Page 9 of Loving Wild

“I’m worried. You’re strong, Lauren, but there’s only so much a person can take.”

“I’m okay. Right now, I’m angry, but I’m okay,” I tell her honestly. “I won’t lie, what Gabe has done hurts, and the other stuff . . . Jay? I’m not sure it’s all hit me yet, tomorrow could be a different story.”

“I’m worried for both of you. You’re so good together, but fuck me, babe, you must be two of the most damaged people I’ve ever met. Definitely not what I would call a match made in heaven.”

She’s right, but before I can respond, the gate alarm sounds.

Sam goes onto the deck, calling out, “It’s Zac and Coop,” as she looks over the balcony.

“They didn’t call. Does that mean they didn’t find him?” I try to hide the panic I’m feeling from my voice but taking in the frown and the way Jess is clasping her hands together, I think she’s feeling the same as me.

“Nope, they’ve got him, but he doesn’t look good,” Sam says as she rushes past us and down the stairs.

“Not good? What kind of not good?” I call out but get no answer.

Chapter 4

Lauren.

Gabe’s drunk.So drunk he can barely stand. Despite this, he shrugs off and bats away his brothers’ attempts to help him stay upright.

I remain curled into the corner of the sofa along with Jo and Jess. Sam moves into the kitchen with Zac, and Cooper stands at the top of the stairs, slightly behind Gabe, which isn’t a bad thing considering how much he’s swaying.

Eyes narrowed as he attempts to focus, he stares towards the kitchen, buries his hands deep into his jeans' front pockets, and asks, “Where’s Lauren?”

“I’m here,” I reply without moving.

He slowly turns his head in my direction. I watch as he closes one eye before smiling.

“Here she is, my Lil bird, my Lil Ren.” He starts to step forward but ends up stepping sideways. Zac’s there to catch him, handing over a bottle of water once he’s steadied him.

“Sit down and drink that,” Zac says.

Gabe holds the bottle out in front of him and inspects it.

“Water? What,nowyou wanna look after me?Nowyou wanna make sure I’m okay, keep me safe? Bit fucking late for that, hey, fam? Bit fucking late.”

My brain scrambles for something to say as my eyes slice between Zac, Cooper, and Gabe. Coop stares down at his feet. Zac shakes his head, then nods, all the while, his eyes on Gabe.

There are a few long seconds of silence before Zac steps closer and says, “How about you go sit your drunk arse down, drink your water, and shut the fuck up,” before turning and walking away.

“How about you fuck off.” Gabe’s hand comes up so quickly, I don’t even see it move when he throws the bottle as he speaks.

The bottle flies past Zac, only just missing Sam, before it hits the fridge and bounces to the floor. Zac spins around, throws a punch that hits Gabe square on the jaw, knocking him completely off his feet. He falls backwards, but luckily Cooper has remained in the perfect spot to catch him before he hits the floor.

Everyone is up, shouting, moving Zac back behind the kitchen bench, holding Gabe down so he can’t get to him.

I don’t move. I can’t, I don’t want to be a part of any more violence, not today, tomorrow, ever if I can help it, but definitelynotright now.

“You, stay the fuck round there, and you, you ungrateful fucker, need to shut your mouth,” Cooper shouts out his orders to his younger brothers.

Zac glares at Gabe, who’s now sitting on his arse, with his back against the wall at the top of the stairs. His long legs are stretched out in front of him, I watch as he casually crosses them at the ankle while swiping blood from the corner of his lip and inspecting it.

Sam rinses a tea towel under the cold tap before walking around the bench and kneels in front of him.

“That bottle nearly hit me, you fucker,” she says while pressing the cold, wet material to his lip.

“I’m sorry. That wasn’t . . . I’d never . . .” Gabe turns his head towards me and shakes it. “I didn’t . . . I would never . . .” Lost for words at what’s just unfolded all around me, I shake my head in response.