Chapter Thiry-Nine #2
“Hang on,” I cut him off mid-slur. “I’m not finished.
You can call me that after I say this, I promise.
If I could go back, I wouldn’t do a damn thing differently.
Because despite how fucking awful this place is—and yes, it is just…
terrible—it was still worth it, for even a few moments with him.
Those last ones… they were life changing.
” My eyes flit behind him. “And I’m only telling you this now because I know it won’t matter…
He won’t have to be afraid to be himself anymore.
And that’s a beautiful thing, because people shouldn’t have to hide themselves…
ever . Especially not from their family, the people who are supposed to love them, no matter what. ”
Russo is turning beet red, backing up while I move closer. Like he’s afraid he’ll catch it.
Fucking dipshit.
“Your son is gay, Governor. And I know you know that. So I just wanted to say that I don’t regret any part of being with him. Even if it landed me here, even if it had to stay in the shadows, Michelangelo Russo was the first person who made me feel real . He’s part of my origin story.”
I smirk, eyes moving over his shoulder once more. “And so are you. So you can rest uneasily, Mr. Governor … knowing that your son will be having lots of fantastic sex with men from here on out… And you won’t be around to lock them all up for being queer.”
Just as his face is morphing into pure rage—as he’s undoubtedly about to call me a faggot and maybe try to hit me—a hand holding a blade juts out from behind him, flicking in a quick, yet seriously deep , slice across his throat.
Antonio Russo’s eyes widen, blood instantly spraying from the gash in his neck, splattering across my face. Like an instinct, he reaches up to grab it, but it’s pumping too forcefully.
Nice shot… He got the carotid artery without even looking. That’s a pro for you.
Russo falls to his knees in slow motion, slumping at my feet to reveal The Carver, who’s standing behind him with his long, super sharp knife. We lock eyes, in the split second while time is standing still.
I nod at him, and he smiles back.
I guess he’s not so bad after all.
But then it all speeds up. Back to chaos in a flash .
Diving onto Felix, I cover him with my body as gunshots ring out around us. People are screaming and shouting, but it’s muffled and unintelligible over the blood pumping in my ears. I’m certain I’m about to be shot. There’s no way I won’t be…
Russo’s guys were close. They’ve got a clear shot, and none of us have guns or any protection. The only thing I can do is keep covering Felix and shout for the others to take cover in the woods.
But when seconds pass and I haven’t been shot, I lift my head enough to look around. The ringing in my ears gives way to a loud roar. A familiar one…
Sounds like a… motorcycle.
“Get up!” someone is shouting. “Run for the armory!”
Holy fucking shit, it’s Velle.
My face whips to the side, and there he is… Officer fucking Chevelle, on his Harley— the bike, not his boyfriend —speeding through the sand, firing rounds from an automatic AR-15 directly at Russo’s men.
Checking on the others, I see them all retreating between the trees. I breathe out of relief, peeking down at Felix, who’s literally lying underneath me in the sand.
“Ready to run?” I rasp, and he nods fast, cheeks all flushed.
Okay, he’s kinda cute.
Scrambling onto my knees, I grab Felix by the arm and drag him with me, making a run for the woods. Velle is laying down cover, and fortunately he’s moving because there are shots coming from up the shore too.
The Ivory’s men. Shit.
Running like I’ve never run before, I haul Felix along with me, dodging gunfire. Russo’s men are shooting at us, and my heart is flying so fast I think it’s actually propelling me.
Glancing left, I spot Kent, gun in hand. My stomach seizes. He has a clear shot. I shield Felix and prepare for death…
But then he turns and fires at Russo’s men instead.
What the hell….??
I can’t believe it. He’s protecting us!
I’m basking in relief when Kent falls to the ground. He’s been hit.
“No!” I scream, breaking left to check on him.
He’s down, bleeding from the chest. Jesus fuck… they shot him in the heart!
“Run! Go!” I yell at Felix, dropping to my knees in the dirt at Kent’s side.
I don’t even care that they’re shooting at me. He sacrificed himself for us. Kent is a good man… He doesn’t deserve to die over this.
Putting pressure on the wound, I get as low as possible to avoid the gunfire. “Stay with me, man,” I gasp, tears welling in my eyes as I watch him… fucking dying . Coughing up blood. “Don’t die. Please… ”
Rapid gunfire pops closer to me, and I jump.
“You gotta move, bro!” Joy shouts.
She and Rook are covering Velle. Everything is echoing. I can barely hear them over how loudly my ears are ringing, the air rippling from all the gunfire.
As much as it hurts to do so, I leave Kent, scrambling between the trees. Taking one last look, I see that both of Russo’s men are down, lying dead in the sand next to the Governor of New York. Dead dead .
Good. Fuck you.
The Ivory’s men are still shooting at us, though. We’re not in the clear, not even close.
Velle peels out, taking off while laying down cover fire.
“Retreat!” Rook calls out, he and Joy bolting in my direction.
“Get the lead out,” Joy croaks, grabbing me and pulling me with them.
So I just run. Run and run and run some more, with my heart hammering so hard it’s threatening to break my ribs. I run and I don’t stop until I make it to the old armory. Before I can even knock, the door whips open.
And there’s Dash, waving me inside.
Oh, thank God.
Catching my breath takes minutes. Between the adrenaline of being shot at, seeing multiple people killed in front of me, and then sprinting like I’ve never sprinted before, I’m worried I might collapse.
I’m just pacing inside the cold, weathered stone structure for seconds that feel like hours, attempting to get my bearings.
Until the haze begins to fade and real-time speeds back up.
Joy and Rook burst through the door, latching it behind them. I want to ask where Velle is, and if he’s okay. But I have to assume they’ve got it covered. Plus, I don’t have the capacity to speak right now.
I’m reeling. Rocking down to my goddamn core.
Motherfucking fucker… what the hell just happened??
Was that even real?
I know it was. I can feel it everywhere; my skin is alive and buzzing with adrenaline. I’m covered in dirt and Governor Russo’s blood. All I can smell is gunpowder.
When I’m finally able to breathe better, I take in my surroundings. The armory is basically an old run-down shack, except that it’s made of stone and concrete, which pacifies me just enough. No bullets will be penetrating this place.
Next, I take stock of my friends…
They’re all here. They’re all… alive.
Dash is with someone I recognize as former Officer Kemper, though I haven’t seen him in a while. But Kemper’s hands are on Dash’s face, and he’s kissing him in between whispering things over his lips that Dash is nodding to.
Felix has Dr. Love wrapped around him, cradling him to his chest.
Luthor and Ren are slumped on a large wooden crate they’re using as a seat, comforting each other, chests jumping in the same sort of recovery I’m feeling.
Even Hancock and Jasper are back together… Jasper has Hancock pressed up against the wall, and it’s almost too intimate. I can’t look at it without feeling a lot of things that are just… too much for me right now.
Back at the door, Rook and Joy are setting their weapons down, checking each other for any sign of damage. They look a lot less shaken than the rest of us, considering that they were shooting at people.
Joy sniffs and straightens. “Everyone okay?”
We all nod, murmuring and grunting responses as we look around at each other. And something just… clicks.
Family.
“Holy shit, man,” Luthor croaks, rushing to me. “Are you alright?? I was so scared… You were almost shot!”
I huff, shaking my head. “Psshh. I ain’t afraid of a few bullets.”
“Yea, totally.” Ren trots over. Then Dash and Kemper join, Felix and Lem… They all crowd me. “You’re such a man . Grrr.”
Ren smirks, and I roll my eyes.
“Tell me you didn’t pee your pants just a little.”
“He was on top of me,” Felix chirps. “If he peed, then I’d have pee on me.”
“Do you?” Dash grins.
Felix glances down, feeling himself. “I don’t think so… I might be wet from something else.”
I can’t help the chuckle that bursts out of me.
“Yea, no offense, killer bee, but when’s the last time you showered?” Joy cocks a brow at him.
Felix shrugs. “I took a few ocean baths… Does that count?”
“No, baby. It doesn’t.” Lem kisses his dirty hair. “Get me some hot water and I’ll take care of it.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening any time soon,” Rook breathes out, exhausted. “We’re gonna be in here for the duration… Unless something pulls their attention elsewhere.”
“They know we’re in here. It’s only a matter of time,” Jasper grunts, lifting Hancock’s hand to press a kiss on it.
“Well, you know what that means,” Joy says, tightening her gauntlets.
“Yea…” Kemper nods. “Fight our way out.”
“Eek… Uh, I don’t know about that.” Luthor shivers. “I’m only good with, like… virtual guns.”
Ren snorts, kissing his cheek. “It’s okay, baby. We’ll protect you and your nerdy ways.”
“Yea, I’d say that device you’ve got there is a win.” Rook nods. “You think you can get into the servers in the prison?”
Luthor’s brows shoot up. “The servers are still working?!”
“They’re on the backup genny, we think,” Hancock says.
“I thought you guys had the prison,” Ren mutters. “Why would you need to hack the servers? They’re in the prison…”
“The Ivory has guys in the control room,” Joy explains. “Holding our guys hostage.”
Ren’s face drops, blue eyes shining with worry. “Carson…?”
She nods solemnly, and he swallows.
“Is he alright?”