Chapter 199
“Do you remember him begging you like this p>
Tears slip down her face now p>
“I…I p>
“Did you listen?” I cut in.
My head tilts slightly.
“No no you didn’t”
My voice hardens.
“You didn’t give a fuck p>
“You killed him,” I continue.
“And you made me watch you made me fucking watch p>
My jaw tightens.
“You don’t deserve any mercy I have to give at all p>
I stand slowly even though my body aches and every part of me feels it but I ignore it and I turn slightly.
Lucas is already watching me but he doesn’t say anything…just hands me the gun like he knows that’s exactly what I wanted d.
I take i the gun it feels heavy in my hand.
I turn back to her and She’s shaking now, crying and Begging. But I don’t hear it anymore, not really.
I raise the gun and i point it at her head.
“Say hello to your brother in hell for me now will you p>
And I pull the trigger.
Once.
Then again and again the sound echoing Loud.
I watch as her body stills Completely, then heavy and thick silence follows as I lower the gun slowly.
My hands don’t shake not anymore as I turn back to my brothers and Lucas meets my gaze…then nods once.
“You did good, baby,” he says.
His voice is calm.
“No need to feel guilty p>
A pause.
“It’s okay p>
Noah steps closer and gently takes my hand. His grip is warm and grounding.
“Let’s go,” he says softly.
I nod and we turn walking out of that room, with Lucas in front his gun raised…leadin the way out.
We’re moving fast out of that room, down the hallway, past bodies and overturned furniture. The air smells like gunpowder and something burnt, thick enough that it sticks to the back of my throat. My legs are still shaky, but Noah’s arm around me keeps me steady. His grip is firm, like he’s not taking any chances with me slipping away again.
Lucas is ahead of us, gun raised, eyes sharp, scanning every corner before we turn into it.
Everything feels loud, the fooootsteps…breathing My heartbeat its too fast, too heavy.
Then I hear Movement up ahead… a struggle as Someone grunts and a body slams into the wall.
I lift my head and I see him.
Zane.
For a second, my brain doesn’t even process it properly.
He’s ther really there locked in a fight with one of the men. His shirt is stained with blood, dark patches spreading across it, sticking to his skin.His movements are still sharp, still agile but there’s a slight lag in them. A heaviness…He’s hurt
The man swings at him…Zane blocks, barely, then drives his fist into the man’s jaw. The crack I hear is sickening. The man stumbles, but he doesn’t go down. Lucad doesn’t hesitate though, He steps forward, lifts his gun And fires.
The man drops instantly and just like that
Zane stills.
His chest is rising hard, breath uneven.
Then he turns and his eyes land on us on me and Everything in his face changes.
It’s subtle but I see it. That tightness in his jaw loosens and his shoulders drop just slightly with relief.
His gaze moves over me quickly, like he’s checking counting limbs, looking for damage.
Then it settles right on my face i don’t move as I just stand there, held up by Noah, staring back at him as He starts walking toward me slowly Like he’s afraid if he moves too fast, I’ll disappear.
When he gets to me, his hands come up immediately…they land on firm ly my shoulders and he turns me slightly, like he’s inspecting me from every angle.
“Are you hurt?” His voice is rough. “Anywhere tell me where p>
His hands move lightly, checking my arms, my sides.
“Do we need to go to the hospital?” he asks quickly, eyes searching mine.
I don’t answer I can’t
Behind me, I feel Noah shift and lucas lowers his gun slightly.
“I’ll see you at home,” Lucas says, already turning away.
Noah starts to guide me with him but something in me snaps.
“No p>
My voice comes out sharper than I expect and thy stop in their tracks.
Zane stills too.
I pull slightly out of Noah’s hold not fully, but enough to stand on my own.
“I’m not going home with Zane p>
Confused looks pass between all of them.
Zane frowns slightly. “What p>
I look straight at him…no need beating around the bush.
“Did you have a hand in my sickness p>
I watch as Zane’s expression shifts.
“What?” he repeats, like he didn’t hear me right.
“How do you even p>
“Don’t,” I cut him off.
My voice rises.
“Don’t do that. Don’t deflect p>
My chest tightens.
“Answer me p>
He exhales, running a hand briefly through his hair, clearly thrown.
“Elaine,” he says, softer now. “Let’s not do this here. We’ll talk at home p>
“No!” I snap.
The word echoes as I step forward slightly, ignoring the way my body protests.
“Answer me now p>
My voice breaks at the edges.
“Did you have a hand in my sickness p>
He opens his mouth to say whatever he wanted to then A shot rings out, it happens so fast it barely feels real.
A loud crack splits through the air and for a second, everything pauses as Zane’s body jerks and his eyes widen slightly.
Then his gaze drops down to his abdomen.
There’s Blood it’s already spreading fats,
Dark red soaking through his shirt, dripping down.
My breath catches.
“Zane p>
He presses his hand to it instinctively, his face tightening as pain finally hits. Behind him, Lucas moves instantly shooting at the man who fired at Zane and he collapses.
“Fuck,” Lucas curses, stepping forward quickly.
His eyes scan Zane’s wound, assessing.
“Fuck this is bad p>
Zane’s jaw clenches, but he doesn’t fall.
He’s still standing barely.
“We need to move,” Lucas snaps. “Now p>
Noah’s hand is back on me, steadying me again, but my eyes don’t leave Zane not for a second.