“The guys have spoken to him. He’s in a dark place, Phoebe.”
“I know. And my brother did this to his family.” I choke on my words.
“It’s not your fault and he knows it but he’s in shock and all he knows is that he must fix the source of his anger and loss. No one can reach him when he’s like this.”
I’d cringed in fear watching him pummel Kyle. His eyes dead and his fists attacking another human with no regard for the life he was about to end. Pure hatred directed at Kyle, furious and relentless he’d slammed him, my thoughts ran back to my childhood when fists were used on me. The fury I’d witnessed in my father’s eyes were echoed in Ocean’s.
“I don’t think I will be able to reach him again.” Resigned and weary, I pull the blanket up.
“Give it time.”
“Goodnight Lace and thanks for checking in.” Hanging up, the cell falls onto the bed and numbness spreads over me.
I thought we had an endless amount of time to explore us.
Ocean promising he wouldn’t shatter me any further but mend me.
I didn’t think it would be me shattering him.
My brother successfully ruining anything good I have.
If Ocean talks to me again, it will be a miracle.
“It’s time to crush them.”
Coldness entered my body hours ago and I’m frozen from the core, out. Revulsion slid through my veins, with each tick of the clock, sending me far away into an abyss. My exterior showed complete control, my interior burning alive, scorched, and ravaged entirely.
“I want in,” Slate commands.
“This is your wedding night. It’s already ruined, stay with Emerald, she needs you.”
“You know where they are? After this, I’m taking Emerald away but I need this fucker gone.” Slate will be out the door already.
“Watching the fuckers right now. I’ll message you where.” I hit end.
Leaving my sister, cold and on the ground was insensitive but the only other option was going ballistic in front of Phoebe. Seeing me attack Kyle was enough, her eyes showcasing her horror clearly.
I had to go.
Watching her die next to me is something I won’t forget, but the shrill scream down the cell when I spoke to my mother will be embedded inside me forever. My blood curdled, my heart thundered listening to her wailing and pleading that I got it wrong.
Hell, I would give my own life to have Melody’s bright face and bubbly personality alive on this planet instead of my twisted, manic ass. She brought pleasure to the world, I only bring suffering.
If I was a sensitive son, I would have waited for my father and mother to be on the call together, but it couldn’t wait. Blurting out matter of factly, I explained which hospital her body was being taken to and asked her to organize the funeral for when she thought they could come back from Australia. Unable to understand a word she spoke, I hung up.
“You fuckers don’t know what’s about to hit you.” Lighting a joint, I lay my head back on the leather upholstery and breathe in deeply. Three of the brothers went inside their workshop ten minutes ago. The head of their family will be inside already. Knowing their routine as well as everyone’s that could pose a problem to us, they should be out in about twenty minutes. With or without Slate, I will be taking them out tonight.
Inhaling more smoke, I think back to hours ago after I spoke to Mother, emotionally drained and driving around in circles going nowhere.
“We’re taking Phoebe back to her own apartment. She’s asked us.”
“No, you’re fucking not. She needs to be at my place so her fucked up brother doesn’t kill her as well.”
“I think she needs her own space, O. She’s skittish, like a caged mouse.”
“Goddamnit, T.” I curse like an idiot. “Make sure there’s no one inside and get our top guys on her, back and front of the apartment.”
“Man, I’m sorry about M—”
I can’t hear it yet. “Yeah, me too.”
My mind drifts and I see my sister lying peacefully on the ground, but there’s no blood. Her hand is holding another, my eyes travel up the slender arm and shoulder, revealing blood seeping everywhere over blue material. My foot presses down hard, my arms rigid on the steering wheel. Traveling up farther, my eyes land on the face of Phoebe. Red splashes covering part of her face, the other marred by bruising. Her dress is torn and dirty.
A squealing noise brings me back to the present, the car swerving across the lanes of the road, jerking back as I right the steering wheel and decrease my hurtling speed.
Fuck.
Pulling to the side of the road, I thump my hands on the wheel and a torrent of tears flow out. My clever, witty, and beautiful sister is gone. Through no fault of her own, she was gunned down.
It could have been Phoebe.
Holy fucking hell.
Phoebe was only feet away and security was tight, yet a gunman got through. Our lives proving to be deadly to my sister. A family member, who thought losing money in a poker machine was corruption at its worst. She’d never hurt anyone.
Loving my sister with all of my heart, if it had been Phoebe, I’m unsure if I would be seeking revenge or shooting myself.
Probably both.
Shaking my head, trying to breathe and recoup myself, I think I have some insight into why the guys want to go legit.
The gunman has hit home.
Melody’s dead.
A loved one has died because of our life choices.
Thump… Thump… Thump. Blackened by his clothing, I see Slate’s outline by my window.
“Fuck, man.” Jolting back to the task about to unfold, I unlock the door. “You ready?”
Slate’s fist is curled by his side. “No one lives.”
“Good, we’re on the same page.” Squashing the blunt out, I take my gun and hold it by my side. “They should be out in five minutes.”
“Are the brothers stupid enough to think we won’t retaliate?” Slate takes his piece from his waistband, ready for anything.
“Firstly, they believe they’ve killed Kyle and secondly, it’s your wedding night so they possibly think we will hit them but not so soon.” We stand near the car in the shadows. “When some of them walked in earlier, they looked calm and collected. Not even a spotter.”
“We need Phoebe’s brother before we dispose of them all. I want him dead.”
“Agreed.” Torn between avenging my sister and killing my woman’s brother weighs heavily.
How will she look at me again knowing I’m the one who has taken the life of her brother? Do I chance losing her as well?
What a fucking nightmare today has turned into. I should be wrapped in between her legs, enjoying her scent and taste. Phoebe should be riding my cock, instead, we are both alone and my sister’s dead.
Watching the doorway, we’re on high alert. The streetlights are dull, the ones above the workshop, bright. Pulling my hood down, a crack appears at the door.
Slate and I are ready to pounce. I aim to take the head guy out and two of his brothers, leaving the young boy who has only been initiated into this world months ago. He must be all of sixteen.
“Leave Rico. He’ll tell us what we need to know.”
Two soldiers and two of the brothers stride out. Their dark cars parked only feet from the opening. Silently, Slate makes his way right and I go left, covering all bases.