Carter is not affected by my words. “I’m too good looking for the Middle East, and you know it.” He’s joking.
“You spelled ‘I’m a pussy’ very wrong, Carter,” Rage replies.
“I’m a pussy magnet, yes.”
“Enough with the playboy act!” I snap, getting closer to Carter. “How could you leave him alone in that god-forsaken place?” He doesn’t respond, so I push, “You know he could die out there!”
Carter remains silent.
I don’t stop. I need him to react.
“What kind of cousin are you?” He doesn’t even look at me.Coward.
I can’t take it anymore. I get close enough and punch him in his face. His lack of defense triggers me even more.
“You don’t deserve the love Bruno has for you!” I keep saying hurtful things to him but all he does is massage his face, ignoring my words completely. I close my fist, and my bones crack. I’m preparing myself to hit him again, and this time I plan on doing it with all my strength, but Rage loops his huge arm around my waist, bringing my body against him, containing me. I take advantage of the second he lets me go, and launch at Carter once more, but the big biker stops me, and this time he doesn’t take any chances.
“Kiddo, I think he gets your point,” he whispers in my ear.
Carter spits some blood. I’ve busted his lip, and he uses a sleeve to wipe off the rest of the blood. Then he stares at me, and all I can see is understanding. He gets my rage.
“Do you think I don’t want to help him?” His voice is full of sadness. “Do you think I don’t want to rescue Dante from wherever shithole he’s in?”
“Then what the fuck are you doing here?”
“What do you think I’m doing?” He spits more blood to the ground, and his next words are fuel to the fire I feel inside. “I’m babysitting you, goddamn it!”
Time stops.
This argument has reached its end or at least an impasse, and the silence consumes us. I can only feel my rapid breathing and my even faster heartbeats. The sound is in my ears, pulsing on my neck and hands. The only thing moving around us is the wind.
“But why? I can take care of myself!” I yell from the top of my lungs. I know I am fucked up, but I’m too much of an asshole to just admit it.
“I’m not doing this for you, Sarah, I’m doing this for him.” He sounds sincere, and his words hurt, but he is telling the truth. Bruno is the one connecting us, after all. “He asked me to keep an eye on you, to make sure you wouldn’t do anything reckless, stupid or both, but as you can see, here we are!”
I’m speechless again.
God, I’m so stupid.
“Why is this surprising you? I have been telling you the same thing since the beginning. You. Are. Very. Stupid.”Fuck you, Life.
“If you have been taking care of me all this time, then you know I’ve been living in hell. You know I’ve been desperately looking for him! I could be helping him right now. You know I can!”
“And that’s exactly what I’m doing. I am helping Bruno by following his orders.” Carter is using his loyalty as a shield, and it’s working.
“Well, you can tell Bruno I don’t want any more babysitting from you or anyone else. I can take care of myself now. I’m pretty sure you already told him so, but this time tell him I am the one sending the message.”
Carter looks at me for a few seconds, then adds, “He wentradio silentso I can’t reach him, and even if I could, I wouldn’t. I won’t distract him with anything that could cost him his life!”
Carter is right, but I’ll be damned before I admit it to him.
I’m slowly calming down, and Rage is aware of the change in my demeanor. So, he starts to loosen his grip, sure that I won’t try to hurt Carter again.
“Pretty boy, I’m going to take her home now,” Rage announces. “Nothing’s going to happen to her, I’ll make sure of it. I am giving you my word.”
Carter stares at him in disbelief but nods. He gets on his bike, and before the engine starts, I tell him what’s on my mind. “Carter…” He turns to look at me. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, I understand, Snow White.” He puts on his helmet and drives away.
