthead McKellen. But Barratts matter here. You probably can do more with this than I ever can, I think."

He took it. Put it in his jacket pocket. Even though there was blood on it. But he could just buy another jacket. He had that kind of money.

"What is it?"

"I don't know. I just know…the man…with a scar…took it from the office. Before…he tried…to touch me. He was going to do whatever he wanted to me, and then he was going to kill me when he was done. He told me that too. But he's the one that is dead now. Not me. When he was dead, I took it out of his pocket instead." Heather tried to pull in a deep breath, but couldn't. She hurt so much. "I knew it was important to them. He said the boss would kill him if he lost it , so I took it. Because it's important to them. And then I got away."

She just looked at him and kept talking. "He was the one who hit your sister too. You probably want to make them pay for that. So I think you will give that to the right people. For taking her, scaring her, hurting her. She was so afraid. I hated that Powell was so afraid, and I couldn't fix it for her. Being that afraid, with your baby inside you, it…you never forget that feeling, Barratt. You just never can forget the fear that your baby will die inside you while a man is hurting you. I can't. I can't forget how that feels. I didn't want Powell to be that afraid forever too."

"I do want them to pay. And for you too. Come inside, baby. Let me get you inside. The TSP is waiting. And your family. They are all waiting for you, looking for you."

"My family wouldn't…be with yours. They just wouldn't. We aren't like your side. We aren't on the same side, Barratt. We know that. We're not. We're not a real part of your world at all. Not people like you. We're…the secrets people like you want to hide. The ones…people like you use. That's all."

"Baby, there are no sides. Let me just get you inside. You can get help there."

Heather nodded. But when he reached for her, she stepped back. She just wasn't ready. "I don't want to go inside there yet. I don't want to see the TSP right now. Not until I can…think. My head hurts. Where that one man hit me that first time." Her hand went to her head. It hurt so much. And her shoulder. Her arm. Her chest where that one Powell had seen in Wyoming had kicked her so hard.

"How…how many times did he hit you?" he asked after he cleared his throat a little.

"I didn't count. He was hitting me and choking me. Just like Steve did all those times he would break into my apartment. I moved so many times, Barratt. But Steve always found me. I really want to forget that right now, but I can't. But…I forgot your name. I'm sorry. I should probably remember your name. But my head really hurts. I—should probably give that drive to Gunnar, though. I think I can trust him. He wouldn't do anything to hurt Powell, I don't think. He loves her. He really does. And she loves him too. I just don't think she realizes that yet. Or…maybe Murdoch…but he's on McKellen's side, really, I think. Not our family's. Murdoch is on the governor's side. Because of his new wife. I should remember that. I don't really have anyone on my side, you know. Not here. Just Miguel. Just my family. Not on my family's side either. I hate this city. I wish we had never come here."

Heather closed her eyes and tried to think. But she couldn't. "I hate it here, and I hate the TSP so much it makes me vomit every single day before I have to go in there. Every time I even look at Daniel McKellen and the chief, I feel so sick now. I have nightmares about the TSP every damned night now. But I can't quit. I just can't."

"Why can't you quit, baby?"

His hand was cupping her face so lightly. He smelled so good. Better than those bastards from before. He felt warm. She was so cold right now. She tilted her head into his hand. She really needed warm right now.

"Tell me. The doctors are coming. They are coming now to get you. To take care of you. I will keep you safe until you are with your family again, I swear."

"I can't quit. I can't. Without my badge, I have no power at all. I am nobody without it. They told me that years ago. Stillman and his friends. The first time Steve hit me. Trying to make me lose my Frankie. Steve said…he said he would get rid of that little problem. And I was so afraid he was killing my baby that day. If I lose my badge, then I can't keep my family safe. My babies. All I ever wanted was to keep us all safe. But I can't do that here. I just can't."

"I'll help you be safe again, Heather. I promise I will. No matter what I have to do."

"Why should you even care, though? You aren't like us . You aren't. You are just like that cocky asshole Luc and that manipulative bastard Daniel McKellen and the governor and the chief. Powerful men who don't live in the real world. Men who enjoy using others so you can get what you want. No matter who gets hurt. That's hard to miss, you know. Most of us are just…so powerless. I'm so tired. When do the nightmares end, Barratt? Do people like you and Luc have nightmares, too, or are you too damned powerful to even have those?"

"It's okay; you'll be okay now. You'll be okay, Heather. I'll make sure of it." His hands were on her waist now.

Because he was all that was holding her up right now.

"But why should I believe you?" It had to be because of Powell. That was all. "Why would you even care about me? You're paid to care about Luc. And he hates us. I know how it works. I know."

There was someone next to him now.

Someone smaller. A woman. Hazel eyes and glasses. Heather knew her. But it took her a moment to place her. "Nikkie Jean. You are Nikkie Jean, I think. One of my…nephews' wives. But I can't remember which one you are married to right now. I'm sorry. My head hurts from where they hit me."

"Heather, thank God. We have been so worried," her nephew's wife said. She almost sounded like she meant it.

"Worried about Powell, I know. She's really okay? I was so worried for her. I tried…to give her lots of time to get away before I did what I had to do. I knew she was afraid and she didn't want to leave me there, but I made her go. I knew…I knew they'd come after me and not her, if they thought we were both escaping. They hated me because of what happened to Steve. I knew they'd want me more. So…I made sure they heard me and not her. So they would come after me instead."

Powell's brother flinched. He pulled his hand back. There was blood on his hand. Her blood. The red was such a brilliant color.

He had probably been terrified. Just like she had been when Bonnie had been missing. When Hope had been.

He loved his little sister so much.

It might be one of his few redeeming qualities.

"Tell her…tell her…she doesn't have to be afraid of that man with the scar anymore, okay? She was so afraid of him. And what he kept saying he would do to her later. But he can't do that now. Because I killed him. He's dead now." She looked into Nikkie Jean's hazel eyes. "I killed him. He kicked me in the chest. While I was fighting him. But I killed him. Because I had the pipe too. They didn't know they'd put us in the closet with that pipe. And I hit him, after I cut him with the box cutter too. The man with the scar. I killed him, Nikkie Jean. When he tried to touch me that last time, after Powell got away and he was so angry. He won't hurt anyone else any more, though. Barratt, you should tell Luc that they were using his warehouses. Tell Gunnar, it's…but they are burning the evidence now! And all of the OPJ. It'll be a chemical fire soon. That can be extra dangerous for the responders. Someone should call it in, really. Warn them."

"I'll do that," Nikkie Jean said, waving toward the doors for some reason. "We'll take care of everything now. Heather…we need to get you inside now. We are going inside now. Together. You just focus on what I'm saying, okay? I'm going to take you inside, and then get Bonnie for you. She's just up the road, at the TSP right now. I am going to have Izzie call her. I'll get Bonnie here, fifteen minutes tops."

A sharp pain went through her breast. It reminded her. "I didn't leave enough milk for my baby girl in the freezer, Nikkie Jean. Ember…she is going to be so hungry. She needs me. I need to go home to my baby. I need to get to her. I should have gone home to her and my Frankie first, but the hospital was so much closer. And I was hoping Joy or Bonnie…the others…my nieces…someone would be here. The hospital wasn't as close as the TSP but I didn't want to go there. I just…couldn't. I should go home first, right? To my baby. So she has enough milk while I am gone. Except…he kicked me so hard in the chest, and it hurts."

"We'll make sure the baby gets enough milk. I promise. We have donated breastmilk here. I'll give some to Bonnie if this takes too long, okay? It's clean and safe, and I'll make sure Bonnie gets enough for Ember. As much as your baby needs, I'll make sure she has it. I promise. Let's get you inside so you can go home to Ember and Frankie sooner, okay?"

Heather nodded. Nikkie Jean understood, at least. "Thank you. I just can't remember if we have any breastmilk left in the freezer for my baby."

"She's been talking like this since she walked right up to me three minutes ago," Powell's brother said. Heather still couldn't remember his name. "She walked at least a mile like this. Right past the damned TSP and no one even saw her. And her eyes…"

What was wrong with her eyes? Heather just looked at him. From those very eyes he was talking about. There was nothing wrong with her eyes, except…one really hurt. Where they'd hit her before. Maybe that was what he meant? She just watched him. Waited. Blinked. And waited.

"She's in shock right now, Mac. And the…trauma…," Nikkie Jean said.

Mac. That was his name. He was Mac. Hope had called him Hottie Mackie McBarratt.

"Heather, we're going to get you inside now. Rafe is coming, and Caine. We'll get you inside and taken care of. You'll be safe now."

Well, now that just didn't make any sense. Why should she care that Denita's sons were coming? They weren't her family. They had all made that very clear. She hadn't said more than two words to those men in the months since Eastman, even at that stupid barbecue. She'd said more to Quade than she had the nephews who lived in the same state she did. She liked Quade far more too.

She just looked at her nephew's wife. "Why? You are not on my side. None of you are. They definitely aren't. Denita's other children. And definitely not him, Luc. That man would toss us all aside in a heartbeat to get what he wants. Stand there and watch us drown if it serves his purpose. Just like Denita would. We know that. We have always known that. Since…Eastman. After what Eastman did. Please don't lie to me. Truth…is really important, you know."

"Well, I am on your side right now. I promise. I don't believe we should be on different sides of anything, so I am not going to be," Nikkie Jean said. Her hand was on Heather now too. They both were touching her. Nikkie Jean and Powell's brother. The prettiest one. "We'll deal with all of that later. Let's just take care of your headache first, okay?"

Then someone else was there. Two someones. Big someones.

Male someones.

Heather jerked away. Turned around to face the threat. "No…I don't want them to touch me. I don't. Please. "

Her nephews stood there. She was boxed in. Heather couldn't get away. She just couldn't. "I want my sisters now. Please. I just want my sisters, not them . I just want my mom. Bonnie. I want Bonnie right now. Please."

Heather's knees just buckled. And she went down, as she screamed. To the concrete. Then…someone was touching her, from behind. But she couldn't fight, couldn't get away.

He was…holding her up now.

Slipping an arm beneath her knees. Saying she would be okay.

That he would make sure of it. Forever.

He wasn't hurting her. He was promising he would keep her safe. Forever. Of course, she didn't believe him, but at least it sounded nice.

Then…the world was shifting.

She rested her head on his shoulder. Just for a moment. He was so warm, and she wasn't. "My head hurts so much…Mac. You are Powell's brother Mac. I remember now."

"Yes, I'm Mac. Okay, baby. I'll get you inside." That was Powell's brother Mac talking. The one who made jokes. Not Alex, who was grumpy a lot, and lived right next door. "I'll get you there, Heather. I promise."

"Thank you. I appreciate it." Heather heard Nikkie Jean telling someone to get a female-only team ready. What team? Nothing made sense. Nothing.

Someone's arms held her.

But her eyes were closed. She couldn't tell who it was. She thought it was Mac. It smelled like him, she thought.

But…she had walked there herself. She had.

Didn't that mean she'd won this time, just a little bit?