I wince with her threat. "Uh, no. That's not funny."
"Boone drove, Rumor's in the car because I didn't want to tell you this over the phone and what do I get it for it?" She turns, headed for the door.
"Wait! Tell me what?" I jog over, catching up with her at the door.
"Do you care? Or do you plan on wasting your life away?" She stops, grimacing. "Landon's looking for you."
I hold my hands out. "I spoke to him yesterday as I was leaving my parent's house."
"This happened today." She bites her lip, hesitating. "You need to shower and brush your teeth. Definitely get some coffee."
"What's going on, Mack?"
"Harper's back." She shuffles her feet. "She's in the hospital at South Strand. They're keeping her overnight for observations, she has a guard. She's in awful shape."
"I can't breathe." My chest tightens, constricting all air flowing in or out of my lungs. The room spins out of control and my knees go weak. I bend over, gasping for air.
"Ridge, I need you to sit down." Mack hooks my arm, trying to help me over to a chair.
I point to the floor. "Here." She releases me, and I drop, sticking my head between my knees, breathing as slowly as I can.
"I'm sorry." She sits beside me in a chair. "He said she was in trouble from the day she met him but would never leave. They're afraid he'll find her; there's little doubt he'll try kill her if he finds her."
The room spins and with every turn, my ears fill with her screams. My body vibrates with a thunderous sound, coming from deep within me. A roar. No, a wail.
My fist meets the floor beside me, pounding with every beat of my heart. The echo of my cries bounces from wall to wall. My gut rolls and pitches as the words from that day rattle around in my head.
"Everything we've been through I thought would save her." I fist my hair. "Leaving her was the only way to keep her safe and I've even failed her at that."
"Wait a second," Mack tugs on my arm. "what in the hell are you talking about?"
I shake my head, refusing to admit my greatest mistake. "I can't. All of this time and it was all for nothing. Her loving me and me loving her, and him doing whatever it took to make sure I would never have her."
"For the love of that's holy, tell me what you're talking about. Now, Ridge!" Mack yells at me, holding her belly as she does. I have to calm down, for all of us.
I struggle to breathe; my chest is so tight. "I'm okay." I grip her hand. "I gotta have a minute."
"I'm here, I'll always be here." She grips my hands, telling me as she has all of our lives how much she loves me. My best friend and she does not understand what I'm hiding.
I raise my head, staring her in the face. "I have to see her. I need to tell her everything."
"I feel as though I've heard this before?" She taps her chin. "Oh, yeah! I've been telling you to talk to her."
A sound at the door draws our attention. "Hey, guys. Baby Girl needs the bathroom."
"Momma too." Mack reaches for Boone as he sets Rumor down.
"Be careful, you're still half asleep." Boone takes Mack's hand, pulling her up. "Hey there, gorgeous."
She pats his chest and flips around. "Thank ya, Baby Daddy. Gotta pee."
"You alright, man?" Boone holds his hand out for me, I take it. Boone and I haven't always seen eye to eye about our girls here, but he's a good man.
I roll the tension out of my shoulders as I stand. "I need to see her. I don't have a clue how to tell her all I have to say."
"Just do it, isn't that what you told me?" He shoves his hands in his pockets. "I've been gone for a long time, had it not been for you, I would've ever faced my demons. I know Kenzie sees it the same way."
"He's always been great about dispensing the advice but don't hold your breath on him taking it." She adds, joining us again.
"I know guys." I run my hands through my hair, destroyed and frustrated. "I have to go see her."
There's a tug on my arm, followed by a sleepy little mumble. "Hey, Unc." Rumor's hair is all over her head. She wraps her arms around me, and I press her to my side.
"You need to prepare yourself, Landon said she's looks pretty rough." Mack leans into Boone's side.
My stomach falls, a wave of nausea washes over me. "You say she has a guard?"
"They're hoping to find her a safe place with security, so he won't find her." Mack's brows knit. Her concern written on her face, mine is churning in my gut.
"I'm gonna jump in the shower, maybe grab some coffee for the guard." I rub the deep ache in the center of my chest.
Mack reaches for me, pulling me in for a hug. "Let me know if I can help."
"I will." I fist bump Boone and hug my girls. "Love you, Boo Baby."
"Love you, Unc." Rumor kisses me sweetly on the cheek.
Mack releases her lip she's been chewing on. "If you need to talk, call us."
"I promise, I will."
She presses her finger to her nose. "And umm, brush your teeth."
"Yes, Mom." I hold the door open as Boone walks out with Rumor. "You want me to stay behind you, offer some counterweight or something."
She purses her lips. "What? Like you and your hoard of crusty crabs gonna help me out."
"C'mere, I'll share with you." I hold my arms open.
"Love you." She says as she starts down the stairs.
I watch until they pull out of the back-parking lot before I head inside to shower. And brush my teeth. This isn't how I imagined seeing her again, but honestly, I never imagined I would see her at all.
A five-minute shower and a quick brush of my teeth, I'm in my car and on the highway. I swing by the coffee shop, grabbing a couple of to-go cups. At least I have an excuse for stopping by, instead of looking like a teenage crush.
I park near the front; luckily there happens to be a parking lot close to empty at one in the morning. I take the cup carrier and head into the hospital entrance. "For the love of..." I come to a full halt in front of the elevators. "I don't know what room she's in."
I pull out my cell phone, I send a quick text to the one person I know will answer me at this time of night.
Ridge: What room?
Landon: She's not going to be happy.
Ridge: Neither am I.
Landon: 432 CCU
Landon: Easier to keep her safe.
Ridge: I got her.
Landon: She's not good.
Ridge: No, she's more.
Ridge: Always has been.
Landon: Be prepared. She might not want to see you.
Ridge: I'm okay with that.
I shove my phone in my pocket and call the elevator. When the doors open, I step in and hit the number four. The doors close, and although I know it's coming, I'm jarred from the jerk of the takeoff.