16. Simon #3
If I disappeared it wouldn’t take her long to get used to her life without me. I don’t doubt that she’d prefer it, especially with how much she lets me know she dislikes my company.
“Oh, that’s not true,” Cora says. “You’re a popular guy.”
I laugh dryly. “It’s not that.”
June hit the nail on the head earlier. The only reason that girl came up to me earlier is because she thought I was Simon Beckett.
The notorious playboy who lives a lavish lifestyle of luxury.
A fake fucking persona I accidentally created when I went through my rebellious phase and tried to fill the void in my life with booze, girls, and spending money.
It didn't work, obviously, but that didn't stop people from craving what I could offer.
I had more fake friends than I knew what to do with, and for a while, I thrived on the high of being the center of attention.
But even with every bit of notoriety it gave me, I was still an empty fucking pit inside.
Nothing could fix the emptiness and the more I took, the worse it made me feel.
And to top it off, that’s the lasting impression I have on every single person I interact with.
They think I’m this fuckboy who doesn’t have feelings, who doesn’t care, who has no intelligence, but yet only cares about bottle service and boobs.
Everyone underestimates me, and that was one of the main reasons I wanted to prove them wrong and win the throne that Dominic now holds.
Is he qualified for the position? Without a doubt.
But so fucking am I.
And it was just within my grasp until June came charging into our lives.
I could have had it. I could have had everything.
I was prepared to use my power to eventually claim her, too, but when she was bleeding out in my arms, everything that I worked so fucking hard for felt impossibly unimportant.
It was overwhelming, the flush of emotions that went through me. Rage. Agony. Terror.
I went from almost having it all to nothing and I didn’t know how to react other than to give her my word that I would concede as her dying wish.
Because if I was going to lose everything, I wanted her final moments to be filled with the understanding that I would have chosen her.
Her above the lifestyle, the money, the only thing I’ve ever really cared about.
I held my hand against her chest as her blood slipped through my fingertips, leaving with the only chance I'd ever have to prove to everyone that I wasn't the immature boy they thought I was.
I could have let her die. I could have pushed to have the council overthrow Dominic’s position. I could have convinced them he was distracted by a female and wouldn’t be fit for the job.
But I knew all too well the pull she had on him, because I felt it, too.
He’s just the ignorant bastard that’s taking it for granted.
“Listen,” I tell the girls. “I don’t want to interrupt. I know how long it’s been since you two got to see each other.”
"Are you kidding?" Cora laughs. "I word-vomited my entire trip in like four minutes flat. And June here is a closed book, so it's safe to say we're caught up enough for you to join."
I side-eye June and consider my options. I don't want to leave her, but I don't want to impose, and I sure as shit don't want to impede the real reason I'm here, to protect her.
“Everybody, down!” someone yells.
Two shots ring out.
I react without thinking, shielding June with my body and yanking her off of the chair and under the table. My heart races, those memories of that night in the council home rushing back over me. I fumble my hands over her, frantically searching for the blood.
“I’m fine,” June reassures me. “Simon, I’m fine.”
But I don’t believe her. The image in my mind is too vivid to shake, and I can’t suppress the fear that she’s going to die on me again.
Cora responds much slower than I do, joining us under the table and cowering next to us.
I grab her and pull her toward June, covering them both with my frame. “Are you hurt?” I ask her.
“No.” Cora’s chest heaves. “What the fuck is going on?”
I shake my head. "I don't know. Active shooter. I won't let anything happen to either of you, I promise." I rip my shirt out from its tucked-in position and pull out one of the guns on my body. I verify that it's loaded and press it into June's hands.
She eyes me seriously and takes it.
“If anyone approaches that isn’t me, you fucking shoot them. Do you hear me?” I slide the other gun out of my ankle holster and check the chamber. “Do not leave each other, and whatever you do, do not try to run. You’ll make yourself an easy target.”
“Where are you going?” June asks me.
“To kill the bastard.”
Cora stifles a gasp, but I ignore it and focus on the sounds happening within the confines of this death trap. A woman screams, feet shuffle against the floor, furniture creaks as it’s moved. Panicked whispers spread and somebody muffles something incoherently.
“Simon?” June meets my gaze. “Be careful, please.”
I run my hand along her cheek, not giving a shit how fucking inappropriate it might be. “I will, love.” I push the gun in her grasp toward her. “You know how to use it.”
She nods stiffly and I turn, still crouched but trying to get a better look before I rise completely.