Page 126 of Wrecked
“Thanks,” Addison said. “Same.”
As Addison scrubbed the paint off her face, she rinsed away the tears, but the levee had been opened and more slid down her cheeks. She dried her face, pulled the scrunchies from her braided hair. She looked like she’d been up for a full twenty-four hours, but she didn’t care. She felt gutted. First, Ronald Jenning, now Barry.
On her way out, she saw Hawk in Cooper’s office. She kept going, then stopped and retraced her steps. In Cooper’s doorway, she knocked.
He waved her in.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” she said. “It wasn’t Hawk’s fault, no matter what he tells you.”
“I know that,” Cooper replied. “How are you doing?”
Addison shrugged, then sighed.
“She got hit in the chest,” Hawk said.
“You want to see the team doc?” Cooper asked.
“I’m fine,” Addison replied. “Just broken over Barry.”
“If you need to talk, I’m here,” Cooper said. “If you need to speak to a professional—”
“I have Liv,” Addison said, cutting him off. “But thank you.” Then, she pinned her gaze on Hawk. “Thanks for having my back.”
“Thanks for having mine, babe,” Hawk replied.
“You both shouldered almost the entire mission,” Cooper said. “That’s a lot for two people.”
“And one of usstillgot killed,” Hawk bit out.
When Cooper dismissed her, she locked eyes with Hawk one more time before leaving.
It was after nine Sunday morning.
She felt numb as she drove home. She wasn’t hungry, wasn’t thirsty. Despite what they’d accomplished, the mission felt like a monumental failure. She parked out front, went inside her house.
She dropped her handbag on the sofa, then walked around her home, staring at nothing. She stood at the front window. She sat at the piano, but couldn’t play. She thought about calling her dad, but decided against it. What could he do? Yes, he wielded a lot of power, but even he couldn’t bring Barry back.
An hour passed.
Her chest hurt from the bullet, but her heart ached for their loss and for the grief that Barry’s family would endure.
She thought about painting, but that wouldn’t bring her any relief. She wanted to be with Hawk. Maybe he’d come over, sit with her for a little while. They would find a way to manage through this, together.
She fished her phone from her bag as it started ringing from a blocked caller.
She wanted to answer, “Hey, Daddy,” but she would never be that foolish.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Addison, it’s Sin. Close your blinds in your front room.”
“What?”
“Do it now.”
She closed her front blinds. “What’s going on?”
“I need you to pack clothes for a few days. Include disguises with wigs and glasses. You have those, right?”
