Dad came to check on me, refusing to leave until I convinced him I’d talk with him later. Finally, he relented and left to break the news to Jamie, Ky, and Kell, about Elise. I can only hope it won’t devastate them too severely. I’m old enough to see the repugnant person she was. Jamie might also be able to see, but the twins were close to her. So, this will hurt them. Just another way Elise’s selfishness has impacted someone.
A loop of the night plays, and I see Erik fall. Antonio shoots him and then takes Shay hostage, forcing me into the car with Elise. I watch in horror as Shay falls before I’m knocked out again. Then I’m listening to the repulsive words spewed from Elise’s mouth.
I grip Karl tighter as he continues to console me.
Me. He’s comforting me after what that bitch did to him.
“Angel,” his voice is like a balm to the turbulent storm raging inside me. “I’m okay,” he soothes.
His surety renews my tears as I remember the night I carved my initial into his chest. The way he trusted me enough to confide in, to ease his anguish and quiet the noise. A single drop can ripple through time, causing everlasting repercussions.
I don’t know how to broach this subject. My fucking mother molested and raped him when he was just a boy.
Sighing, I say, “I want to talk, but only when you’re ready to.”
His hand runs through my hair. “I will, Ry. Just not tonight. I don’t like that you know. I would do anything to have plunged the dagger into Elise’s throat so you’d never find out.”
Even now, he’s putting me before his pain.
“I’m glad it was me. I didn’t want it to be my dad or you,” I say quietly, still in shock that I’d killed someone.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks.
I play with his fingers while I stall. I’m not sure how I should answer this.
Am I ready? Do I want to talk about it? “I don’t feel anything. She was dead to me the moment I found out all she was doing and what she did to our family. But after what she did to you,” I trail off. “Every possible tie I had to her was severed.”
Karl hums his understanding. “If you ever feel otherwise, I’m always- we’re always here,” he quickly corrects.
I kiss the tips of his fingers, remembering how I said something along those lines. I jump up at the memory. “Where’s the knife I used on you that night?”
“Lola?”
Right. I almost forgot he names them. “Yes, where’s Lola?”
He unzips his vest and reaches inside, pulling the blade from some pocket.
I tug at the collar of my shirt, revealing my collarbone. “I want you to mark me,” I state confidently.
Karl’s eyes nearly pop out of his skull before he shakes his head. “No, Angel. You don’t need to-.”
I cut him off. “Yes, yes, I do. Please, O,” I plead.
His eyes close before he looks around for something in the truck. I see when he spots it, and he stands, grabbing the first aid kit.
I watch as he cleans the blade and then my skin.
“Are you sure?” he probes, peering into my eyes.
“Yes,” I reply, grabbing his hand and bringing the tip of the knife to my chest, pressing it in until it breaks skin. I hiss at the initial feel but lose myself in my thoughts as he carves an “O” in the spot that matches his, right near my heart. “Now you’re mine,” I whisper, “and you’ll never have to fight the noise alone again.”
* * *
My hand subconsciously reaches for the bandage on my chest, anchoring me as I walk into the hospital where Shay’s condition is still unknown.
Karl holds my hand as we approach Mr. and Mrs. Warren, and the rest of their family. I recognize her brother from school and a few others from the cookout. One noticeably absent presence is Brendan.
Where the fuck is he?
“Emma, sweet girl,” Mrs. Warren says, calling me to her. Her eyes are bloodshot from crying.
This is all my fucking fault.
“I’m so sorry,” I begin, and she swats at my arm, pulling me into her arms.
“Don’t chu dare apologize for the wicked ways of man. Elise was a sick woman, and she deserves everyting coming her way. I’m just glad yuh ere now,” Shay’s mom says.
I squeeze her. “Elise is dead. She won’t be hurting anyone ever again,” I inform her. Then I pull from her embrace. “Any word?”
Her face crumples, and she hangs her head. “She’s flatlined twice. Di fucka shot her in the spleen. But it’s the blood loss. It took so long for someone to find her.” Shay’s mom’s voice breaks, and her husband comes up behind her, taking her into his arms to comfort her.
“We’re waiting to hear from the doctors. They should be out soon,” Shay’s father finishes for his wife and then walks her to take a seat.
I take a seat next to Karl, and he grabs my hand. “Where are the guys?” I’ve been so out of it that I haven’t thought to ask until now.
“Once they saw you were with me and needed time, they went to the Tombs to deal with Antonio,” he replies.
“I hope they dissect him,” I growl.
Karl snorts, “You’re turning into a blood-thirsty avenging angel.”
I think over his words. I really have. “It’s deserved. People keep trying to hurt those I care about, and I can’t fucking have that.”
“Just don’t put yourself in harm’s way to get justice. I know you’d do what you did for Shay again, and I don’t blame you. I’d do it for you or any of the guys without hesitation. I’m just asking you to make sure it’s your last possible resort,” Karl begs, and I squeeze his hand.
“I promise to try as long as you do the same.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.