The car door opens and the man himself is standing there. He helps me, placing his hand around my waist as if to steady me. Then I see it, the car carrying Jack, the spray of lilies cascading over his coffin. I watch as the six men dressed in black lift the coffin before carrying it forward.
As if on autopilot, I take a step forward and Prince’s arm falls from my waist. I don’t turn around. I raise my chin, following Jack's last journey. The priest gives me a sorrowful smile, clutching the good book in his hands. Jack never believed in the gods that are meant to rule the skies, neither do I. But I believe Hayden is somewhere happy. Where, I don’t know.
“Would you like to wait? To see if anyone else will come?” I shake my head, seeing how the priest looks around. No mourners, no heartbroken wife, no friends shaking their heads in disbelief. Only me. It makes for a sad scene.
I blank out the words of forgiveness and all sins forgiven.
I watch the coffin descend as the priest speaks louder, and close my eyes, refusing to see Jack get lowered. Falling to my knees with the weight of reality on my shoulders, I grab the grass between my hands as if to tether me from jumping in after him. Take me.
I hold my face toward the sky. “Take me!” I cry out, sending birds flying into the sky. I’ll stay in hell for eternity, burn in its flames. Just bring back Jack, please! Bring them both back. Don’t leave me alone in this world, please, I beg you. Whoever you are, don’t take him too. To the cruel twist of fate, please. I will make him do better, get him help. I’ll hand you my soul—anything. Just don’t leave me here alone.
“It’s time to leave.” I look up to see Prince staring down at me, stone cold, not an inch of emotion. He looks bored.
Is this what he wants? Me on my knees, begging, as he watches me break apart piece by piece. I continue to stare, watching Prince’s face turn into his father’s. Gage Kingston, master, ringleader, emperor.
Gage Kingston, the ruler of the violent kingdom, watches on, smiling at the bloodshed spilled on the streets, lives taken. His evilness wraps around us all under his control.
He took them away; Hayden, Jack! Even Malachi. It’s his hand their blood coats because nothing in this world is done without his say, his command, and like dutiful soldiers they stand in waiting, ready for their next command. Will it be my life next? Am I already wearing the Red Cross? My days on their final countdown?
I stand and walk past Prince to the car, my mind clearer than it’s been in weeks as I take the scissors, cutting the invisible strings the Kingstons hold me by.
Break free of the chains they shackled me with.
I slide into the car and Prince slides in next to me. I’m able to clearly see the picture that is now in front of me.
I don’t have a future.
Between Gage, Prince and the loan sharks that are starting to circle for my blood, I can’t run. It’s too late. An eerie calm fills me. And I know what I need to do.
“Jack owes a lot of money.” My voice is sturdy, strong and clear.
Prince watches me, his brows coming down as if he’s trying to read between the lines, what I’m not saying, before nodding.
“How long before they come collecting?”
I watch as his eyes cloud over, a frown pulling between his brow as if he hadn’t thought of it. He doesn’t answer my question, meaning they are already circling.
21
Prince
She’s right, they will want their payments. She is Jack’s blood. But what they don’t know is she’s mine, including the rivers of ruby running through her veins.
22
Lilliana
I get out of the car to see Declan on the steps waiting for us, a smug smile on his face, relishing Jack's death.
There’s a shadow on his jaw, and he seems to be limping slightly, which makes a matching grin grow on my face because my ribs still ache from the command he gave Marcus. Maybe there is such a thing as Karma. His face contorts, anger in his eyes as his hand comes out to backhand me. Pain radiates up my jaw to my cheekbone, sending me to the floor.
I watch through my hair as Prince grabs Declan, chucking him hard against the wall. In a flash, the barrel of a gun is pressed against his forehead.
“You don't touch her. No one touches her.” Every word vibrates with anger. I watch the scene playing out. Something about seeing Prince like this has my heart beating furiously. Something heavy forms in my stomach as my mind plays catch up.
Marcus pulls me up harshly and toward the door, the pain not registering as my eyes stay fixated on Prince and Declan.
“Keep your little pet in check!” Declan spits before he grins, his gaze flicking to me. “I’ll let you have your fun. You’ll get bored soon. You always do.”
The way he says it makes my skin crawl, as if there are a thousand spiders skittering over me.
As soon as we step through the door, Marcus drops my arm.
“Stay away from him.” Marcus’ menacing tone has me nodding. I’m not sure who he’s referring to, but something else has me asking questions.
“Why did Prince stop it? Why the warning?”
His lips slam shut, his whole body strung tight, brows pulled down deep, causing lines to appear on his forehead. He seems mad at himself, Declan, me… I am not sure. I am not sure of anything in this house. Too many lies lay heavy in the air, like fog on a September morning; you can't see anything clearly. It messes with your mind, your emotions.
“Don’t think you’re safe. You’re not.”
I nod as Marcus stares me down with those chocolate eyes before using his gun to direct me to the stairs. More secrets and lies, the web of deceit growing around me. All I can see around me are black, endless eyes. I walk up the stairs sluggishly, every step seeming to be harder than the last. The tip of the gun in my back should move me faster, but if I die here, in a pool of ruby, then I will be free. Free of the pain, the hurt, the betrayal… just free.
The corridor seems to flash before my eyes, seeming forever to reach yet so close. Marcus takes his spot beside the door. I walk in, looking around the room, my cage.
Just like a rose it is beautiful, but it holds so much pain, like the thorn. Fragile, just like its petals. Ruby red, just like the blood of mine and Malachi’s sins. I had let him touch me, let him own my body, soul, and even my heart. I had betrayed my brother by giving myself over to a man that bought me, secretly wanting his touch, his dark desire.
I walk into the bathroom, stripping my clothes off, and turn on the shower, not waiting for it to warm up. The water bites into my skin like shards of ice, and I welcome the pain, not moving from the ice-cold spray, letting it freeze me to the bones. I don’t feel my legs give out, or curling up into a ball, but I remember the water as it swirls around the plug, so clean, clear. How is that when I’m tainted in so much darkness?
“Shit.” His voice echoes around the bathroom, bouncing off the tiles with a force only he can achieve. When two thick arms wrap around me, I feel the warmth of his body against mine, fire and ice. It burns, starts a wildfire spreading through my veins. I want to cry out, want the numbness back, the cold, where I feel nothing. His thumb rubs over my lips roughly as if trying to bring them to life, and my teeth chatter. I blink up at him. There’s something strange behind his eyes, a softness swirling in the hard stare.