Noah reaffirms his surrender, waving the tips of his fingers that are held above his head.
“I know I’m as good as dead,” I say. “So, forgive me for not seeing the incentive to lower my weapon.”
“Unfortunately for you, I have orders to bring you back alive.” Half his mouth curves into a demented grin. The other half remains flat. He’s had this condition that paralyzes the left side of his mouth since I was a kid. “Silas cordially invites you as the guest of honor for ascension.”
I shake my head. “Silas doesn’t believe in ascension.”
“Brother, you have no idea what you’ve missed since you skipped out on us. Forget what you knew about Silas. He’s a changed man, and he’s ready to watch the world burn.” He gestures at Noah with a flick of his finger. “Turn around.”
Noah does as told—which is totally a first. Has never taken orders from anyone, but I suppose having a gun aimed at his head forces him to look at the world a little differently.
“And your boyfriend is coming along for the ride.” Pike bridges the distance between Noah and hooks his free arm around his throat. He shifts the aim of the gun to Noah’s temple. “He’s earned himself a front-seat ticket to the big show.”
I waver between telling Pike the truth and letting him believe what he wants to believe. The truth being Noah isn’t my boyfriend, although sometimes it feels like it. He’s much too closed off to let me in enough to consider me anything more than a man he fucks. And then sometimes, he kisses me, and it makes me feel more alive—and loved—than I ever have. If I make Pike believe Noah isn’t important to me, maybe he would let him go.
The only problem? If my calculation is incorrect, Pike will simply unload a bullet into the side of Noah’s skull. It’s not a risk I’m willing to take.
Noah gazes into my soul, helpless. He’s the onewho always saves me, but now I’m the one who must do the saving. My hands shake as I surrender my gun, slowly raising it above my head. Noah narrows his gaze on me, seemingly questioning my decision making.
“We’re clearly outnumbered,” I say, shifting my eyes to the open door behind Pike. “My only question is why is Silas here?”
Pike cocks his head over his shoulder, and it’s just enough time for Noah to jab him in the chest with his elbow.
Pike falters backward, grunting. He raises his gun, but it’s too late.
I pull the trigger once.
Pull it again.
He collapses to his knees, the gun slipping from his hand.
Noah kicks the gun out of the way as Pike falls onto his back, squirming on the ground with a bloody hand held over one of two bullet wounds. I bet he never thought he’d go out like this, lying in a pool of his own blood as two cock-loving men stand above him in their underwear.
“You stupid fool,” Pike coughs, ejaculating blood from the side of his mouth that can actually open. “Lucas… Peter…”
I step over him, placing a bare foot on either side of his trembling body. Aim the gun straight for his head as he lists the names of the rest of the enforcers. “I’llgive them the same warning I gave Magnus. The same warning I gave you. I’m not going back.”
There’s less resistance in the trigger this time.
Bang!
I don’t even flinch.
Noah approaches, inserting himself between the bodies and myself. He places a firm hand on each side of my face. “I could kiss you.”
“Please don’t,” I beg. “You have blood all over your face.”
“Pack your shit.” He swipes his jeans off the floor and hurries into them. “We’re leaving.”
He rushes into the bathroom, turns on the faucet, and furiously begins rinsing the blood off his face. He leaves me along with the two bodies. Two hollow shells where souls used to lie. Magnus always said I would pay for my sins in the weight of blood, but I never understood what he meant. I get it now. The price isn’t my own blood, but rather the blood of others.
“Get dressed,” he commands, tugging a clean shirt over his head.
I give him a nod, letting him know I’ve heard him even if I’m not quite able to force myself to move yet. My mind races as I attempt to retrace my steps. We didn’t use a credit card to book the room, and as per Noah’s policy, we only ever stay where we can convince the front desk to accept a bribe in lieu of photo identification. Itdoesn’t mean we’re in the clear, but it’s a start. Ghosts are a lot harder to find than those who leave a physical footprint.
Dawn threatens to bring the sins of the night into the ever-seeing eyes of day as the sun rises ahead. It lights up half the sky in orange and pink tones, painted strokes of profound beauty that are no match for the dark clouds behind us.
What started as a road trip to end it all—Noah’s words—has become a road trip for survival. The goal is to drive, drive some more, and keep fucking driving until we find a way out of this mess.
