“Zeke, I don’t know if I can do this, man… What if I miss?” he says softly, and I know he’s hesitating, but we don’t have time for that right now. I look back at Grease, and as he quietly talks to Carter, I see him eyeing the screen as well. Hopefully he’s telling him what’s going on, so if Alexdoesfuck this up, he can get to her before Sette has the chance to shoot a revenge shot.
“Alex! Get it together! Youhaveto do this right! Do you understand? Hewillkill her!” I look back at the screen just as I hear him audibly gulp, and I give him only a second to rein it all in.
“Okay… Okay, yeah.”
I breathe in so harshly I might throw up.
“Just remember what D taught you, alright? Youcando this,” I try to encourage him like he’s about to make the winning shot at a game. His deep breaths make their way through the phone, but I’m holding mine. Sette continues to move softly, and I can’t tell if he’s just shifting or if he’s actually about to aim.
“Did you find D? Please tell me you found him…”
“I’ll tell you after you kill this mother fucker,” I bargain.
Alex takes another deep breath and then exhales very slowly, like he’s using it to steady himself. I pull the phone away, anticipating the loud ‘crack.’ It still takes me by surprise, though, and it makes me flinch. My eyes stay locked onto the screen as the scope topples over and shakes erratically. Once it finally stops moving, I can’t see the entire body, but this Sette characterlies completely motionless on the floor—now on top of a growing puddle of blood beneath him.
“Nice fucking shot! You got him!” I scream out and punch the air. I hear Grease’s subtle ‘holy fuck’ behind me, and Alex sighs audibly.
“Oh, my God… Don’t ever make me do that again,” he begs through heavy breaths, and I run my hand through my hair. He starts to retch, and I have to keep the phone at a good distance away from my ear—so I don’t do the same. As I take a look around the room, my eyes land on Victoria once again, and all of my relief skitters away. My anger and hatred resurfaces, and before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m storming over to her. “Did you find him?” I can faintly hear.
“Yeah. Yeah, I fucking found him…” I grip the top of her arm and start dragging her back to the room Damien is laying in. “Alex, we gotta call it.” I drag Victoria down the hall and once we reach the room, I shove her inside. Until Damien wakes up and tells me what the hell we should be doing with her, she’ll be treated like one ofthem.
“What? But you just said earlier—”
“Alex!” I swallow harshly and look back down to Damien. He’s muttering to himself, and his head moves from side to side in slow motions, like he’s rocking himself. I almost can’t stomach looking at him. The extent of what he’s been through only barely shows by the physical damage. It’s clear that his mind has suffered even more, and that’s going to be the hardest to heal. “Get Ashia out of that hospital and back to the house. Once you’re a safe distance away, fucking call it. We’ll meet you there.”
I hang up and slowly kneel beside Damien. His eyes are barely open now, but it’s like he’s not even there. They’re watery, and move back and forth like he’s staring at things no one else can see.
“D? Come on, man. We got to get you home.” I grab his arm and pull him to sit up. It’s much easier than it used to be, and that worries me even more. He screams as I stand him up, no doubt in pain, and my heart breaks. “Grease? Get his other side.”
He runs up and wraps Damien’s arm around his shoulders, and we drag him out. Even though we’re carrying all of his weight, and he can’t even step right, Damien tries to pull away—like he’s afraid of what we’re going to do to him. I can’t stomach it anymore. I look at his face, seeing the pain that lives there now, and I can’t help but choke up.
“It’s alright now, man. We’re getting you home to Ash, okay? She’s going to be there waiting for you.” As if my words actually reached him, his grimace in pain fades ever so slightly.
“Ashia?” he questions weakly through tears, shattering my heart even further. He looks to the rainy sky when we finally make it outside, and it’s like he’s looking to heaven for her.
“Yeah, man. Let’s take you home to your wife. Alright? Fuck, D. She’s going to be so happy to see you.” Grease and I lay him in the back seat of the car, and he sprints back to his bike. I turn to Victoria, surprised she actually followed us out and didn’t try to run away the second I got preoccupied, but that’s her own foolishness. She’s hugging herself like she’s the victim here, and it instantly pisses me off. I’m not stupid enough to fall for her act, and if she thinks for even a moment that we’re concerned about anyone other than Damien right now, she’s got another thing coming.
I pull my pistol back out and aim at her, not caring about the way she cowers and throws her hands up.
“Get in the fucking car. If D said you’re coming with us, then that’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“How do I know you won’t just kill me, asshole?” She actually has the guts to taunt me, and that only adds another spark to my fire.
“That’s the best part. You don’t.” I deride and jerk my head towards the passenger-side door, silently telling her to get in. She narrows those dark little eyes, but shockingly, she listens. The moment her ass hits the seat, I slam the door shut and sprint around to the driver’s side.
Chapter 45
Ashia
‘Don’t Let Me Go’ - RAIGN
I continue to lay in this damn bed and try to listen to the rain outside. The storm rolled in about twenty minutes ago, and even though I want to soak in the gloomy environment, Serena’s bright voice makes its way through the clouds.
“Aw! Look at this cute little outfit!” Serena turns her phone for me to see, and she’s showing me the fifth pink and blue, paisley-patterned newborn set, that of course, has a bow for her head. She’s alternating girl clothes and boy clothes, hoping that my reaction will give away the baby’s gender, but I’m not that that dumb. Daisy growls in the cutest way, and it’s almost as if she’salsosick of Ser’s shit.
I’ll give it to her, though. She’s tryingreallyhard, and all of the outfits are appropriate. My due date is early February. So, at least all of the outfits she’s picking out have long sleeves, pants, and some have had hats. All of the girl choices have some frillything that either goes in her hair or is probably going to be way too big for her head. But, of course, this is Ser. Anything remotely adorable, and she’s going to go for it.
Carter walks back in the door, and the look on his face is grim. I feel like something is going on, but of course, they’re not telling me. Alex left rather quickly earlier, but now he’s back and acting more paranoid than before. He keeps pacing by the window, and now that Carter looks like this, I’m starting to worry.
