“She’s not—she’s mine.”
“Come on, Tex—what do you really want? There’s plenty of pussy out there. Why Allora?”
“Because you promised her to me!” His voice is hoarse, and he’s sweating, the look in his eyes wild and unhinged.
“I gave my blessing for you to take your shot. And you blew it.”
“Why’d you let her go away to college? It would’ve been okay if you hadn’t let her go.”
Silver sighs. “That was my mistake but it’s been ten years, son. It’s time to let go.”
“No. I bought us a house in Europe. We’re gonna be happy. She’s already learning to listen to me.” He abruptly lets me go and then presses the damn button.
But even though it hurts like a bitch, I don’t react. My body jerks and I pull in a shaky breath but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of crying or making a sound.
“Fucking scream!” He yells, pressing the button again.
There’s movement behind us and then someone is flying through the air.
Rage.
He lands on Pete and they go down hard. Vito makes a run for it but Dad shoots him in the leg. There’s a bit of a scuffle but then Rage pulls back his fist and hits Pete so hard I can see his jaw dislocate.
And I truly could not give a flying fuck.
“Don’t kill him!” I yell to my father. “If anyone does that, it’s going to be me.”
Dad looks at me, surprise flickering behind his eyes, but then he nods and calls to Thunder. “Put him in the van and get out of here. You know where to take him. And someone find a blanket!”
Before anyone can move Rage pulls off his T-shirt. “Here you go, sweetheart.”
“Thank you.” I pull it over my head and it falls past my knees, he’s that much bigger than I am. “There are two other victims in the van. Please help them.”
“Don’t worry.”
Suddenly everything starts to spin.
“Elliott…I don’t feel so good.”
“I’ve got you.” He scoops me up, calling to my dad. “You have bolt cutters with you? We need to cut this thing off her neck.”
Dad yells to someone but the world is still spinning. Suddenly I feel the bile rise in my throat and I turn my head in time to heave. Thankfully, not all over Elliott.
“It’s okay,” he whispers. “Let it all out. We’re going to get you to a hospital.”
I vomit twice more, and somewhere in the distance I hear sirens.
“Allora!” I hear a familiar voice.
Courtney.
“Put her in the back with Landon.”
Landon.
Tears fill my eyes.
My poor, sweet Landon.
