This whole time Ben felt so alone, but these people did care about him. They are his family. He risked leaving them to protect me. It makes me feel worse to know that it’s my fault. I never should’ve dragged him into this.
“Hey,” I say softly, and they both glance up at me.
“You were gone so long,” Wes says. “What’s the news?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Oh god.” Joan gasps and covers her mouth.
“No. Wait. I mean, I’m sorry I didn’t come to tell you sooner. He is alive, barely, but alive.” I quickly try to correct myself.
This woman who I barely know jumps to her feet and wraps her arms around me. She grips onto me tightly, crying into my shoulder.
Wes nods his head, but his eyes dart to the hallway. When he stands, he touches Joan’s back gently.
“Hey Joan. I need a minute with Prue, okay?”
She nods, still crying, but seeming more at ease as she sits back down. Wes places his hand on my arm, guiding me away from her.
He tucks us against the opposite wall, as I notice two police officers headed our way.
“They are going to want to talk to you. I’m not sure exactly what they will ask, but I can assume it will involve Charles and probably your relationship with Ben.
“What do I say?”
“The truth, but you know, maybe not the whole truth,” Wes says softly. “I know you probably aren’t happy with Ben right now, and lying isn’t smart, but maybe just leave out unnecessary details.”
“Should I say Charles, did it?”
“I don’t know if you need to. I’m sure they have all the evidence they need.”
“What evidence?”
“You really don’t listen, do you?” He laughs.
“What evidence, Wes?” I push back.
“Before kidnap… taking you to San Francisco, he had his apartment fitted with hidden cameras. You know, just in case someone decided to break in and steal his guitars or something. And just maybe, they are very well hidden,” Wes says quietly. “And maybe they caught the whole thing, and the police are collecting the data as we speak.”
“He planned to get caught.”
“He planned to make sure it didn’t fail. If the blood was on his hands, yeah, it wouldn’t be good for him, but if something happened to him, they’d be able to pin it on Charles.”
“Ben is insane.”
“Insane and alive.”
“Until I kill him.”
“Yeah?” Wes laughs. “And when do you plan on doing that?”
“Oh. I plan on making it take a lifetime.”
THIRTY-EIGHT
Everything hurts.That’s the only thing I can feel as my eyes blink open and close. That, and the lights burn.
I must be in hell, because I’m pretty sure something sharp is up my cock. Each inhale feels like being stabbed, and each exhale feels like being choked. This is pure agony. The only rational conclusion is to assume I died and went to hell.
