“Let’s go back to mine. We can get your shoulder looked at and talk about it,” Kane says, tentatively stepping closer.
“Kill him, Ash. Kill that fucking pig,” Levi yells. “That was him who attacked you at Lilly’s house. Pull the trigger and end this arrogant fucker.”
“Please, Ash. Don’t hurt him.” Lilly screams. “I’m pregnant.”
Sirens sound in the distance, but they could be a million miles away as they’re drowned out by Lilly’s voice, echoing the words in my head. Words I’d longed to hear another lifetime ago. I gaze into her teary eyes, the moment bittersweet as I have everything I’ve ever wanted in one hand and the chance of losing it all in the other. I won’t let that happen again. I won’t lose anyone I love ever again. Not even her dumb fucking brother.
“You got her pregnant?” Ash shouts, but I don’t look at him. I can’t take my eyes off Lilly. “I can’t let you ruin any more of our lives. First Fern’s, then mine, and now Lil’s.”
“I’ll never give up where she’s concerned. I’ve been there for her more than you ever have.”
The gun shakes in his hand. “And whose fault is that? If you hadn’t followed me that night, I wouldn’t have got sent down.”
“You would’ve got yourself locked up, eventually. Either that or you would’ve wound up dead in a gutter somewhere.”
“Ash, it wasn’t him that followed you that night.” Lilly sniffles, her voice weak, barely audible. “It was me. I called the cops. I’m sorry.”
“Well, well, well, this is an interesting turn of events,” Levi says, his hand falling from Lilly’s throat as if he’s forgotten about holding her hostage, enjoying the show instead.
Asher inhales and exhales, gasping for air. He holds a hand over the wound on his shoulder, his t-shirt soaked in blood. With hollow eyes, void of all emotion, his gaze drops to the floor where Jodie lies, her lips grey. He’s broken, with nothing left to live for.Lilly was the only one who cared for him, and now I can imagine how betrayed he feels.
I want to go to the lad, tell him everything will be okay, even if things will never be right between us, I want to help him. If not for him, but for Lilly.
His eyes close. As if in slow motion, he turns the gun on himself, pressing the barrel under his chin.
Her scream shatters my already cracked heart. “Ash, no.” Lilly lifts her hand, spraying the pepper spray she’s been clutching in Levi’s eyes now his hand is away from her throat.
He swings for her, but Dom pounces, grabbing his wrist with a snap of a bone. Levi shouts out in agony as Dom wrestles him to the floor. The knife falls to the carpet and Dom kicks it away, restraining Levi’s arms behind his back.
Now Lilly’s free, she runs to her brother, but I wrap my arms around her, not wanting her anywhere near the gun and his unsteady hand. He’s lost a lot of blood, and he’s not thinking straight.
“Asher, please. Don’t do this. Please forgive me.” She screams and fights to be set free, but I hold her close, wanting to shield her from all of this.
“I’m tired, Lil,” he says as he pulls the trigger.
The click of the gun’s the last thing I hear, before all my thoughts drown out Kane’s shouts and Lilly’s cries. Holding Lilly, I spin us both around, shielding her eyes, pressing her head close to my chest. It’s as if the world fades away and it’s just us. I’ve failed again. Everyone will hail me a hero for saving Lil, but I know I’ve failed her and her brother. She’ll never forgive me for this. I’ll never forgive myself. I should’ve done more. Should’ve helped Ash more to get him away from this crowd. I’ve failed them all.
Just as I think all is lost, Kane says behind me, “Give me the gun now before the cops get here.”
I turn my head to Kane with his arms around Ash, holding him up, the gun hanging off his finger.
Kane takes the gun from his hand.
Ash sniffles as he locks eyes with me. “You were right. I am a useless piece of shit. I can’t even fucking kill myself properly.”
With the gun secured in Kane’s hand, I relax my hold, and let Lilly go to her brother.
Kane hands the gun to me, and I check the cylinder. With only two empty chambers, I gaze up at Kane wide-eyed. “What are the chances?” Kane shakes his head in disbelief, and we both know that someone up there is looking out for him. Maybe it’s the girl lying dead on the floor, maybe it’s his father, but he’s one lucky bastard to be alive.
Unlike the scumbag that cowers in front of me.
I make sure the next chamber’s loaded. I’m not playing Russian roulette with Levi. As much as I’d like to see him sweat, the next time this gun goes off, it’s gonna be firing a bullet between his eyes. I doubt he has an angel on his shoulder or anyone looking out for him like Ash.
Levi curses under his breath as Dom bends his arm behind his back. A sheen of sweat coats the dealers forehead. “Your days are numbered, pig. Even when I’m in the slammer, you’d better watch your back. Yours and your whore’s…” He continues talking as if he’s getting nicked.
I glance over my shoulder to check my girl’s safe. She’s tending to her brother’s shoulder with Kane holding him up.
My body lets out a sigh of relief, but my muscles tense with what I’m about to do. The gun like a lead weight in my hand, I nod my head, signalling for Dom to move aside.
