Otis.

I bolted out of the Jeep and ran toward him, not bothering to turn off the car or shut the door behind me. When I skidded to a stop next to the dark human-shaped lump on the ground, Otis was still on the phone with 911, giving them the situation.

I snatched the flashlight out of Otis’s hand and flashed it over the man’s face. It was smeared with blood, but there was no doubt it was Ari’s dad.

Thank fuck.

I dropped to my knees at his side. “Mr. Sampson. This is Rhett Hennessy. I’m here to get you help. Okay, sir?”

He tried to roll to his side, but groaned instead.

“Mr. Sampson. Stay with me. We’re getting help. Can you hear me?”

His glasses were smashed and both eyes were swelling shut. Otis hadn’t exaggerated in the slightest. If anything, he’d understated the situation.

Jesus Christ.

I checked for immediate life-threatening injuries, my first-responder training coming back quickly. One of his legs was bent funny. Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Heath?” His voice shook, but the fact that he was talking was a good sign in my book.

“No, sir. Rhett. We had lunch together yesterday.”

“You broke my window with a baseball.”

“Yes, sir. That was me. I’m really sorry about that. Can you tell where else you’re hurt?”

“My ribs hurt. They kicked me. Fucking assholes.” He pushed on the ground like he was trying to get up, but his leg buckled.

“Hold still a second, sir. We need to get you looked at before you try to move.”

“Something ain’t right. Think I’m gonna be sick.”

I reached out and laid a hand over his, not wanting to squeeze in case his fingers were jacked up. “Ambulance is on the way. We’ll get you to a hospital so they can check you out.”

I expected him to protest, but he just grunted. Shit, they must have worked him over real good for him not to argue about that. The man I knew was stubborn to a fault, just like his son and daughter.

Otis held the phone away from his ear. “They’re coming. They want me to stay on the line.”

“Good. Do that.”

“They made me go with them,” Mr. Sampson mumbled. My instincts told me to ask him what he meant, but his fingers curled around mine as he groaned in pain. “Wanna talk to Ariel.”

“Yes, sir. I can make that happen.”

I yanked my phone from my pocket and called Ari. “I got him. Ambulance is on the way. He wants to talk to you.”

She broke down in sobs that shredded my heart. “Oh my God. What happened? Is he okay? No, of course he’s not okay if you called an ambulance. Can I talk to him?”

“Hold on.” I extended the phone toward Mr. Sampson, flipping it to speaker. “Mr. Sampson, I have your daughter on the phone.”

“Ari? Heath’s getting pizza for dinner. You want some?”

She choked on her tears. “Yeah, Daddy. I’d love that.”

“Good girl. Missed you.”

“I love you, Dad. Missed you too.”

I took the phone off speaker as Ari’s voice cracked on the last words. “Hold it together. Where’s Carver? Get him to drive you to the ER.”

“How bad is it? Tell me the truth.”

I glanced at the broken old man on the ground beside me. “It’s pretty bad, but he’s gonna be fine.” I prayed I was telling her the truth.

She hauled in a breath. “I’m getting Carver. We’ll meet you there. Which hospital?”

I calculated the nearest one from where I was and gave her the name.

“I’m on my way. And, Rhett? Thank you.”

I hung up the phone as sirens and flashing lights pierced the night. “Mr. Sampson, help is here. We’re gonna get you all fixed up.”

29

Ariel

I rushed into the emergency room while Carver found a place to park. Police cruisers were pulled up near the ambulance bay, so I hoped Heath was already there. I’d called him as soon as I’d hung up with Rhett.

A uniformed officer that had been at the house was in the waiting room.

“Is my dad here?” I asked him. “Where is he? Can I see him?”

“Yes, ma’am. Your brother asked me to wait for you. I’ll take you back.”

“What happened?”

“I didn’t get all the details. I’m sure your brother will fill you in.”

I didn’t bother asking any more questions as we hustled back through the doors that led to the exam rooms. Rhett stood outside the third one and I ran to him, throwing myself into his arms. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” Tears spilled down my face, and he hugged me hard.

“He’s gonna be okay, Red. I promise.”

I snuffled. “I hope so.”

“No hoping. He will be. They’re running tests.”

I forced myself to let Rhett go and reached for the door handle, but he stopped me with a hand on my arm.

“He’s a little banged up, so make sure you’re ready. Don’t freak out. He’s gonna be just fine.”

“Are you coming in?”

He shook his head. “I’ll be right here. It’s getting a little crowded in there.”

The dread that had been thrumming through my veins curdled in my stomach as I took a fortifying breath and pushed open the door. When I stepped inside, I was glad Rhett had warned me. My dad’s face was swollen and bruised. Tears burned behind my eyes, and it took everything I had not to let them fall.

“Daddy?”

My brother was at his side, talking to him as the doctor attended to his hands. Both Heath and my dad looked up when I spoke.

“Ari? When did you get here?”

I didn’t know if Dad was asking whether I’d just gotten here from California or when I’d gotten to the hospital. “Just now. How are you doing?” I kept my answer generic, not wanting to confuse him further.

“I got a little banged up. I’ll be fine.” His voice sounded strong and sure, which was a good sign.

I swallowed back the tears and chose my words carefully. “You’ve looked better, but you’re still the most handsome man I know.”

He tried to smile, but the tug on his split lip stopped him.

I cringed at the flash of pain and crossed the room to get closer. I desperately wanted to ask who the hell had done this, but a warning look on Heath’s face stopped me. Instinctively, I knew that keeping the atmosphere light in the room was paramount.