Page 50 (1/1)

"Brody, no No, I’m so sorry God, when did this happen?" I asked when he’d been quiet a few roaned "Olivia sent me to the store, she said she just wanted so icy, so I was being careful We were stopped at a red light, and the guy--­the guy behindelse for a minute as more cries filled the phone "It pushed us out into the intersection and we got hit hard I couldn’t stop the car fro--­I swear to God I tried! I tried so damn hard! It just wouldn’t stop, I couldn’t stop us We hit ato avoid us swerved into us I don’t re after that until I woke up in an ambulance, and Tate--­he was--­fuck! This isn’t real, Steele! Tellreal! Tell me he’s still alive"

"I’ else out I couldn’t believe this was happening to him, I didn’t knohat to say to help hi That this couldn’t be real But the pain in his voiceyou couldn’t fake that

I listened to him break down harder than he had the entire conversation, and tears filled my own eyes when he continued to screaht so hard to be able to see, asn’t even a year old, as taken way too soon

My chest ached forhi that could possibly happen to hi decision That I’d been quick to act on the first insecurity that popped up--­all because of souy’s experience--­and had possibly ruined everything I needed Reagan and Parker They were o," Saco said one, St--­" he broke off with a cry "I can’t get hio"

"Brody, what can I do? I’ll get on the first flight to Oregon, I swear But what can I do?"

"Just don’t let yours go Prorabbed a shirt and threw it on overfor et Hudson, and we’ll be out there as soon as we can, all right? I’ll call you when I know details"

"He can’t be gone," he whispered

Knowing there was nothing I could say, and that he needed someone now, I kept him on the phone as I left for Hudson’s apartment, and continued to listen to him cry until he told me his brother had just shown up and ended the call Hudson hated ht now, but I knew I’d fked up and was prepared to do anything towith an, or Saco I needed to see her just as ht, all that was going through my head was the definition of the warrior ethos from The Soldier’s Creed "I will never quit," is followed immediately by, "I will never leave a fallen coht now, Saco was struggling We needed to be there for hi, I keptand ran up the stairs to his apart on the door ie the flying fist too late and stumbled back as my hand went to rowled, and the look on his face was clear He wanted to murder me

"I know you’re pissed, I know I’ll talk to you about that, but right noe need to buy tickets and get to Oregon"

He hadn’t been expecting that, and his anger faded to confusion as his head jerked back "Oregon? What--­why?"

"Saco didn’t call you?"

Hudson stepped back and let me in, and I ran over to the kitchen table where his laptop was open and sat down Godda hurt

"I talked to hi? I don’t want you in here, and I sure as shit don’t want you on my damn laptop You ruined my little sister"

I slammed my hand down on the table and stood back up "I know that, Hudson I Fucking Know I ht now Saco needs us He got in a wreck this ht now"

"Shit," he whispered, and pressed his fists onto the table, dropping his head "You’re lying, right?"

"I wish I was"

Straightening, he ran his hands over his face, and stood there staring at nothing for a few ht out of here, do you want onna pack and call Erica, she’s at work right now" He’d turned to head to his rooer pointed at et , and there was no point in responding to hi about itand this wasn’t the time