45. Creed
Chapter 45
Creed
C ollins nuzzles herself deeper into my side just as the alarm on my phone buzzes on the small bedside table next to my head. I want to say fuck it to the concert tonight, but I know I can’t do that. I promised my buddy that we’d see this tour through for his band so that’s what we’ll do.
I turn off the alarm and turn to face Collins. Riley is wrapped around her back with one leg tucked between her knees and his arm draped over hers. What gets me, though, is the fact that their fingers are intertwined, and their arms are resting together across my torso.
The sight makes me wish I could stay here, just like this with them for-fucking-ever. Even with the weight of the universe and the shit happening around they both look so at peace while they sleep. That’s all I want for them. Some goddamned peace so they can live their lives however the fuck they want.
Reluctantly, I slide out from under Collins and lightly tap at Riley’s cheek to rouse him. He cracks his eyes open and looks at me, his deep brown eyes a little dazed from sleep. I smile at him and nod towards the door. He shakes his head and buries his face in Collins soft hair. It’s cute as fuck and I don’t blame him one damn bit, but we’ve got to get to the stage to run through a quick rehearsal with Blair and Bear.
That’s fun to say.
I lean over our girl to nuzzle into Ri’s neck obnoxiously to get him to wake up. He rolls his shoulder to try and nudge me off of him but when that doesn’t work, he whips his head to the side, and it puts us nose to nose.
His face flushes and it makes his freckles more prominent on his face. I love that about these two. Their freckles are so fucking adorable.
“We gotta go,” I whisper quietly as to not wake Collins.
He just stares at me with this pouty look that practically screams fight me but doesn’t respond. I keep staring at him until eventually he sighs dramatically in defeat.
“You’ve got to get off of me so I can get up, Creed.” He whispers back. His lips are so fucking close to mine I can feel each puff of warm breath coming from his mouth.
“Mm, that I do.” I grin, still not moving from where I’m hovering over him and Collins. It’s so tempting to lean down and steal a kiss from his lips, so that’s exactly what I do. The kiss is hardly a brushing peck against his mouth, but he doesn’t jerk away from me. I count it as a win, but I don’t push for more since he gave me this small token. He does look the slightest bit surprised because other than the night that Collins had orchestrated our kiss, I had never kissed his lips before.
I can practically see the gears turning in his mind so before he can overthink it, I give him another peck and immediately push to stand, holding out my hand to pull him from the bed. He gives me a grin that’s so bashful and I find it fucking precious as he stops next to me, pausing long enough to lay his forehead on my shoulder. He inhales deeply once before leaving the room without another word or glance back.
I’d love to know where his head is at, but I know that now is not the time .
We can explore that later.
Once we’re in the living room and out of earshot we speak a little more loudly. “We’ve got to be onstage in about fifteen minutes to start rehearsals with Blair.”
“Even though he doesn’t need it?” Riley asks, but it’s not really a question.
Blair has been nothing shy of fucking perfect since the moment he arrived a month ago. He’s a fucking monster on the bass and he knows all of our songs, plus a few from As We Stand. Little did we know he has perfect pitch so even when he wasn’t familiar with a song, he was able to pick up on the key and play right along like he’s the one who wrote the damn thing. He’s crazy talented with so many instruments, and he even fits in really well with everyone in our group. Especially Collins.
She thinks I was worried about him trying to swoop in and steal her away from me and it was cute to see her reassuring me, even better when she dragged me onto the bus and rode me within an inch of my life just to show her devotion to me.
I didn’t bother correcting her as we both got other-worldly orgasms from it, but what I see is that it’s not Collins that Blair has eyes for, but her big brother.
I don’t think he’s even noticed because he hasn’t been looking for a goddamned thing for years. He and I have had more time to catch up since he came home, and I couldn’t believe that he’s been practically living like a monk since he got out of rehab. He said he hasn’t even felt the need to touch another person, let alone himself.
Asher’s headstrong and used to be so sure of himself but he told me late one night that he can barely stand to look at himself in the mirror anymore. He feels so much guilt for the life that Collins was forced to live while he was getting sober and had a hard time forgiving himself. But that’s not all that’s eating at him. Collins treats him exactly as she did when she was a kid. With nothing but love, adoration, and pride. No, what I think is that Dani had to have done more than just get herself knocked up by one of his teammates to hurt Asher as bad as she did.
I hope she feels that tingling sixth sense in the back of her little mind to stay the fuck away from me if we’re ever in her city.
A knock sounds at the bus door, and I answer it, seeing that it’s Asher himself. “You got a second?” He asks, but he’s got a weird look on his face that has me calling for Riley.
Once we’re all outside I lean my shoulder against the door, facing Asher. “Have you heard anything about that partial match?”
He nods. “We found the guy. It’s not him. He’s an innocent who pissed himself when we pulled him into an abandoned warehouse to interrogate him.”
“Jesus,” I laugh, but there’s not much humor behind it. It’s some scary shit that Asher’s been trained to do since he started working for the McTavish brothers. “What’d you do with the guy afterward? He’s going to be fucking traumatized.”
Now it’s his turn to laugh as he stuffs his hands in his expensive suit pockets. “Don’t you know? Mass amounts of money are the number one cause of amnesia in this world.”
“Oh my god,” Riley buries his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. It’s a defense mechanism for when he’s uncomfortable so I don’t remark on it.
“So what now?” I question, thinking only about the safety of my girl who’s sleeping soundly on the bus.
“We proceed with the new security plan. I’ll place one of my own men here in front of the bus and have him guard the door from out here until I can get her and escort her to the venue myself. I don’t trust the silence of this fucker and it makes me nervous. I won’t risk losing her again.”
“That makes two of us, brother.”
Riley agrees before heading back onto the bus to get ready. Asher eyes him until he’s out of sight before he turns to me. “How does that work, exactly, between the three of you?”
I quirk a brow at him. “You sure you wanna know that? ”
“Not really.” He chuckles. “I’m just curious about what the dynamics are.”
“You mean you want to know if we’re all together together?”
He scratches at the back of his neck. “I’m not sure I want to know that, either. I guess I just want to make sure that Collins is being cared for the way she deserves, that she doesn’t feel left out or left behind. She deserves to be number one in someone’s eyes. To be put first the way so many failed to do when she was growing up.”
A pain like a stab to my heart makes me rub at my chest because he’s absolutely right. I look at my best friend, my girl’s older brother, my brother by choice, and give him the whole truth.
“The three of us need each other, in one way or another.” I shrug like the answer is simple. Because it is. “We just are what we are, and what we are— is perfect for one another.”
I’m not even sure I’m explaining just how right we are together and I don’t think there are enough words to make it make sense, either. I don’t love a person because they’re male or female. I love them for who they are as a person, for their soul. I’ve never cared to connect with anyone on this kind of level but I could see myself loving Riley as much as I love Collins.
Oh shit.
Oh fuck.
Oh my fucking shit.
I’ve gone and fallen head over heels in love with Collins Adaire Weston. I mean, I’m not surprised, she’s easy to love and I’ve loved her my whole life, just in a different way. What’s shocking is that this is the first time I’ve thought about it. The fact that I’m in love with her.
I can’t keep a secret for shit, so I’m gonna have to tell her. Like, tonight.
I realize that I’ve just been staring at Asher and he’s staring right back at me like a jackass, just waiting for me to keep talking.
I shake my head, and level Ash with a no bullshit glare. “Make no mistake that Collins is the center of what the three of us are. Everything we do, it’s done with her happiness, her love, and her care in mind. She is the center of our universe and we revolve around her. No matter what, Collins will come first, I promise you that.”
My best friend seems to think on that for a minute as he scrutinizes my face, scanning for even the tiniest hint of bullshit. I can see why that man pissed himself in Asher’s presence, he’s become very intimidating and almost downright scary when he’s staring someone down, but I’m not afraid of him.
I have no reason to cower, and I’ve given him no reason to try and intimidate me.
He nods, seeming to accept my answer at the same time his eyes flick to the door of the tour bus. “Riley’s good, too?”
I grin. “Riley’s the fucking best. He’s been spoiling Collins since the day I found her and dragged her ass home and hasn’t stopped since. Before they even knew what they felt for each other, he was all about her. My boy fell hard and fast.”
Asher’s shoulders ease a little. “And what about you? You’re okay with… this?” He waves a vague hand around the bus, the gesture indicating the three of us.
My smile widens even more as I close my eyes, thinking about Collins and Riley and how good our lives have been since the three of us became “official”— Collins’ words. “I wouldn’t want to live this life any other way. Everything is as it should be. When Collins agreed to be ours, it was like something just… settled up here.” I say, tapping my temple with a finger. “When she disappeared two years ago, it fucked with my head. Something had already changed with how I thought about her back then so when she fucking vanished, I snapped. Having her back and knowing she’s mine, ours? I feel fucking whole again.”
Asher stares at me for a long moment before he nods and simply says, “Okay.”
I accept the short answer because there’s not much that can be said. He’s already given me his blessing and nothing he says now will change how I feel, and it won’t change the dynamic of my relationship between Riley and Collins. He pulls me into a hug and squeezes me once before slapping me on the back and backs up a step when he pulls away.
“I’ll be back in two hours after I check in and make my rounds to get my sister and escort her backstage myself. She’ll be surrounded by my team, so she’ll be safe. We may not have a location on Guy, but I’m not taking any chances. Is she performing tonight? How’s her shoulder?”
“She won’t be.” I answer simply and he gives me a funny look. I shrug. “Her shoulder will be fine, but I don’t want her to cause further damage to her muscles that would keep her from performing long term.”
“She’ll be pissed, but I agree with you.”
“This is one instance where I don’t care if she gets pissed at me. Her safety comes first at all times.”
He just laughs and shakes his head. “I’ll let you break that news to her. We’ll see you before the show starts.” He calls over his shoulder as he walks away, pulling his phone from his pocket. A few seconds later, Jones appears and nods once before turning his attention away from the bus, scanning his surroundings. He says nothing as he does his job and that’s fine by me. I’d rather his focus remain on keeping Collins safe than making pointless conversation.
I get back onto the bus to see Riley sitting on the couch, scrawling something in a notebook I haven’t seen in a while. He snaps it shut when he hears my approach and looks at me with bright red cheeks.
A slow grin eats up my face as I stop and crouch in front of him. “What’re you up to with this?” I ask, tapping the cover of his notebook. He’d used it in the past to help him vent when he didn’t have the words to say. He’d leave it open for me to read, but eventually his entries morphed into letters or poems, and one day they became songs.
I haven’t seen him pick it up in years, so I’m curious as to what he’s writing in there .
“It’s nothing” he answers too quickly, the flush of his cheeks growing deeper.
Alright.
I smile at how cute his bashful expression is, but I leave it be. I know he’ll eventually tell me, so I won’t force it out of him.
I stand and pull my phone from my pocket and send a text to Collins.
Me: We had to get to rehearsals, but Asher said he’ll escort you to the stadium. Take your time getting ready and pick your favorite lipstick. I want your marks on me again tonight, Stardust.
I fire off another text to her when an idea pops into my head. This tour has been wild and I don’t want her to feel like she’s been shelved. Our girl comes first, in all ways.
Me: Pick your favorite food and snacks and I’ll order them for a movie night in. I’ve got plans for you and Riley and I can’t wait to bring them to life. I’ll see you soon, Stardust. Xx
I send it and look up to see Riley sending off his own text before he looks up at me.
“You ready?”
“For a rehearsal, we don’t need, for a guy who can probably outplay any of us on any instrument? Sure.” He pouts, looking back toward the room where Collins is sleeping soundly. He looks like he wants to say fuck it and go back to bed with her.
Me, too, buddy. Me-fucking-too.
I sling my shoulder around him and we make our way to the venue with the security that was waiting for us when we stepped out.
We get through rehearsal just fine—exactly as we expected—and Riley is fidgeting in his seat behind the drum set. His knee hasn’t stopped bouncing and he’s biting his lip. My brow furrows, wondering what’s got him so antsy right now.
I step up onto his platform and his eyes take a second to snap to mine. “What’s up?” He asks before going right back to biting his lip.
I want to bite it for him to pull him out of whatever haze he’s in, but instead I say, “You alright? You seem like you’re not all here.”
He chews his lip for a second before he responds. “I forgot my headphones. The ones I use to cancel noise and listen to the tracks before the concert starts.”
Ah. He hasn’t gone a single concert without them and I think at this point he doesn’t need them, but they’ve become a part of his routine and it’s throwing him off. I also think he wants to see Collins one more time before the concert starts. I also don’t blame him for that.
I jerk my head toward the backstage area. “Why don’t you go get them real quick? We’ve still got time before they start ushering everyone inside, so go.”
He releases a breath and stands from his seat and makes his way down the platform. I grab the back of his neck and pull him in to kiss his temple. “It’ll be alright. Give our girl a kiss for me.”
“Just the one?” He jokes and it puts me at ease.
I laugh. “I mean you can kiss her as many times as you fucking want, just make sure at least one of them is from me.”
“We’ll see.” He smirks. The little shit fucking smirks at me, and it’s such a rare expression coming from him that it’s got my dick twitching and my brain threatening to challenge him.
So, because I am me, and Riley is Riley, I do. Still gripping his neck, I swing him around to face me and shift my grip to his hair and tug until he tilts his face up to meet mine. I stare down at him and watch as his pupils blow wide with something that looks an awful lot like lust. It’s just Bear and Blair onstage right now and I couldn’t care less if they were watching.
“Careful, Sweet Boy,” I all but growl in a low, hushed tone, my face inches from his. “You keep using that smart mouth with me and I might have to come up with other ways to fill it.”
His chest is heaving and I realize he’s got a tight grip on either side of my t-shirt. His dark eyes glaze over, filled to the brim with subservience when he breathes out a shaky breath. “Yes, sir.”
Holy fuck.
I hold back a groan of frustration because I don’t have time to explore that response. But I absolutely will be exploring it later, that’s for fucking sure.
I grin, it's wide and shit-eating but I can’t help it. I pull back, squeezing his hair at the root once as I whisper, “Good boy.”
He visibly shudders at the words and I remember the way he reacted the same way when Collins had called him the same thing. I spin him around and swat him on the ass before shoving him toward the exit before he can respond or overthink things. “Hurry up and get your headphones, kiss our girl and get back here so we can get this show over with.”
He nods and fixes me with another smile before he walks off, looking a little lost in thought but not like earlier. He’s got a goal in mind and other shit to think about now.
I’m not exactly looking forward to the concerts anymore. It’s not that I don’t love performing, because I really do, but this tour has been stressful because we’re constantly tense. Everyone is walking around on high alert because no one can find Collins’ foster father who can’t seem to get over his obsession with her. All I want to do is whisk her away somewhere she can fully enjoy herself and live a free and easy life. A life where she doesn’t have to constantly look over her shoulder and anticipate the worst case scenarios.
I send a text to Lachlan asking for updates but he doesn’t answer.
I dick around with my guitar, talk with Bear and Blair about plans and sets for the next few cities, and make sure everyone’s got what they need onstage before we start. I do everything I can to keep my mind busy and off of all things Collins and Riley. Specifically, Collins and Riley naked. On their knees in front of me.
Shit. I don’t need to start the night with a raging boner and a bad case of blue balls because I’m thinking about how my girl and my boy will look while they?—
Goddamnit. Focus, Creed.
I’m talking with Ayla about an article that was posted about Collins as the ‘ Mystery Girl’ when Asher comes barreling backstage like his ass is on fire. I’m immediately on alert because I realize that one, Riley hasn’t been back for nearly an hour and two, Asher doesn’t have Collins at his side.
“We have a fucking problem.”
I’m running after a frantic Asher as he shoves his way past the stage crew and toward the exit.
“Where the fuck are they?” I call after him but he doesn’t answer. He’s got his gun drawn and his team surrounds us as we weave our way through the buses.
My heart is beating out of my chest but it stops cold when we reach our bus. I shove to the front of the group and pause next to Asher. There’s a half-naked body slumped on the ground and a hole in his skull, right in the middle of his forehead. It’s Jones. His lifeless eyes stare up at nothing and it’s fucking horrifying.
Asher curses and turns to bark something at one of his men. I don’t hear what he says and I don’t even have time to process the fact that a man is dead because I notice that the bus door is also hanging wide open. I barrel towards it, uncaring that my best friend is yelling for me to stop and let them sweep the area.
I’m stopped in my tracks once more and I feel the blood drain from my face as I take in the state of the bus. There’s broken glass and blood everywhere. Cushions from the couches are torn and shredded, and the place looks like it’s been turned upside down. Then I see a spilled bag of m&m’s on the floor, the candies scattered and lying in a smear of blood.
I feel dizzy. My lungs squeeze and my stomach churns as I take everything in. My brain finally catches up and has me screaming out for Collins and Riley. Asher tries to snatch my arm as I move for the back of the bus.
“Creed, fucking wait!” He tries, sounding as panicked as I am, but his warning falls on deaf ears as I shake out of his hold.
This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening.
The words play on repeat in my head as I frantically check the back room to find it empty. As are the bathroom and bunks. I’m shaking as I keep yelling for them, like this is a fucking terrible joke and they’ll pop out and yell that they got me.
I think I’m becoming delirious as I call out for them because I don’t notice Asher fucking shaking the shit out of me until I feel his slap land against my cheek.
I blink, turning my furious eyes on him. “Where the fuck are they, Asher?” I say, pure venom bleeding into the quiet of my voice. “She was supposed to be fucking safe! You said she was safe and I swore I’d protect her and she’s not. Fucking. Here! Where the fuck are Collins and Riley, Asher?!” I’m screaming at him but Asher’s face remains neutral and calm.
It pisses me off more. How the fuck does he look so unaffected when it looks like a murder scene in here? I swing at him and my fist connects with his jaw. He barely moves and he just lets it happen.
He rubs at the bruise already forming on his face and levels me with a glare. “That will only happen once.” He swipes at the small trickle of blood coming from the corner of his mouth. “I let you get that hit in because I need you to be focused. We need to check the CCTV footage to try and gather what the fuck happened and where they went.”
I let his words seep in before nodding reluctantly.
We’re supposed to start performing in ten minutes, but I don’t give a shit. Apparently, Blair and Bear share the same sentiment. Blair has this murderous glint in his eyes as he crouches down, looking intently at something on the floor before he snaps something at the security guard behind him. Bear looks like he’s going to be sick .
His voice is rough, sounding like it's been raked through hot coals when he tells us that he has Ayla holed up on his bus, the vehicle surrounded by security.
Asher has one of his men announce the cancellation of the concert tonight since we no longer have a manager.
The four of us are crowded around Asher’s laptop on Blair’s bus with Lachlan on speakerphone. He called, cursing in both English and Gaelic and absolutely fucking fuming over the fact that someone had slipped past his security team and technology.
We’re watching the shared screen as Lachlan rewinds the footage until we see when Jones took up his post outside of the bus. He starts to fast forward, showing when Riley and I left. Jones’ eyes never stop scanning the area.
We watch as Jones jerks in surprise, then draws his gun. A weird sound fills the speakers of the laptop at the same time Jones’ head snaps back and his body falls in a heap on the ground with a hole between his eyes. Lachlan curses on the other side of the phone as he skips past where a large, oddly familiar man makes quick work of undressing Jones and slips his uniform shirt on. He scans the area before dragging Jones around the corner before returning to the door. He makes quick work of picking the lock and slips onto the bus. The door is still wide open but it’s quiet for a minute before I hear the soft, muffled rasp of Collins questioning the invader.
I feel like I’m going to fucking puke when the crashing noises start, and her cries fill the speakers. This goes on for several minutes as my girl fights against this attacker. The man shouts something I can’t understand before I hear Collins cry out in pain, then silence.
I feel sick to my stomach because I would rather hear her alive and fighting than her silence.
A few seconds later, Riley rounds the corner and pauses when he sees the door to the bus standing wide open. The image is a little grainy, but you can’t miss the concern and fear smothering his face before he dashes up the steps. He says something, followed up with a shouted “ what the fuck”, but it’s cut off by the sound of a gunshot. Followed by the barely visible image of Riley’s body hitting the ground.
“ No!” I yell out, ready to send my fist through the screen but Blair is there with a hand on my shoulder.
“We need to get a positive ID on him and figure out where the fuck he went and if he’s got both Riley and Collins.”
I don’t know how the fuck he’s so calm when his sister— my girl —was taken from us. Again. And this time, I think she’s in more danger than ever.
I watch with a heavy feeling in my gut as this motherfucker hauls Collins out of the bus, griping about needing to come back for Riley and delivering them both to him. I know exactly who he’s talking about and I’m feeling extra murderous now.
Lachlan flips through the cameras until we get to a clear view of his blacked-out car that blends in with the other security vehicles and tosses her into the trunk like she’s nothing more than an inanimate object. When he turns to face the camera and heads back to the tour bus, it hits me.
He’s the guy I’ve seen several times now at the signings after the show. The one who claimed he wanted things signed for his sick daughter. It was odd because he always seemed more interested in Collins’ performances than the music we’d performed.
Lachlan’s voice hisses through the phone, practically finishing my thoughts. “He was a fucking plant. I ran his image across my facial recognition database, and he’s confirmed to have been at every fucking concert. He’s been stalking us across state lines and keeping tabs on Collins.”
“How the fuck did you miss this, Lach?!” Blair snaps and it shocks me to see his level of lividity.
“Watch your fucking tone,” Lachlan warns. “Bands have crazy fucking fans who follow them all the goddamned time and he has no connections leading back to Guy, so I don’t fucking know, but I’ll find the answers.”
It sounds like a curse and a promise.
I watch as he drags Riley across the pavement and throws him in the trunk with Collins. I can’t see where he’s wounded since he’s wearing all black, but the blood trail leading to the car has my stomach twisting in a hard knot.
I close my eyes, willing the fury to not consume me so I can focus on finding my girl and my boy, but it feels like losing battle.
I get up and storm away while Asher sits and watches the footage, trying to get a read on the vehicle and where it was headed.
My mind starts to spiral as I think about how my whole life was just ripped right from my hands. The two people I love and care about more than life itself were taken from me.
Collins and Riley.
They’ve both been through hell and back and found solace from the pain of their past in one another. They healed one another. I promised them safety and security. A life free of pain and I fucking failed. Again.
“Fuck,” I hear Asher curse and I force my feet to move back to where he’s shouting and cursing at the laptop.
Bear and Blair look as sick as I feel.
We all watch in abject horror as the black car disappears from sight.
“This fucker must have access to the city cams because they’re all blank after this.” Lachlan’s voice is filled with agitation. The words feel like a nail in the coffin. “ Fuck,” he shouts, “we’ll find them. My men are already tracking them. I swear to you, Creed. We. Will. Get. Them. Back.”
I believe him, but I can’t focus. It’s hard to breathe. It’s hard to see past the red wall of pure, undiluted rage that’s free-flowing through my body.
Yes, we will get them back.
I note Asher checking his gun and it has me saying, “I’ll be needing one of those, too.”
His head snaps up at me as he holsters his firearm. “What? Creed?— “
“You’re fucking crazy if you think I’m not going to storm the place with you when we find them. That fucker’s death is mine. I want to see the look on his face right before I put a bullet in his skull for daring to take what’s mine.”
“Are you sure you want that?” He asks, but I’ve never been more confident in my answer when I stare him in the eye and say through gritted teeth, “Yes.”
Bear forces me from the bus and all but shoves me into Blair’s with Asher. Ash has been on and off the phone with Lachlan, Callan, and Camdan all night, gathering any and all intel their men have come up with on finding where this dead-man-walking took Riley and Collins.
He won’t give me any answers and my mind won’t settle.
I want a fucking army to take Guy down, and any other motherfucker who worked with him. I pace the small room I’m in as I pull my phone out and dial the one person I haven’t spoken to in too long. There’s only half a ring before he answers.
“Son.” My dad’s voice fills my ears and a calm washes over me for a moment, the panic gripping at me finally ebbing long enough for me to speak.
“Dad—” I try to say but the lump in my throat threatens to choke me.
“What’s wrong?”
I heave a breath, willing the words to come out of my mouth. “I need your help.”
The other line is quiet for a moment. Five years ago I learned what my father’s actual job entailed and to say I was shocked would be the understatement of the century. My whole life, I thought he was just a taxi driver who was committed to his job. Turns out that’s just a cover. He also helps to rescue women and children in difficult situations and helps them to start a new life free from danger. He’s done his whole life and I had zero fucking clue.
“Tell me where you are. I’ll be there, Creed.” I nod, even though he can’t see me. “Who is she?” He asks, his voice calm .
“She’s mine. She’s everything.” I take in a shuddering breath. “She was taken from me. This motherfucker has her and Riley.”
“We’ll get them back, son. Keep your head.” There’s a shuffling noise, followed by the sound of key’s jangling. “Send you location. I’ll be there soon.” He says before hanging up.
I never thought I’d need my father’s help, but something aches in my chest at the thought of him dropping everything to help me to get my people back.
Asher’s had enough of my pacing so he forces me to take a few shots of tequila that he found in a cabinet. The liqueur isn’t enough to knock me out, but it forces my body to relax to a sluggish state. I’m dumped on a bed where I’m left alone with nothing but my thoughts.
Well, two thoughts that take turns echoing in my mind. They play on repeat, each replay more vicious than the last:
They’re gone.
I’ll get them back.
They’re gone.
I’ll get them back.
They’re fucking gone.
I’ll fucking get them back.
They’re gone.
They’re gone.
They’re gone.
“Hang on, Stardust.” I breathe into the night as my eyes close against my will. “Protect our girl, Sweet Boy.”
I allow a single tear to fall before whispering into the dark before sleep consumes me.
“I’ll fucking get you back, and I’ll paint the world red with his fucking blood.”