Redemption Hills: The Complete Collection

40. Milo

FORTY

MILO

I sped down the deserted streets of Redemption Hills, flying through the intersections and taking the turns hard, agitation driving me faster as I tried to get Tessa to the care facility as quickly as possible.

She was falling apart.

Hell, she was in shock, really.

Shaking in the passenger seat, her knee jittering a million miles a minute and her breaths coming so fast, I was sure she was a second from having a panic attack.

She’d removed her heels, and she looked like she might jump out the door, thinking she could run faster than I could drive.

I reached over the console to try to give her some comfort, knowing words meant little, but still needing her to know she wasn’t alone. “Try to take a deep breath, baby. I’m right here.”

She wrapped both her trembling hands around my wrist. “I can’t, Milo. I can’t breathe. What if…”

She trailed off on an agonized wheeze, unable to bear to say it or think it or contemplate it.

“I know, Tessa. I know, baby.”

I focused on getting her there, clinging to her hand while I blazed down the streets.

When she’d fallen to the floor, I’d taken her cell and tried to get more information, but the woman had said she couldn’t tell me anything over the phone.

I’d had Tessa in my arms and out the door in a flash, shooting a text to Trent to let him know what had happened.

My phone had buzzed back a couple times, Trent telling me to do whatever needed to be done.

The one that had come in from Eden had been completely frantic, and I’d promised that I’d send her details as soon as I had them.

Right then, I just had to get my girl there. Stand by her. Support her. Whatever she needed.

I made a sharp left into the parking lot, tires squealing as I floored it again and came to a jarring stop in one of the spaces at the front, the lot mostly vacant this time of night.

Tessa hardly waited for the SUV to come to a stop before she went flying out the door, her bare feet slapping against the cement.

I was right behind her, holding open the door so she could run inside. Except she didn’t stop at the reception desk. She took a turn and went streaking down a hallway.

A woman was behind us, shouting at her, “Ms. McDaniels!”

Tessa didn’t listen.

She just ran.

Ran with this misery radiating from her spirit.

Her soul crying out.

Her desperation so intense I could barely move in the wake of it.

I rushed to keep up as she made another turn and increased her speed.

A bunch of people were gathered outside a room, their faces grim, and Tessa was crying out before she even made it all the way there. “No! Please, no, Bobby.”

She tried to blaze past the group, but someone grabbed her, holding her back. “Ms. McDaniels, let’s talk before you go in there.”

She flailed and kicked her feet and fought to get inside. “No, let me go. I need to see him. Let me see him!”

I didn’t know whether she broke free or if he released her, but Tessa darted into the room.

I ran in behind her.

She started screaming. Screaming in agony. In this gut-wrenching grief.

She tossed herself on top of her brother who wasn’t breathing, holding onto his lifeless frame. “Bobby, no, oh my God, no.”

I moved to go to her.

Hold her up when she was falling apart.

But when I got a good look at him, I might as well have gotten impaled with a blade.

It was a face I would never forget.

I stumbled back into the wall, unable to keep standing as horror took over every cell in my body.

Agonized wails kept coming from Tessa as misery sheared through my spirit.

Blurring my sight and sending nausea curling my guts.

Vomit pooled in my mouth.

I stumbled out into the hall, and my hands were shaking so bad it was a wonder I could lift my phone to my ear when I made the call.

“Eden, need you to come here,” I grated as soon as she answered.

“I’m already in the parking lot. Trent brought me.”

“Good, Tessa needs you.”

Because I couldn’t stay.

I should have known…should have known…

No matter how hard I might try to change it. Be someone different. My past would be there to overcome. To overthrow.

Because there was no redemption for men like me.