“You have to. Take her and run.”
I shake my head, feeling my tears drip down my face as I lean over him. “She’s shackled to you, Capone. She’s not going anywhere without you, and I’m not going anywhere without her.”
He makes a noise, one of pure distress as he tries to pull himself out of the fog. “He drugged us. I bought us sodas from the drive-thru, left them in the car while I grabbed her. Can’t think of any other way…” He coughs, blood splattering his teeth as my brain screams at me to do something.
“Shh…none of that matters right now. Save your energy.”
“Took my gun,” he whispers, his lips taking on a bluish tint. “But there’s a knife in my boot. I can still feel it.”
I move down his body to his feet as Star begins to stir. I loosen the laces of his boot and pull the knife from its sheath. It’s some kind of hunting knife, and I wonder idly how he hasn’t cut his damn foot off with it.
“I’ve got it,” I tell him, crawling up his body as Star blinks her eyes. She looks confused as I cup her face and force a smile.
“Hey, baby. Mommy’s here. Everything’s going to be okay.”
I bite back my scream at having to use the same lie I’ve told her a thousand times before. Her eyes cloud over as she looks around fretfully. She’s looking for Jasper, because fuck knows ghosts rooted in evil are harder to shake than most.
“Tell the guys it was an honor to be a part of the Ravens,” Capone tells me, a knowing in his eyes that I refuse to accept.
“No, you can tell them yourself.”
“Tell them I’d do it again. There is no scenario, in any lifetime, where I wouldn’t put myself between a bullet and Star.”
“Please, Capone. Just hang on for a little while, okay? They’ll find us. I know they will.”
“But not in time for me.”
“Screw that, you’re not leaving us, you asshole. Hang the fuck on.”
He grins, his lips coated in blood. I lean down and kiss him gently, smoothing back his hair.
“We love you. And we need you to hold on for us, okay? I’m going to poke my head outside and see if I can figure out where we are.”
“Okay.”
I get to my feet, stopping when he chokes out my name. “Love you and the kid. Don’t tell Ambros. He’ll kick my ass.”
“You saved our daughter. I think he’ll kiss you, too.”
He chuffs out a laugh as I look at Star. “Mommy will be right back. I promise.”
She nods and curls up under Capone’s neck, her arm over his chest.
I hurry to the mouth of the cave, swiping tears from my face, but they refuse to stop. I step outside, knife in hand. I see nothing but trees. I move out a little farther, but I can’t see much of anything. When I look at the ground, I notice a set of tire tracks. Torn between following them and turning back, I hesitate before jogging back to the cave. Getting lost won’t do Capone or Star any good. I search my pockets, already knowing my phone is gone, but hoping for a hair clip or something I might be able to use on the shackles. As I step into the foot of the cave, my footsteps falter when I hear a childlike voice singing.
Hush, little baby, don’t say a word, Mama’s gonna buy you a mockingbird.
And if that mockingbird don’t sing, Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns brass, Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass.
And if that looking glass gets broken, Mama’s gonna buy you a billy goat.
I walk toward my daughter in a daze. This is the first time I’ve heard her speak, let alone sing. She’s singing the song I used to sing to her when I didn’t want her to be afraid.
My eyes drift to Capone. He has a serene smile on his face, his eyes fixed on a point on the ceiling. I cover my mouth with my hand to hide my sob as I drop down beside them.
“Come here, baby.”
