60
SUTTON
Wes ordered me to stay in the car. After what Cole did three months ago, he didn’t want to take any chances. We argued for ten minutes on the drive home, but ultimately, I gave in. Although, I told him if he wasn’t back out in fifteen minutes, I was coming in.
I waited exactly fourteen before I couldn’t take it anymore. They were the longest of my life. I should’ve gone in sooner. The moment I opened the door, all hell broke loose. Smoke billowed out and flames raged from the living room. Then, I heard a gun go off.
Now, I’m staring through the thick haze at Thea. She has her gun pointed at someone across the room. Despite the smoke, I can see she’s in distress. She’s crying and panicked. Why?
Drawing my gun from my holster, I slowly make my way to the other side of the fireplace where I might get a better view of who she’s aiming at.
As I move through the kitchen, closer to the living room, I hear shouting and try to make out what’s being said.
“Put the guns down!” an unfamiliar voice yells out.
Adrian shouts back, “No!”
I inch closer to where the fireplace ends, where I know I’ll be able to see the entire room clearly.
Thea’s voice rises above the others. “He shot him! Adrian, he shot him!” She’s losing it. Every word is wrought with pain. Who was shot?
“I’ll kill her. I don’t care. I’ll kill her,” the stranger’s voice threatens unsteadily.
I need to move faster. I make it to the end and peer around carefully, thankfully the smoke helps to conceal me. On the floor, near the wall of windows, I realize who Thea’s talking about and my stomach sinks.
Wes is on the floor, holding his stomach. Then, I see the pool of blood. It takes everything in me not to run to him. That’ll only get me killed. I need to focus, for his sake.
Peering further around the fireplace, I see the bald head of the man threatening Thea. The detective. He has the gun pointed at her. Fuck.
If something happens to her, I can’t live with myself. I shouldn’t have let Wes come in alone. I should’ve fought harder to come in with him. Fuck.
“Even if you kill me, I’m getting my shot in. She’s going down too. Put your guns down,” he orders, looking from Adrian to Thea. I can see my brother trying to calculate the odds. That’s when he locks eyes with me.
I nod at him.
“Thea, it’s okay, put your gun down,” Adrian assures.
She shakes her head. “No! I’d rather fucking die than do that.” The gun’s trembling in her grasp. She’ll never get a clear shot this way. I need her to see me. I need her to trust me.
I will her to look at me. She needs to see me. Baby, look at me. I keep my gaze trained on her, forcing that thought across the distance.
Adrian urges her again. “Havoc, put the gun down. I promise, it’ll be fine.” She glances at him, tilting her head in confusion. She’s about protest again, but as her eyes travel back to the detective, she sees me.
Slowly, she realizes Adrian’s right. It’ll be fine. Cautiously, she lowers her gun to the ground. Adrian follows her lead.
The detective laughs heartily. “Fucking idiots. Now I’ll just kill both of yo—” He’s interrupted by the sound of my gun going off and the bullet that pierces his skull. His body falls forward, thumping face first onto the floor.
Adrian rushes over and grabs the detective’s gun, as well as his own. Thea picks hers up, too.
And then the three of us rush to Wesley’s side.
I unzip his hoodie and peel back the soaked fabric. Beneath it, he’s wearing what was a light blue shirt. Now, a deep red works its way from the wound, lightening the further away it gets. I pull my shirt over my head and press it to the bleeding, trying to apply pressure. But there’s so much blood. This is too much blood.
The smoke fills my lungs, making me choke and lose focus. Thea and Adrian choke on it, too. We have to get out of here. Wes coughs next—it makes the wound gush. A sickening realization hits me.
He’s not making it out with us. Just as I think it, his eyes meet mine. He knows it too.
THEA
Fuck. This can’t be happening. My hand swipes over Wes’ forehead—he’s clammy and pale. His eyes roll back every so often. And we haven’t been able to stop the bleeding. Sutton tried, but the blood is soaking through his shirt fast. He looks bad and I know I should stay positive. I should have hope, but he looks so fucking bad.
My body starts to shake violently. I can’t stop it. Then, the tears come and I can’t stop those either. His warm brown eyes look up at me and he tries to smile as he weakly brushes his fingers over the wetness on my cheeks.
“You’re so beautiful, blue eyes. I’ve been so lucky to know you,” he says softly.
I shake my head. “Don’t you fucking say it like that! Don’t say it like you’re leaving me. Don’t,” I sob. “Please, don’t.”
A seriousness falls over his face. “You need to leave. You can’t stay here.” Wes’ hand falls limply to his side.
“I’m not leaving without you. I can’t. You wouldn’t do it either.” We both know it’s true. I look over his body. “We can carry him out.” I look between Sutton and Adrian. “We can carry him!” I shout it this time. “Help me carry him.”
No one moves. It’s like they’ve all just accepted it. I haven’t. I won’t. This isn’t how it ends for us. We have a whole lifetime to live together. We have dreams and maybe babies. I don’t know, probably not. But we didn’t even get the chance to decide. This isn’t how it ends , I repeat.
I’m desperate. I’ll resort to anything to get him to hold on. “You can’t leave like this. You said you had something for me. You can’t go without giving it to me. I don’t care what it is, but you have to give it to me. It has to come from you.” It sounds so superficial, but it’s all I have right now. “Don’t go without giving it to me, please Wes,” I beg through my tears.
He smiles widely this time. Maybe it’s working. “I’ll make sure you still get it, okay? And you’ll have to promise me that when you do, you’ll accept it. No questions asked. Promise?”
“No. No, I don’t promise,” I stubbornly refuse. “If I make that promise, you’re going to leave me. So no, I don’t promise.”
Wes’ hand finds my chin and he pulls me down to him, as much as he can. I go willingly. He brings me down until our lips meet, sweetly, gently. Then he gives me a little nip and it makes my chest heave in agony. Pulling away, he stares into my eyes. “I’ve only seen that shade of blue once before. It was so beautiful and every day you remind me of it. Thank you for that, blue eyes.” His voice is getting weaker. His breaths are more unsteady and infrequent.
“I need—I need you to make me another promise.” I bite my lip, trying to contain the screams that want to pour from my mouth. “I want you to live a beautiful life. I want my brothers to make you happy and for you to make them happy. You all deserve that.”
I hate that he’s guilting me on his damn deathbed. “No. I want a beautiful life with you. I love you. I can’t do this without you.”
“You can and…” He pauses to swallow. “You will. But please, Thea, don’t make me go without promising me these things. I can’t go peacefully knowing that you might live the rest of your life grieving me. Please,” he pleads with tears now streaming down his face.
I can’t deny him. I’ve tried. I clench my jaw, angry that I have to accept this. I don’t want to. But I can’t let him go denying him the only thing he wants—peace of mind in these last few moments.
Pressing my forehead to his, I nod. “Okay, Wes. I promise. I’ll live a beautiful and happy life. And whatever it is you got me, I’ll accept it.” My words come out strangled and full of unbearable sorrow.
I’ve never felt pain like this before. Pain so tangible I swear I feel its tendrils wrap around my throat, making it hard to swallow. Weaving itself through my chest so that every breath is serrated, carving its memory into my body. How does anyone live like this?
A soft smile tugs at his lips and he sighs, “Thank you. Can you tell my mom that I forgive her?” God damnit. I nod. “Good. She deserves some peace.” He inhales deeply, but it makes him wince. “I promise…” he doesn’t finish. A harsh breath pushes through his lips. “I promise to find you in death. You’re mine… Now and forever.” A shuddering breath and his eyes fall closed. Panic rises. “I love you, Thea.” It’s the first time he’s said it. It’s not fair. It’s not fair that it’s the first and last time I’ll ever hear it. Why?
I refuse to accept it. This can’t be it. “Wes, I love you. I love you.” I can’t stop myself. I start to shake him. He can’t go yet. I’m not ready.
He comes to for a moment and false hope swells in my chest. It worked. He stares past me at Adrian.
“Take her. You need to take her now. Get her out,” Wes tells him breathlessly. My face contorts in defiance. “Sutton, give me the detective’s gun.”
“What? Why?” I question, my head snapping to Sutton. I don’t have a chance to get an answer. Adrian’s arms wrap around my waist and he hoists me into the air. “Put me the fuck down! Let me go!” He doesn’t listen—he throws me over his shoulder and starts walking away. “Stop! Stop!” I shriek through my sobs.
I beat my hands against his back and lift my head just in time to see Sutton hand Wes the gun. He holds his hand and kisses his forehead, then runs toward us. What does he need with a gun?
I lock eyes with Sutton, who’s crying, too. I will the question into his mind.
What does he need with a gun?
He knows what I’m asking. I know he does. I watch as he looks down, too ashamed to answer.
No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.