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Asa finished talking to another officer and walked over. “They’ll release him, but they’ll probably want him to come to the department for an interview with the detective. He said he has a lot of information on the Howards he’s willing to share.”

Thea swallowed hard. Would the things Gage knew be enough to put them all away, or would it just make things worse?

“I heard Cain was arrested a few years ago on multiple charges. I can’t believe he’s walking the streets now,” Brett said.

Asa scoffed. “That one can worm his way out of anything. I’m hoping we can get Gage and Emerson attorneys so they can help us. Tommy is pretty clean on this one, and Cain at least had some involvement with the wreck, but Max and Bruce racked up a list today for sure.”

“It’s better than nothing,” Brett said.

The police officers escorted Gage to a police car, and Hadley cried on her sister’s shoulder near the open garage door.

“Is he going to be okay?” Thea asked Asa.

“He’ll be fine. I’ll keep you updated about him.”

Thea jostled on the gurney as they loaded her into the back of the ambulance. Brett and Matt stepped inside, and within minutes, they were on their way to the hospital.

Matt started an IV and kept checking Thea’s vitals. Brett had a tight hold on her hand, and she drew strength from him.

“I take it there isn’t a truce?” she asked.

Brett looked down at their linked hands. “We’ll get through this. I promise, I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

“But when will it end?”

“It ends with us,” Brett promised. “We’ll overcome this. Let’s wait to see what the charges are going to be.”

Thea blinked back tears. “Okay.”

He was right. She was worrying before knowing all the details. Maybe Gage and Emerson could come up with enough to lock up the men in her family.

No, they weren’t her family anymore.

Brett was her family–the family she’d chosen–along with Hadley, Linc, and every other person who had shown up for her lately.

The ride to the hospital was long and painful, but Brett talked enough to distract her. He took a few phone calls, letting their friends know how things were going.

By the time she’d braved the many tests and was wheeled back into a room, the sun was setting outside the high hospital window.

Brett stood from the chair when the nurse brought her in. “How’d she do?”

“Passed the test,” the young nurse said.

“What’s the verdict?” Brett asked.

“I don’t know. We’ll see when the doctor comes by,” Thea said.

The nurse locked the bed in place and clicked on the computer for a few minutes before promising to be back shortly.

Brett was at her side, clasping her hand in his just as she reached for him. “Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. What about you? The side of your face is swelling.”

Brett winked. “You should see the other guy.”

Thea sucked in a quick breath as the urge to laugh stung in her chest.

Brett squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry. Do you need to rest?”