Chapter 13
Remy
She fell asleep after we talked a little. It took all the strength I had in me to go into that room and not strangle her. My child is gone because she kept it a secret.
It’s been days. Days of searching and coming up empty. Days of not hearing anything from anyone. It’s killing me. It’s ripping me apart inside, so I know it must be doing something worse to her, but I can’t seem to care.
I sit at the bar in the main room as the guys talk. We have a location for a construction site that works at night. We’re planning on hitting it in the next few days since no one has heard from Stan’s sister again.
“You okay?” I hear someone call out and turn to see who they’re talking to. I see Tianna running into the bathroom and slamming the door quickly. I glance over at Gunner, but he just shrugs.
I shove off my stool and head for the bathroom, pushing the door open since she forgot to lock it. Tianna’s head is hanging in the toilet before she looks up at me.
“You okay?”
“I just don’t feel well.”
“It’s probably all the drugs leavin’ your system. Doc said it’ll make you sick,” I explain to her. She nods her head and throws up again as I grab a rag and wet it. “Here,” I tell her. She reaches up and grabs it, wiping her face and mouth.
“I took them nearly every night.”
“Yeah. You’re withdrawin’ from not havin’ them.”
“This is bad,” she says. I chuckle.
“I’m sure it doesn’t feel good.” I turn and walk out of the bathroom and go into the kitchen to grab her a bottle of water. When I return she’s still hanging where I left her. I pass her the water after uncapping it and watch as she takes a sip.
“We’re never going to find her, are we?”
“Don’t say shit like that. If it’s the last fuckin’ thing I do, I’m bringin’ her home.”
“She could be anywhere.”
“And I’ll go anywhere. I’ll fuckin’ climb every mountain to bring her home, Tianna. There’s nowhere I won’t go.” She nods her head as I hold out my hand and help her off the floor. She stands up a little wobbly, but I hold on until she steadies herself.
“I’m sorry, Remy,” she cries as she bursts into tears. I want to hold her, fuck do I want to, but I don’t. I just turn and leave the room because I don’t know if I can handle being around her right now. I stomp down the hall and out the back door before lighting up a cigarette.
“Why do I always find you out here?” Locke asks as I chuckle.
“I’m hidin’.”
“Not a very good spot.”
“Guess not if you keep findin’ me.” Locke laughs a little before leaning against the brick of the building.
“You forgave her yet?”
“No.”
“You goin’ to?”
“Haven’t decided yet. It’s all so fucked up, brother.”
“She had her reasons, yeah?”
“She did, but they aren’t good enough. I could have helped back then.”
“She didn’t know that. She was scared, Remy,” he tells me.
“I know. I just need to get my head straight.”
“Well, we’re hittin’ that site tonight, so that should let you blow off some steam.”
“Tonight?” I ask, looking over at him.
“Yeah. Change in plans, brother. Gunner wants in there sooner rather than later.”
“Heard that. I’m ready,” I tell him as I take another drag from my cigarette.
“You and everyone else. Stan is on edge.”
“That’s understandable. His sister is out there somewhere.”
“And we’re gonna find her,” he adds.
“Yeah, we are. It’s what we do,” I confirm, flicking the cigarette through the air and watching it fall.
“You should think about forgivin’ that girl, Remy.”
“Why are you so stuck on that shit?”
“I see the way you look at each other. You still love each other.”
“Doesn’t mean shit, and you know it,” I tell him shoving off the building and heading for the door.
“It means more than you think.”
“She didn’t want this life, remember?”
“Maybe she’s changed her mind.”
“I doubt that. She wants her little girl back. That’s it, and that’s enough,” I tell him, pulling the door open and walking inside. Just as I step in, she looks over, her eyes finding mine. Shit. Maybe he’s right. Maybe we still love each other.
I ignore the urge in me to go to her. I want to hold her just like before. I want to kiss her like I used to, but I can’t do that. Instead, I walk over to the bar, grab a beer, and listen to Gunner talk about how things are going down tonight. He goes over everything, and we all listen intently.
When he’s done, the guys stand, and most find their old ladies to say goodbye. I finish my beer and head for the door when I feel her hand on my wrist once more. I know it’s her. I know her touch. I turn my head to look at her and see the sad smile on her face.
“Be careful.”
“I’m always careful.”
“I know, but you have something to come back for now,” she says.
“Charlie,” I say her name. Tears flood her eyes as she nods her head.
“Yeah. Charlie.”