Page 107 of Distress Signal

Aria’s face was as white as the sheets she laid on.

“Please tell me you brought me other clothes,” she said, her eyes still closed. She picked at the gown. “This thing is fucking horrible, and what I was wearing is ruined.”

“Language,” Mama said automatically, though there was no heat behind it. She walked around to Aria’s side and bent to press a gentle kiss to her forehead, smoothing back her hair. “You scared me, my girl.”

“I’m sorry,” Aria whispered, a tear breaking free from her eye and tracking down her cheek.

“No,” I said firmly, going to her other side and gathering her hand in mine. “Iam the one who’s sorry.”

Aria’s eyes flew open. “Finny,” she breathed.

“Hey, Ari.”

Her brow furrowed, but she winced, eyes falling shut again. “What do you have to be sorry for?”

“I left you unprotected.”

Aria snorted weakly. “I’ve stayed in that house hundreds of times before with no issue. This isnotyour fault,” she stated with a vehemence that belied her current invalidity.

“She’s right, Finn,” Mama said. “The only person at fault here is the fucker who attacked her.”

“Mama!” Aria and I gasped in unison.

Mama’s grin was a bit feral. To me, she said, “Find whoever did this, Finny.”

“I will,” I promised.

thirty

. . .

REAGAN

The longer Isat in that waiting room, the more one thing became abundantly clear to me: I didn’t belong there.

I wasn’t part of this family.

In fact, I was the reason they currently suffered. I was the reason Aria laid in a hospital bed with her head split open.

I’d never forgive myself for that.

Panic crested higher and higher, choking off my air, blurring the edges of my vision. The walls seemed to be closing in around me, and though I tried my hardest to marshal my breathing, to calm, my heart rate still spiked.

I needed to get out of here.

And fast.

Glancing around the waiting room, I searched for the easiest escape route. Even if I got free without alerting the family, the ranch wasn’t exactly up the street. I wasmilesfrom there. Hell, we weren’t even in the same county anymore.

But…we were in Boise, which meant I had Uber at my disposal.

Mind made up, I tapped West on the shoulder. “I’m going torun to the bathroom,” I said, surprising myself when my voice came out even.

He nodded, not worried about me in the slightest. We were, after all, in a hospital.

Ididgo to the bathroom, but only to be away from prying eyes while I called for a car and got myself together.

Splashing cold water on my face, I met my own wild gaze on the mirror and spoke softly.