Hailey's Truth

by Cate Beauman

  A relentless wave of bullets poured into the water as he focused on the knots holding the tanks in place. He struggled to pull Hailey’s tank loose as she clung to his waist, fighting to keep herself from floating to the surface. He’d forgotten her weight belt. Without success, Austin fiddled until finally the knot slipped free.

  Hailey shouldered the tank and waited, still clutching at him. Glancing at her, he met her eyes as they darted left and right in terror. The tight mask against her swollen face had to be excruciating. He moved his hand up and down slowly, signaling for her to try to regulate her breathing. She nodded and closed her eyes.

  Austin looked at his watch. Seven minutes. They were out of time. He attempted to loosen the second tank, but the knot wouldn’t budge. They would have to leave it. Austin gave Hailey the signal they practiced weeks before, alerting her to the need to buddy breathe. He took his last breath from Hunter’s tank before he grabbed Hailey’s hand, pulling her deeper into the darkening depths, bringing them to thirty feet, well out of bullet range.

  His lungs screamed for air. He motioned for Hailey to give him a turn. He sucked oxygen in, blew it out, sucked it in, blew it out, in again before he handed the regulator back.

  They continued the tedious process of sharing air as they swam further east, further into the dark, until Austin had no choice but to use a small dive light. The pace was slow, painfully so. With each kick, he began to ascend—twenty-five feet, twenty, fifteen, keeping them steady, letting their bodies release nitrogen as they made progress toward Ethan and Jackson. Everything would move fast when they surfaced. The last thing Hailey needed was decompression sickness.

  He checked the gauge on their air supply. They were running lower than he liked. Hailey was breathing too fast. Her fear of what swam in the dark was eating up their oxygen. He had no way to reassure her as they continued forward.

  Two minutes later, he rechecked his compass and their air gauge. With an eighth-of-a-mile to go, they had no choice but to surface. Hopefully Ethan and Jackson were watching for them. Austin tugged on Hailey’s hand to start their ascent.

  Within thirty seconds they surfaced. Austin flashed his dive light in the direction Ethan and Jackson should’ve been waiting. He sighed with relief at the rumble of a motor, the acceleration of a boat in the distant east. “It’s almost over, Hailey. Hang on.”

  “I’m trying. I’m so tired.”

  “I know.”

  Austin held the light up again like a beacon. He glanced behind him at the yacht, listening as powerboats charged toward the launch. Donte was going to escape, and the guards were going to come after them.”

  Jackson cut the engine and let the boat glide up next to them.

  “Here, take her. Get her out of the water.”

  Jackson and Ethan leaned over the side, grabbed Hailey’s hands, tugged her into the boat.

  Ethan and Jackson leaned over again, clutched him under the armpits and pulled. “Son of a bitch, Casey. You’re fucking heavy.”

  As soon as Austin’s ass touched the boat, he scrambled up, breath heaving, grabbing the pair of binoculars by the steering wheel. Donte and his father were running down the last flight of stairs to the launch. The bombs wouldn’t ignite for another sixty seconds. By then, it would be too late. They would be gone and Hailey would always be looking over her shoulder. “My dive bag. Where’s my dive bag?”

  Ethan unclipped the small pack from the tanks next to Hailey, handed it up.

  Austin yanked at the zipper and pulled the detonator free. “Hunter and Tucker?”

  “They’re good. They’re safe.” Jackson said as he sent the boat flying.

  Hailey stood, clutching the seat at her side. “Austin, what is that? What are you doing?” She pulled on his arm. “Austin, what—“

  “What I have to.” Without regret, Austin pushed the safety up with his thumb, and pressed the button. The light glowed green seconds before the massive explosion lit up the sky. Orange flames plumed up as huge chunks of yacht rained into the water.

  “No!” Hailey screamed as she rushed to the back of the boat. “No! Jeremy! Jeremy!”

  Austin hurried after her as she wailed in agony, collapsing to the seat. He pulled her rigid body against his in a hard hug until she struggled away. “You did this!” She shoved and clawed. “You killed him! You killed my brother!” she spewed on wild, primitive screams before Ethan came back, took her around the shoulders, sat her in his lap in the captain’s seat.

  Austin listened to Hailey wail against Ethan’s shoulder, heard Ethan’s soothing murmurs as he stared at the flaming remains of the Zulas, wishing he felt sorry for ending them.

  Chapter 26

  HAILEY STRUGGLED UP THE STAIRS of the large private jet. Her trembling legs weighed a ton. It felt as if she walked through mud, making each hurried step agony. Sheer will pushed her forward, fearful that Austin would make good on his threat to carry her.

  She didn’t need to be carried; she just needed to rest, to lie down and close her eyes. Surely she would wake up from this nightmare and be back in her bed. Her clothes would be dry instead of cold and dripping with seawater. Her face and arm wouldn’t throb with each beat of her heart.

  She stepped into the luxurious cabin and glanced at Collin, Hunter, and Tucker, registering their surprised looks, then at the girls she’d shamefully forgotten about over the last half hour.

  “Hailey. Oh, Hailey. You are safe.” Angelica rushed up from her seat and grabbed her in a hug. “I was so afraid for you.”

  Two older women stood, hurrying forward, crying as they engulfed her. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

  It took all Hailey had to return their grateful embraces. Now that she was safe and on her way home, fatigue ruled, threatening to pull her under right where she stood. Her mind and body simply couldn’t take anymore. “I have to sit down.” She staggered to a leather seat.

  Hunter hurried forward as Austin stepped on the plane, engaging the door after Ethan and Jackson entered. “My God, you look like hell.” Hunter pressed his fingers to her pulse. “Hailey, are you okay?”

  “I don’t know. I’m so tired.” Her eyelids grew heavy, so heavy she couldn’t force them open.

  “Of course you are. Let’s get you strapped in so we can go.” He wrapped the straps around her hips and secured the buckle.

  The voices of Austin, Ethan, and Jackson floated through the fog.

  “Everyone take your seats. Buckle in,” Collin said as the whirl of the engine filled the cabin. “They’ll ground flights before long. The island’ll shut down until they figure out what the hell happened on the water.”

  Urgency rang sharp in the passengers’ whispered murmurs. Tension suffocated the cabin, yet Hailey couldn’t make herself open her eyes.

  “Tower, this is flight 244 requesting permission to take off.”

  Proceed. Cross runway one-niner.

  “Roger that.” The jet accelerated, traveling the long runway, the engines screaming, ready for take-off. “Flight 244 is ready,” Collin said.

  Go ahead, flight 244.

  The plane jolted, hurtled forward, gaining speed.

  Flight 244, this is the tower. Throttle back. I repeat, throttle back. All flights are grounded.

  “Negative, Tower, I’m at flight speed and running out of runway.”

  Silence filled the space.

  Proceed, flight 244.

  The plane tilted, lifting off the ground. A cheer went up through the cabin. Hailey fought her eyes open and stared into the green of Austin’s.

  “Go to sleep, Hailey,” he whispered, brushing a finger over her cheek. “We’ll get you changed and cleaned up when we reach altitude. Sarah packed you some clothes.”

  She wanted to reach out to him, to say something, to feel something, but sh
e couldn’t. Her lids fluttered as the tunnel of exhaustion reached up to grab her and took her under.

  Hailey opened her tired eyes to everything familiar, to everything home, as Ethan’s Rover sped along the 405 toward the Palisades. Somehow she’d lost hours. The last thing she remembered was staring into Austin’s eyes as the jet soared into the sky.

  She glanced at her clothes, surprised that her sopping tank top and jean shorts had been replaced with a baggy t-shirt and loose gray sweat shorts. And her wounds were bandaged.

  Austin’s deep voice carried from the front as he spoke to Ethan quietly. She stared at his handsome profile and was staggered by a wave of love.

  Still talking, Austin peered over his shoulder, stopping mid-sentence as he held her gaze.

  His green eyes captivated her as they always did, but it was different now. Everything was different now.

  She stared at the scruff of beard covering his chin, the tension clenching his jaw, the purple bags of exhaustion marring his skin. Austin had risked everything to protect her, to save her—but he had killed her brother.

  Somewhere deep, below the flutters of anger and well of misery, she knew he did it for her, but the myriad of mixed feelings were too much to handle.

  Her stomach twisted and her heart pounded as she trembled in her seat. Tears rumbled below the surface, like a volcano ready to blow, but they wouldn’t come. She wanted the relief, the cleansing they would bring, but the painful emotions were stuck under layers of repression, a skill she’d honed too well. In defense, she looked away. It hurt too much to think, to feel.

  With the last of her will, she tightened her chinks of armor and focused on the rising sun, watching the fiery reds silhouette the mountains and skyscrapers of Los Angeles.

  Resting her head on the corner of the seat, her eyes grew heavy again as Ethan merged onto I-10. In utter defeat, Hailey turned herself off.

  Minutes later, she sprang awake as the car rolled to a stop. The sprawling wood and glass of Sarah and Ethan’s home spread out before her. The cedar edge of Kylee and Emma’s swing set peaked around the side of the house. Here was comfort and love; here was everything she never thought she would see again.

  Morgan and Sarah ran from the house, racing to her side of the car. Sarah yanked her door open. “Oh, honey, look at you. Look at you,” Sarah repeated as she crushed Hailey in a hug and held on.

  “Let’s get her inside,” Morgan cooed, her eyes swamped with sympathy. “Can you walk?”

  “Yes, I can walk.” Hailey swung her leg out of the vehicle and quickly realized her limbs still felt like two-ton weights.

  Sarah supported her on one side, Morgan on the other, ignoring Ethan and Austin as they started toward the house. Hailey breathed in Morgan’s dark, flirty scent, the meadow flowers of Sarah, and felt the first tear fall.

  “You need a warm bath, something light to eat, then you’re off to bed,” Sarah soothed.

  Hailey nodded; her throat was too tight.

  “It’s okay, sweetie. You’re going to be all right.” Morgan gave her a reassuring smile that didn’t dim the worry in her eyes.

  “I’m calling my dad after we get you settled. We’ll have him come give you a once over.” Sarah opened the front door. Bear and Reece shimmied with excitement as their tails whipped back and forth wildly.

  “My boys.” Hailey leaned forward and pressed her face in soft fur. “I’m home.”

  Kylee hurried down the hall, blonde hair tangled, cheeks flushed, eyes sleepy. “Hailey!” She stopped short, staring, gasping. “Uh oh, you have a very bad boo-boo. I will kiss you and make you all better.” She extended her arms to be picked up.

  “Oh, not right now, honey,” Sarah said, starting forward.

  “It’s okay.” Hailey scooped Kylee up, her muscles protesting as she held Kylee tight, breathing in baby shampoo. “It’s okay,” she repeated.

  Kylee’s little mouth feathered against her tender skin. Reece’s tail smacked at her leg with each enthusiastic wag. Her armor crumble. Hailey pressed her good cheek to Kylee’s as she struggled with her rapid intake of breath, her quick, shuddering exhale. “Oh God.”

  Ethan walked over and plucked Kylee from her arms. “Hey, big girl. Come have breakfast with me.”

  “Hailey’s crying,” Kylee’s voice vibrated with concern.

  “She’ll be all right.” He kissed her cheek. “So, are we having Cheerios or should we try to make pancakes?”

  “Pancakes,” Kylee’s enthusiastic shout carried down the hall as she and Ethan disappeared around the corner.

  Everything here was so normal. Everything was exactly as it had been when she left, but still, nothing was the same. Nothing about her life was the same. Hailey took two steps and fell apart. The stunning weight of grief sent her to her tender knees as her body racked with tearing sobs.

  Sarah crouched next to her and ran a gentle hand over her back. “Oh, sweetie, let’s get you upstairs.”

  “I…” She wanted to, but she couldn’t find the strength to stand.

  “Enough of this.” Austin bent down, picked her up, and cradled her close.

  If she hadn’t been at her breaking point, she wouldn’t have clung to him, she assured herself; she wouldn’t have rested her head in the crook of his neck and found comfort.

  Morgan hurried up the stairs ahead of Austin. “I’m going to draw your bath.” She dashed down the long hall.

  Sarah followed behind, hesitating when Emma’s fitful wails started in the nursery. “Let me get Emma. I’ll be right there.”

  Hailey and Austin continued down the hall alone. When they reached her bedroom door, he stopped. “Hailey, I’m so sorry. When you’re feeling—“

  Morgan stepped from the bathroom. “Oh good. Why don’t you bring Hailey in here and I’ll get her settled.”

  Austin nodded as he walked through the bedroom, into her bathroom.

  Hailey breathed deep. Her bathroom smelled of her favorite peach bubble bath. Soothing violin bath music filled the room. Seafoam green candles were lit around the tub. A soft, plush towel was folded close by, waiting for her. “Thank you,” she whispered to Morgan as a fresh wave of tears came.

  “Oh, honey, you’re welcome. Come on, let’s get you in the tub. You can soak your troubles away and tell Auntie Morgan all about it.”

  Hailey let out a watery chuckle. She’d missed this. She’d missed Morgan and Sarah so much.

  “Austin, you can set Hailey down. Sarah and I will take good care of her.” Morgan rubbed Austin’s shoulder.

  Hailey felt his hesitation before he set her on her feet. “If you… I want to…”

  “Look who came to say good morning.” Sarah came in holding Emma.

  Hailey stared into big blue eyes, brushed her fingers through soft black hair. Emma was a perfect blend of her mother and father. “Oh, look how much she’s grown. I can’t wait to get my hands on you.”

  “Bath first,” Morgan insisted.

  Sarah followed Morgan’s command with a firm nod. “Emma needs her breakfast first anyway.”

  Austin jammed his hands in his pockets.

  Sarah turned to him. “Honey, why don’t you go down and get yourself something to eat. I think Ethan and Kylee managed to make pancakes without burning them. The fire alarm hasn’t gone off like it did last week.” She took his hand and gave him a small smile. “We’ll take good care of her.”

  “Hailey, I…” He shook his head, turned, and left.

  Hailey stared after him, heartbroken. She sighed and looked at Morgan and Sarah. “It’s such a mess,” she said shakily. “Everything’s such a mess.”

  “We’ll have to help you clean it up,” Morgan said. “Now shirt and shorts off. Get into that water before it gets too cold.”

  Hailey did
as she was told. She pulled her shorts off, then her panties. Her shirt went next, followed by her bra. She stood in front of her friends naked. Both Sarah and Morgan sucked in a breath as they stared.

  “Those monsters,” Sarah said with heated exasperation.

  Monsters. That’s exactly what they were. That’s exactly what Jeremy had been.

  “In you go.” Morgan took Hailey’s arm gently, leading her to the tub, peeling off the tape and gauze covering her wounds.

  Hailey stepped into the warm bathwater, eased her weary body down, wincing as she felt the sharp sting in her knees and palms. She sunk to her chin and sighed as her muscles instantly relaxed. “Oh, this is heaven.”

  “Of course it is. We’ll fix you an omelet, toast, and a fruit salad after this. You’ll feel like a whole new woman.”

  She gave Morgan a small smile. Would she ever feel the same again? Rocky emotions sank and bubbled to the surface so fast she couldn’t keep up.

  Emma began to fuss. Sarah pulled over a chair, put Emma to her breast, and the baby instantly quieted.

  For the first time since Hailey arrived, she studied her friends. Sarah played with Emma’s fingers, smiling, as she stared down at her daughter. Morgan’s breasts were fuller, her tummy rounded slightly on her compact bombshell body. Her face positively glowed with impending motherhood.

  Hailey looked away, shamed that her friends’ happiness brought her a stab of pain. Not even a week before, she’d believed she would have everything Morgan and Sarah did. Somewhere down the road, she and Austin would’ve ended up in exactly the same place. She’d wanted to be his, had wanted so desperately to carry his child—their child. Now, that would never be.