I’ve been pacing the walkway in front of Declan’s office along with Dieter, my Papa, and Theo Rossi for hours. The destruction left behind from the bloodbath that transpired earlier is quietly being cleaned up as best as it can be by Rowan’s crews. Flynn and Sully are huddled together, sitting on the ground with their backs against the wall. Both look traumatized and haunted. I can’t focus on that right now, because my partner has my baby sister on a makeshift operating table right now trying to save her life.
Four doctors that are on the Byrne’s payroll walked into the room a while ago. Time means nothing anymore. If you told me she was rushed in there forty seconds ago, I’d believe you. If you told me she was rushed in there forty years ago, I’d also believe you. There is nothing but this hollow feelingin my chest. I want so badly for Declan to come out of there and tell me both girls are alright, but I know better than that. My soul knows what my brain won’t yet accept.
Papa has gone back and forth between pacing with Dieter and me and holding Mama as they prepare for the worst news of their lives. Lee is curled up in Mac’s lap in the living room. She cried herself to sleep with her head buried in the crook of his neck not long ago. Fuck, they’re getting married in three weeks. How are we about to do this now?
Pushing down all my emotions, I only allow my eyes to sting with tears, but they won’t dare betray me and fall. Not yet. I could be wrong. Dieter and I haven’t spoken a word to each other, but I can see it in his face, he also knows. Big brothers justknow. She’s our baby sister, and it just feels different now. We aren’t the four of us anymore. I know with every part of who I am that she’s gone without anyone having to tell me.
My anger is barely contained as I go back to the moment that I realized she was in the house. Dieter and I ran for the door, but by the time we were at the second story landing, she and Zach were on the ground. Sully was rushing down the stairs with Elle, and Flynn was gathering Annie in his arms on the first floor while wailing like a wounded animal. He sounded like a man who just lost everything, and unfortunately I think he’s about to find out just that.
Two of the doctors exit the room without a word to me, my brother, Elle’s Dad, or the twins and walk upstairs. We wordlessly follow them. As soon as we crest the top of the stairs, we disperse and make our way over to our own families. Dieter and I are surrounded by our family. The twins are surrounded by their brothers and friends, and Theo is standing off to himself. The looks on their faces tell meeverything I need to know.
Where the hell is Declan? I need him.
“I know this is such a delicate matter, especially with both families here. Dr. West and I are fine splitting the families up to update if you’d be more comfortable that way.” They look around at all of us, but everyone shakes their head no.
“Both girls are my sisters. You’re going to have to tell us about both.” Lee responds with a tremor in her voice.
Both doctors nod, but it’s the one who’s standing closest to us who begins talking. He’s probably in his mid forties if I had to guess. His salt and pepper hair is cut short, and his beard kept closely cut. His black rimmed glasses cover hazel eyes. I’m not sure why I’m noting his looks in a moment like this, aside from that’s just what my brain decides to hone in on while I listen to the words he’s saying.
“Anneliese suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The bullet pierced through her liver and her small bowels, and in the end we were unable to repair the damage. I’m so sorry, Fischer family, but we were unable to save her.”
My ears ring as what they said sinks in, followed by the loud, anguishing screams of absolute devastation from my parents and sister. I hear the doctor tell Theo that Elle’s in critical but stable condition and that he can see her soon. As they turn to walk away, my hand shoots out to grasp the doctor’s arm, stopping him in his tracks.
“Where’s my partner? Where’s Declan?” The panic in my voice rises as the words slip past my lips.
“Follow me.”
Without a word I follow him back to Declan’s office, only realizing once we’re in front of the door that Flynn has followed me. “He’s in there. He said he won’t leave her byherself. That it’s his job as her future brother-in-law to stay with her.”
Tears openly pour down my cheeks. I couldn’t love him any more if I tried to. Even after death, he’s caring for the people he loves. I take a moment to steel my spine and wrap my mind around what I’m about to see. I watch Flynn watching me closely. I hadn’t even realized he followed me down here.
“Maybe you should stay out here, Flynn. Once you see whatever is beyond that door, you can’t unsee it.”
“I have to, Jake. I have to see her.” Making the decision right then to take care of Flynn the same way Dec is Annie right now, I shake my head and wrap my arms around him. He fights my hold for a few seconds before he sags into my arms and grips the back of my shirt as he wails. I’m fully holding him up as he falls apart.
My soul is shredded, and I have no idea how I’m going to keep going without my little treasure. Annie was our little baby. She was so sunshiny and bubbly. The past year she appeared different, and I think I know now that Calvin was the cause of the change. I should have seen it, should have killed him, and gotten her away from him, but I didn’t know. Natasha kept me so wrapped up in the fighting shit that I had no idea my sister was being hurt by this piece of shit.
I watch Rowan walk up behind Flynn and nod at me before pullinghisbaby brother into his arms. Envy and jealousy slam into me as I realize that he gets to hold his youngest sibling, and I never will again. It’s not Flynn’s fault at all. Hell, it’s no one’s fault, and I’d pay all the money in the world to know what she was thinking.
“Come on Flynn, let’s go upstairs. I’ve got you.” Rowan uses the voice that I’ve only ever heard him use on his children ashe guides Flynn back to his family.
I stand with my hand hovering just above the doorknob. I can’t make myself open it, though. My stomach turns at just the thought of having to walk in and see what I know is true. Instead I walk into Declan’s room, strip out of my clothes, and climb into his bed. My back faces the door, which is something I’d never let happen normally. Right now though, I know the door is locked and I need to fall apart as the reality of my situation sinks deep into my bones.
* * *
Sometime later Declan wakes me by climbing into bed and pulling me until I’m half laying on him. The tears from my eyes fall onto his bare chest. My head hurts from crying myself to sleep. My eyes feel like sandpaper, and my entire body aches with the extreme exhaustion that comes with experiencing one of the most traumatic things that you can witness.
“I am so sorry, baby. I tried to save her. I swear Jakob, I tried.” His fingers gently scratch my head in comfort.
My voice feels scratchy from the crying and disuse when I ask the one question that’s been pressing to the front of my mind every time I think about it.
“Who shot her?” Dieter and I were running through the tunnels and trying to find her, so I have no idea who did this to her.
“You aren’t going to like my answer, Chaos.” He whispers into the silence. “I don’t know. It all happened so quickly. By the time I knew what was happening, everything was over.”
His arms wrap tightly around me, hugging me to him.
“It’s not your fault, Beast.” I gently kiss his chest.
