27. Bullwhip
27
BULLWHIP
It’s been twenty-four hours since the wine tasting event.
Twenty-four hours since Poet has been gone.
Zoe and Fiona sit together on Wrangler’s couch. Earlier today, we took her to the ER and had Lifesaver check out her vitals. If one good thing has come out of today, it’s that no major damage has been done to Fiona.
Words have been few since last night. To be honest, it’s the first time all of us have been alone. Wrangler’s place doesn’t have much, but it does keep us hidden from the press. They’ve been hounding us all fucking day.
My ear drums are red from the amount of times they’ve been shouting down my ears today. All we were trying to do was get through the hospital doors.
“How are you feeling?”
“Records tell us you and Felix were split during infancy. When did you find out the two of you were related?”
“Bullwhip, over here!”
“Answer me, not them!”
Silence rings loud now that we finally have it, and Wrangler slouches into a wooden chair opposite me, gaze fixated on the window as the sun comes down.
Please, don’t let Poet spend another night in there.
“I’m gonna take off.” Fiona pockets her phone and rises from the couch.
This grabs Zoe’s attention. “What? No. It’s?—”
“From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate everything you have done for me, but three days in the desert is enough.” She turns to Wrangler “No offense.”
Zoe tucks her feet up under herself on the couch and studies her sister. We shot straight to Wrangler’s last night after the events, so today she wears his boxers—the waistband folded over four times to fit. “Where are you gonna go?”
“Father’s.” Fiona continues to cross the room, heading for the door.
“Wait. Where are you going?”
“The Uber. It’s outside. I didn’t want to bother you guys and again, no offense—” Another look at Wrangler. “I don’t wanna get my hair any more messed up.”
Zoe laughs, but as soon as Fiona leaves the house, silence returns.
The elephant in the room grows in size.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Her eyes dart over to me.
“Yeah,” says Wrangler. “Being bros with Felix. That’s kind of a big deal, man.”
I straighten up in the armchair and sigh. “We’re twins.”
Zoe and Wrangler share a surprised look.
“And I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to think about it. I felt guilty.”
Zoe bites her lip. “It’s not your fault you ended up being brothers.”
“I know,” I admit, “but for a moment there back in his office, I considered joining him.”
They remain silent, hearing me out.
“I don’t know, guys.” I shake my head. “It’s embarrassing. Me and him…we’re one and the same. Both ruthless killers. Both with the same childhoods. You guys are great, but only Felix knows what it’s like to grow up misunderstood. Zoe—” One look at her does something unexplainable to my core, but it’s something I want to feel every day. “If it wasn’t for you, I probably would’ve?—”
“No, you wouldn’t,” she snaps. “You think you know yourself, but you don’t. You think you’re a bad person, but our choices don’t define our spirits. I’ve lived with evil for three years, so trust me, I know. If you were truly evil, you wouldn’t even question yourself. Wouldn’t see yourself as bad. And —” Her eyes fill with tears. “You wouldn’t be capable of feeling love.”
We stare at one another for a long time, but nothing about the exchange feels awkward.
Then the door bursts open. “Surprise!”
Zoe jumps up, squeals, and flings her arms around Poet.
“Man!” Wrangler chuckles. “We were worried. What happened at the station?”
“They kept me in last night to investigate the allegations further. Then, today they questioned some people from the school, returned, and unshackled me!” A grin lights up his face. “Freedom, baby!”
“Man.” I walk up to him. “About the brother thing?—”
“It’s fine. Seriously. Felix is locked up, and that’s all that matters. Sammy is still at the station. They recommended we go collect her tomorrow. It’s still pretty intense out there. Paparazzi have unofficially claimed the nearby streets, and are doing the usual—reporting Felix’s arrest and whatnot. Don’t worry, Sammy is safe,” he assures us.
“Sammy is yours.”
Everybody turns to Zoe.
Poet falters in the door.
“You heard what I said.”
“I suspected that was the case,” he admits. “But to hear it come out of your mouth…”
“I mean, technically, she’s Poet’s, but I want all of you as fathers,” Zoe says.
“Oh, Zoe…” Wrangler closes in.
“If that’s what you all want?” Her gaze switches between all of us.
I never thought I’d have kids—you have to fall in love for that to happen.
But Zoe’s presence in my life proves that the unexpected can happen. That life can turn a corner, and fate can reward you. I thought the masquerade party would be it—angels only fly into your life once.
I was mistaken.
Fate didn’t blow her my way to test and torment me.
Fate wants us to be together.
My past regrets won’t just fade away overnight, but Zoe’s right—people can change. For her and Sammy, I’ll turn a new leaf and leave the gun in the holster unless absolutely necessary.
I’ll still kill.
But only to protect my girls.
When something wonderful enters your life, you do everything in your power to hold on to it. Bad people lurk behind every corner. And I’m ready to put up a fight and protect what’s mine.
“I think”—Poet draws Zoe closer—“we need to make up for lost time.”
Wrangler frowns. “How so?”
Poet pinches Zoe’s chin…
And their mouths collide in a hot mess.