Page 51 of The Fear (The Hillers of Barratt County #7)

Grady was probably going to be feeling this one for a while. He tried to roll toward his back, but Jessica was on his knees. Screaming. Sobbing that all she wanted was her kids. That she wanted to love them and take care of them.

But they had never bothered to love her in return.

The little girl was crying. She sounded like George’s girls when they were scared. The sound was going right through him. She was just a baby—she didn’t deserve this. Not at all. He tried to turn again—to look for that little girl and for Hala.

Just to make sure they were both okay.

Grady tried to pull in a breath. It didn’t happen. It just hurt too much. He didn’t care—all that mattered was that Hala and those kids were okay. He looked down. Saw the hilt. He turned his head, to see her. “Ha?—”

Then…Luis was there. Grady just looked at his friend. “When?—”

“Stopped by on my way to see if Hala needed a hand with boxes. Saw your sister in the parking lot and heard the screaming. I figured I’d be all heroic and save you. Do not move, Grady. Just don’t.” Luis leaned over him. “You need to stay still, no matter what.”

Luis was doing something with a roll of paper towels. Almost looked like he knew what he was doing or something. Which…he probably did. Luis had worked as a paramedic while getting his teaching degree, over a decade ago. Good old Luie did tend to come in handy sometimes.

“Hal—”

“Don’t try to talk. She’s going to be okay. I promise. You got the worst of it. Going to need to go to the ER, I think. I’ll probably try to steal your girl while you’re in there, though. Maybe. I may give you a pass on that. The whole old friend thing.”

Grady just nodded. “Glad…to…see…you…this…time. Tell…her…I…love…”

“Yeah, yeah. Time for all the gushy romance later.”