Page 118 of The Retaliation You Deliver

“That sounds like a yes,” I joke. The reality is that now that I’ve spent the morning with this little family, I don’t want to be anywhere else on a Sunday morning ever again.

Climbing in behind him, Leon closes the door and jogs around to the other side.

19

Leon

Reaching over, I rest my hand on Macie’s thigh and smile.

“It’s going to be okay,” I say softly.

“I know. I just want it all over,” she whispers sadly, keeping her eyes staring out of the window.

“Me too.”

“I feel like we’ve been given this new start, but someone has hit pause before we can even begin.”

“This is our new start, baby. It’s just a little bump in the road.”

She blows out a frustrated breath. But while she’s dreading this, I can’t help the excitement that flows through my veins. Not only am I about to see the man who’s ruined my entire life on his deathbed, but I’ve got the most incredible place waiting for the two of us once we do what we need to do.

I drive us directly to the hospital Richard is at, and no sooner have I parked my car are we heading inside to find out how long we’re going to have to wait to put him and all the nightmares he’s given the pair of us over the years behind us.

“Hi,” Macie says when the nurse at the station of the ward we’ve been directed to looks up as we approach. “I’m Richard Fletcher’s niece. I was called this morning about him being here.”

“Ah, yes.” The older, kind looking woman glances down at something on her desk. “Macie, right? You’re his next of kin.”

I see a shudder run through her at the sound of those words.

“Yes,” Macie forces out.

“Okay. Let me just grab one of his nurses who can update you on his condition. If you’d like to wait just through there.” She points toward a door that has a sign saying Family Room on the front of it.

Macie nods and turns on her heels.

I take a seat on the small couch while Macie paces back and forth, her need to get out of here palpable.

“They need to hurry up.”

“Give them a break. I’m sure they’re busy.”

“I know. I just… ugh. I hate this. I don’t even want to be here,” she hisses.

Pushing up from the couch, I walk up to her and stop her movements with my hands on her shoulders.

“I know, baby. But once this is done. It’s over and we can move on with our lives. You’ll never have to see him again.”

She blows out a shaky breath, her body trembling beneath my hold.

“Come here.” I pull her into my arms and hold her tight.

“I’m so sorry,” a flustered nurse says, rushing into the room and rubbing the back of her hand across her forehead. “We’re rushed off our feet today.”

“It’s okay,” Macie says, pulling away from me.

We both sit on the couch and listen to the nurse basically explain that the only thing keeping Richard alive right now is the ventilator he’s hooked up to.

Macie’s hand trembles in mine as she listens to the news and her eyes fill with tears that I’m sure the nurse believes are through sadness at her impending loss. I, however, know differently.