Blake motioned to a backpack strapped to the back of the wheelchair. Between the way Blake’s eyes were glazed over and his demeanor, I knew he wasn’t right in the head. Which made him even more dangerous. I glanced at Declan and he nodded subtly. He’d noticed the same things I had.
“Go where?” Sam asked.
“Wherever you want, Sam,” Blake said. “I’ve got lots of money now. You don’t have to worry anymore. I can take care of you and Ryan, too.”
I could hear the helplessness in Sam’s voice as he said, “I don’t understand, Blake.”
Blake grew even more frustrated and waved his hand impatiently. Sam and Elliot gasped at the same time. “We can finally be together!” he declared.
“Dad,” Elliot cut in before Sam could say anything else. “It’s like you wanted,” he said softly. “Blake feels the same way as you. Isn’t that right, Blake?” he asked the younger man. “You love my dad, right? You took that money so you and he could finally be together, after all these years.”
Blake nodded eagerly. He turned his adoring eyes to Sam. “I wanted to tell you so many times,” he whispered.
Sam had finally caught on. “I know, but it was never the right time.”
“No,” Blake agreed. “I… I killed those men, but I don’t know who else knows. So we have to go.”
“Okay, but can you come to my room with me and help me pack? I’m not sure what I need to bring.”
“No, I have to take care of them,” he said as he waved his gun at the rest of us. His gun landed on Declan, but when his finger went for the trigger, Sam stepped between the two men.
“Dad,” Elliot cried out, but Sam managed to ignore him.
“They’re not going to tell anyone, Blake,” the older man said patiently. “They want this for us.”
Blake shook his head. “No, I’m in trouble.”
“No, you’re not,” I cut in. “Everyone here knows why you did it. To protect Sam. To take care of Sam. You can’t get in trouble for hurting someone to protect someone.”
Blake looked at me in confusion as if he was really considering my words. He suddenly raised his hand that was holding the gun and hit his temple with it. “No!” he snapped. I saw the emotion leave his eyes the second his gaze settled on Elliot. “You did this! You told them about me!” And just like that, Blake dropped his arm and aimed at Elliot with a suddenly steady hand.
“No!” I screamed as I lunged for Blake, but I knew I was too far away to reach him. The gun went off and then, almost instantly, hefired again. But the recoil from the first shot caused his aim to go wide and I managed to throw all my weight against Sam, knocking him to the ground before the second bullet could hit him. Pain seared across my bicep, but I ignored it and staggered to my feet. Blake was already pulling the trigger again, the gun aimed square at Ryan, when a pair of hands appeared behind the man. Just as Sam screamed his son’s name, my brother’s hands wrapped around Blake’s throat and in one swift move, he twisted Blake’s neck until there was a sickening, cracking sound. Blake’s body crumpled to the floor, the gun falling to the ground next to him. Sam scrambled to his feet and rushed to Ryan, who was making what I could only describe as screaming sounds. The boy’s arms were flailing in front of his face as his father gathered him in his arms.
I frantically climbed to my feet and turned to check on Elliot. My heart nearly stopped at the sight of the two motionless bodies in the corner of the living room. “Elliot!” I screamed as I stumbled across the room. Declan’s body was lying on top of Elliot’s and there was blood pouring from a wound on his upper back.
I was just reaching for Declan when I saw Elliot move. “Help me get him up, Cruz,” Elliot croaked as he tried to maneuver Declan’s body.
The relief at hearing Elliot’s voice was palpable, but I couldn’t dwell on it. I eased my arms under Declan’s shoulders and helped Elliot lift him. More blood poured from the wound. “Let’s lay him on his side,” I said. Elliot worked to free his legs from beneath Declan’s body, then he was kneeling next to the fallen man. His eyes searched out his dad and brother and I heard him let out a rush of air when he saw they were unharmed.
Matias appeared at my side a moment later and helped hold Declan in place while I pressed my hand against the bullet wound. “Feel for a pulse,” I told Matias. To Elliot I said, “Are you hurt?”
He shook his head. “No, he… just him. Fuck, Cruz, he took the bullet for me,” he whispered. His hands were shaking as he said to my brother, “Do you have a phone?”
Matias quickly handed his phone over before saying to me, “He’s got a pulse. There’s a wound on his head – looks like he mighthave caught the edge of that end table as he was going down. Could explain why he’s out.”
Elliot’s voice was panicked as he spoke into the phone. “Um, yes, we need help. There’s been a shooting at my house. There’s a police officer here. He got shot. His name is Declan Barretti.” He choked back a sob and said, “Can you get someone here right away to help him? Please?” I wanted so badly to comfort Elliot and to assure him Declan would be all right, but I couldn’t risk taking my hands off Declan’s wound. The blood seemed to be slowing, and shortly after Elliot hung up the phone, Declan moaned.
“I’ll call Ronan,” Matias said as he took his phone back.
“Declan, can you hear me?” Elliot asked as he used his sleeve to wipe at some blood that was trickling down Declan’s forehead from the cut along his temple.
“Elliot!” Sam called and then he was at our sides, Ryan in his arms. The boy was flailing in his father’s hold, but he wasn’t crying anymore, so I suspected it was just part of the disorder that caused his limbs to move uncontrollably.
“I’m okay, Dad,” Elliot said as his father embraced him.
Sam was completely panic-stricken as his eyes raked over his oldest son, then his youngest. It was only then that he managed to take a breath.
“Cruz,” I heard Declan say.
