Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
My hands shake against the gear shifter as my mother beats hopelessly on the driver-side window. “Please Florence, please don’t go with him!” she cries helplessly.
“I’m okay mom, I’ve got to take him away from here.”
Devin shakes in the passenger seat, his hands pulling relentlessly at his hair. “Get us out of here, Florence, they’re going to get me!”
I release the shifter, reaching for his hand. Ripped chocolate locks of hair sit between his fingers.
My swollen belly bumps the steering wheel as I attempt to calm him. “No one is going to get you Devin— you’re safe, you’re with me. It’s going to be okay we’re just going to get you to the hospital.”
He shrieks, cowering down into the passenger seat as my mother’s cries only grow louder at the sight of him. “Mom, please just go!”
I shove the car into reverse, backing out away from her.
The headlights shine briefly on her sobbing figure, tears glimmering down her cheeks.
My own sob breaks from my lips, my heart tearing into two.
But he’s so high— I don’t know what he’s taken or where he’s even come from.
I only know he’s clearly been on a bender.
Devin disappeared two weeks ago, his last text to me being, “Good luck with the job interview.”
Now he sits in my Honda Civic, screaming and shaking violently at his invisible attackers. I push the car into drive, traveling gradually down the long gravel driveway.
“It’s okay, Devin, it’s me, Florence, I’m right here.” I glance into the review, watching my mother’s face fade into the dust.
“I know.” Devin lifts his head from his hands. His as body solid as stone. My eyes blink rapidly as I look from him to the approaching road ahead. “Devin?” I whisper, reaching gently for his knee.
He lashes out, snatching my wrist into his grasp. I gasp, slamming on the breaks. He laughs darkly. Devin’s eyelashes flutter, revealing the black now shadowing his irises. A demonic voice responds, “When we get down this driveway Florence, I’m going to kill you.”
I let go of the wheel, clutching the baby within my belly. “Devin, please no! Remember Ellie, Devin please!”
But the man I love isn’t there; his body now vacant.
He pulls my wrist to his chest, glaring into my eyes as the car rolls forward.
“Devin, please,” I sob. He lifts his free hand, reaching for my face.
I have no time to think, only act, I grab the Bojangles cup from the console and throw the tea into his face, hoping to wake him up.
He roars, latching onto my arms and pulls my body between his knees. I scream as the car continues to roll, using one hand to protect Ellie and the other to lash out, clawing helplessly at his face. I kick at his shoulders, screaming his name. “Devin please stop! The baby, Devin, the baby!”
I drive my feet into his chest and let go of my belly to pull the door handle. I shift my body deeper into the floorboard as he claws for me and use my leg to shove the door open with all my might, tumbling backward out of the car. My back slams onto the payment as he?—
A whimper fills my ears as I cry in agony against the asphalt.
Devin’s face blurs, slowly taking place of…
Kova’s? My eyes flutter open, the dark, musty warehouse swirling into view.
Whines echo into the empty space as my body trembles, shaking violently against the biter floor.
I choke out a dry cough, struggling to lift myself.
Kova paces against the fence, barking frantically.
I can’t move. I’m frozen within the tremors.
The lights flicker on, blinding us both. “Are you having a freaking seizure?” Greer barks out, her boots thumping loudly against the floor.
“It’s a PTSD tremor. I thought you read her file.” Jett walks at her side, his head hung low.
“I did,” she snaps, clicking her nails against the bars. “Get up.”
I couldn’t get up if I wanted to. I lie there struggling against the war raging in my body as her eyes flame at my disobedience.
“I. Said. Get. Up!” Greer screams, slapping her palms against the enclosure. Kova’s whimpers die, her own mask slipping into place as she hurls herself against the bars, savagely lashing out.
My nostrils flare. “Why don’t you come in here and make me,” I bite out as I roll flat on my back with a huff.
Greer’s head tilts as she considers, looking from Jett to the bars.
“I don’t believe that’s a good idea,” he whispers. For her or for me is the real question. I only need another minute for this to pass, and the adrenaline coursing through my veins isn’t helping.
Greer shrugs him off, fumbling with the keys in her vest. “Close it behind me.” she orders.
The steel screeches as it slides roughly across the floor. Greer strides in like a freight train, clearly challenged by Jett’s warning. The nimble female straddles me, grabbing a fist full of my hair and then jerks me over.
I can only laugh now. “Beat my ass, Greer,” I yell, smiling wickedly. “Do it.”
Her fist slams down straight down into my nose, the spearing pain shoots across my face as blood spews. My body stills, eyes fluttering shut. I chuckle, deliberately spreading a grin across my lips.
Greer strikes again, grunting as her knuckles connect with my jaw only causing my laughter to echo louder throughout the warehouse.
“Greer, that’s enough,” Jett barks.
But she doesn’t listen, another blow to the side of my head springs a ringing sensation in my ear drums, silencing Kova’s barking. I still lie limply, although the minute is up. And Greer failed to realize Kova isn’t the only hungry wolf in the warehouse. Except, I don’t want food. I want blood.
She rears her bloody fist back, shaking with fury from the laughter gurgling from my throat. “You fell, Florence.”
I smile sharply as she brings down her rage, meeting it with my own.
I throw every bit of momentum at her that I have, serving her with a right hook that sends her flying off of me, my shirt tearing in her grasp as she goes.
“You got what you wanted, Greer, I’m up!
” I roar, barreling to my feet. But Greer is ready for me, her lips curling as she crouches low.
I don’t ball my fists this time, I leave my them open, wiggling at my sides with anticipation.
A war cry erupts from Greer as she lunges, her claws swiping for my face.
I meet her halfway, throwing all my weight into each blow to her ribs.
The air wooshes from her lungs but she doesn’t falter and swirls around me, jabbing her elbow hard into my back.
My knee banks with the hit, and I spin on it, using my other leg to sweep her off her feet.
Greer crashes onto her back with a bone-rattling thud, grunting and kicking my chest as hard as she can as I soar for her again.
She barely jumps away in time. Her teeth are barred hard, our fists flying into each other relentlessly.
I welcome each hit— they distract her as I push her backward into wall.
“Florence, no, they’ll kill you!” Jett yells, his knuckles wrapped tightly around the steel as he watches helplessly.
“They better hope they do!” I scream as I drive my fist into her nose.
Greer’s head connects to the block wall with a sickening crack.
Her eyes bulge when she realizes I’ve got her right where I want her.
I lunge for her throat, still taking each blow.
I wrap my hand around the porcelain skin there, her pulse rapidly thundering beneath my palm.
At the same time, Greer grabs a fist full of my hair, but I block the other desperate hand with my elbow as she tries to reach for my face.
I throw us backwards into the floor, we slide but I don’t let go, jerking her head over into my lap and hook my fingers into her nostrils.
Greer releases my hair with a gasp. She freezes.
Then begins frantically scratching at my wrists.
I curl my fingers deeper into her nose, the skin threatening to break way.
Warm liquid pools around them as I jerk her still.
With my free hand, I reel back and begin relentlessly hammering down on the back of her head as Jett continues to holler from outside the gate. Kova is now completely silent behind us.
Greer screams in my lap, her nails digging into my wrist and thigh as I pound harder and harder, using every ounce of energy I have left.
She bucks wildly trying to escape. But if I’m not getting out of here alive, neither is she.
“If I go down then you’re going down with me!
” My voice is not my own, nor my eyes as red consumes my vision with a familiar venom.
A gun clicks behind me, bringing me to a sudden halt. My chest heaves as I whip around to find Jett with his pistol pointed right at my abdomen.
His eyes swim with pain, sweat trickling down his temples. “Let her go, Florence— don’t make me do this.” His voice shakes with the same tremor of his hand.
I chew my lip between my teeth, contemplating my outcomes. I narrow my eyes and rear my fist back once more. But it’s Kova’s whimper that halts me. Not the gun partially threatening me. I look at the lone wolf, her posture no longer rigid but calm, with understanding.
I release a breath, yanking my bloodied hand out from beneath Greer, and shove her from me.
I stumble to my feet and straighten tall to the best of my ability.
Greer’s hands slap against the bars, a hoarse groan slipping from her lips as she struggles to pull herself to her feet.
Jett keeps the gun locked on me as he steps to her side, sliding a supporting arm around her waist. As her head droops from view, he quickly mouths, “I’m sorry.
” But my mask is so tightly glued all I do is grunt, no longer able to trust his word.
“You’ll p-pay for this,” Greer gurgles, her face unrecognizable.
“I’m counting on it.” I give them the most Bear salute I can muster and slouch against the solid wall.