THIRTY-EIGHT
Nyx
I find myself whistling as I leave the store.
It was perfect timing that they called to let me know my purchase was ready to be picked up, so after dropping Raya off at the club, I came straight to the store.
It's barely been an hour since I left her at the front door of Unholy, but I need to hear her voice.
Is this what it means to be whipped?
I stop to think about what I'm going to do but say fuck it. Too many years were wasted without Raya, so I pull my phone out and text her. When that still isn't enough, I FaceTime her instead.
All is going well until I hear a male call my girl beautiful, and then, I can't get back to the club fast enough. I know I'm overreacting, but I don't like hearing other men flirting with what's mine.
When Raya's voice takes on a different tone after calling Mara, warning bells start to go off. Something's not right. My foot automatically presses down on the accelerator; I'm not too far from the club.
"Bomb!"
The word doesn't faze me right away when she screams it, but the second it does, I call out her name just before a loud explosion, and the screen goes black.
I think I've gone into shock. I don't remember the rest of the drive to the club.
The flames coming out of the front doors immediately catch my attention, along with the crowd standing outside the club.
I see many familiar faces, all in different states of dress or undress. Some were in private rooms at the time, so they have sheets or towels wrapped around them. None of them are the ones I'm most concerned about.
As soon as I exit my car, I hear the firetrucks in the distance. I try calling Raya's phone again, but it goes straight to voicemail. She was up front. I stare at the flames lapping outside the building from the front entrance.
"Saraya!" I call out repeatedly, tugging at my hair.
It reminds me of the accident scene I came upon when she left me not too long ago. She's got to be okay. I call out again, but I still get nothing.
"Nyx…"
I hear my name and feel a hand on my shoulder. Spinning, I see Cray standing there, worry written all over his face. I ignore him and turn back to the club. I can't stand here any longer, so I start for the front entrance, only to be yanked back.
"What the fuck, Nyx? Are you trying to die, Jesus?" Cray yells over the noise of the fire.
"Let me go; I need to get to Raya!" I scowl at him as I try to break free.
"Zilas!" I hear Cray call out, and suddenly, two of my best friends are holding me down.
I struggle until they take me down to the ground and hold me there. I stare out at the fire, not being able to move—not able to get to my little lamb.
"Saraya!" I scream at the top of my lungs.
I can't lose her. I just got her back! Please, God, don't take her from me! I chant over and over in my head, praying to a God I have no business praying to because I don't acknowledge him any other time, but still—I pray.
"Get the fuck off me! I need to get inside; I need to get to her!"
The firetrucks pull in, and immediately, they start running the hoses toward the fire.
It's not good enough, though. I need to get inside.
However, Cray and Zilas have a firm grip on me as I lay on my stomach.
I can feel the tears drip from my nose as I lay here and stare at the burning building that has my little lamb held hostage.
I begin to struggle again as I threaten my friends, "If you don't let me up, and Raya dies, you fuckers better hide, because I'm coming for you!"
My friends look at each other, not only with concern but hurt. I don't fucking give a shit. I was just beginning to live again, and that was all due to her—the love of my fucking life, who could very well be burning to death while they hold me down.
I press my forehead to the cement—and cry.
"Oh, fuck," Cray curses.
"Nyx," Zilas says my name.
I ignore him, not wanting to look at him or Cray, but their hold lessens until they no longer hold me down. It doesn't really matter, though. I remain with my head pressed against the ground.
"Nyx!" Zilas calls out again as he tries hauling me to my feet.
I shove him away. "Leave me the fuck alone—"
"Fucking look!" he cuts me off and points toward the east side of the building.
I don't recognize the sound that escapes me as I see Adrik carrying Raya in his arms. She hangs limply against him, so I know she isn't conscious. My feet feel like cement blocks as I start running toward them, unable to get to them fast enough.
"Raya!"
I pull her out of my friend's arms and hold her to me.
I don't waste any time hurrying over to one of the emergency vehicles, shoving a few people with minor cuts and scrapes out of the way.
When the paramedic tries stopping me from laying Raya on the stretcher inside the ambulance, I glare at them.
"Do you know who the fuck I am?"
They look me up and down before their eyes land on the skull tattoo on my hand. Everyone knows that only the Gods of Nyte's Hall have this tattoo on our hands. Unless you are a newcomer to Nyte, everybody knows our mark.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize—"
"Shut the fuck up and help her—now!"
"Yes, Sir. Can you tell me what happened?"
"I don't know. I was on the phone with her, and there was an explosion. The phone went dead after that."
I watch as the young guy puts an oxygen mask over her face before he takes her vitals.
I sit on the bench, holding Raya's hand, hoping she will open her beautiful eyes for me.
Her clothing is torn and singed from the fire, and soot is covering parts of her face and other parts where there's skin showing .
"I found her in the coat closet. She was partially buried under the shelving unit that became detached from the wall." Mara's comment has me looking in her direction, and it's the first time I even noticed that she was with Adrik when he came out with Raya.
"You found her?" I ask as I look our little devil over.
Amara's leather outfit is torn, and some of her hair is singed. She holds onto her left arm with her right hand as she leans against Adrik for support.
"Yeah, I was halfway to her when the bomb went off.
Luckily, I was able to get through a sliver of the room that led to the hostess stand.
I saw the door to the coat room open and ran to it since I didn't see her anywhere nearby.
It took me a bit, but I finally got her free and dragged her to the back of the room and the door leading to the back hallway. "
"I was making sure the building was clear and was heading out myself when I saw Mara dragging Raya," Adrik finishes explaining.
"Thank you—both of you." It comes out as a whisper, but I know they heard me.
I glance at Mara as she stares at Raya on the stretcher. The concern is written all over her face. I know they haven't gotten along in the past, but they were best friends at one time, and I'd like to think that Mara's animosity toward my little lamb has lessened since finding out the truth.
"Sir, we need to get her to the hospital right away," the paramedic states, and I nod.
Looking straight at Adrik, my face hardens as I ask him to do me a favor. When he nods, I tell him, "Find the motherfucker who did this and bring him to me."
"You know we will," he responds right before the doors close and the ambulance drives away.
It doesn't matter who the fuck I am; the medical staff refuses to let me through the double doors they take Raya through.
Had I not known the nurse on duty, I would bulldoze my way back there, not trusting a damn soul.
Thankfully, Maria tells me she has already called Mahony to come in as soon as the incident came over the radio, and it was announced who was being transported in the ambulance .
It doesn't stop me from pacing the waiting room. When Adrik walks in, I give him a questioning look. "What are you doing here? You should be helping the others find who did this."
"We will—the guys are working on it—but Mara is hurt and refused to come, so I brought her."
I stop pacing and ask, "Is she going to be okay?"
"Yeah. She's got a gash on her arm and leg; both need stitches. Otherwise, she should be fine."
My hands ball into fists even tighter. "They fucked with the wrong people. Their deaths won't be quick. They're lucky that we don't hurt their loved ones." My lip curls as I snarl.
"Have you heard anything?" Adrik asks.
"Fuck no! They won't let me back there either. I'm about two seconds away from barging back there and—"
"You need to let us do our job, Mr. Beckam." I whip around to find Dr. Mahony standing in the doorway.
"Mahony, how is she?" I ignore his comment altogether.
"She's still out. Ms. Abbott suffered a few burns on her back, but they're minor.
She also has a few cuts, but I'm most concerned about the goose egg on the back of her head.
There's no doubt she's suffered a concussion, but we won't know any more until she wakes up.
There are no other major injuries, and that's good. "
"Can I see her?" I ask the doctor.
"The nurses are taking her to a private room. As soon as they have her settled, they will come and get you." Mahony turns toward Adrik and informs him, "I'm heading to check out Miss Nichols. I'll come out once I have, and you can go back to see her."
I go back to pacing the room.
"You look like shit, Beckam."
I glance at my friend, then flip him off when I see the slight smirk on his face. I know he's only trying to lighten the mood, but until I see Raya for myself, I can't sit here fucking around like all is right with the world.
"The guys told me what you said to them," Adrik states. "Don't you think it was a bit harsh? We've been by your side, through thick and thin, and you threaten Cray and Zilas for trying to keep you from killing yourself?"
I stop pacing again and turn to him. "I love you all like my brothers, but that woman," I say and point in the direction I last saw them take her.
" She's my fucking world, and if anything happened to her because they stopped me from trying to get to her, then yes.
I'm sorry you don't understand, but you will once you find the love of your life. "
Adrik stands there, staring at me in disbelief, but I don't give a shit at the moment.
I'll worry about smoothing things over once I know my little lamb is okay.
He's right, of course; they have all been there for me, but that doesn't change the fact that I will do whatever it takes regarding Saraya.
"Mr. Beckam, I can take you back now." A voice breaks the staring contest Adrik and I seem to be having. I turn to see a nurse standing in the doorway, hesitant to come in.
"Let me know how Mara is when you find out," I say as I pass Adrik.
"You just worry about Raya, I've got Mara," my friend growls softly.
I stop walking momentarily, but then continue before I say something I may regret.
Thoughts of Raya immediately pushes the issue aside as I follow the nurse back to my girl's room.
The sight when I enter claws at my heart.
The nurse gives me a small smile and closes the door, shutting me alone with Raya.
Pulling a chair to the side of Raya's bed, I take her hand and sit beside her, determined not to leave until she wakes up. Her head has a white bandage wrapped around it, and gauze covers one of the cuts on the forearm of the hand I'm holding.
"Baby, you need to wake up for me. I need to know that you're going to be okay. It's killing me not knowing." I kiss the top of her hand and keep it against my lips. "I love you, little lamb…"
The hands on the clock tick away as I sit here and wait.
I can feel my phone buzzing with notifications, but I'm not interested in what anyone has to say until I see my lamb's doe-like eyes staring back at me.
I can't picture my life without her in it any longer.
Now that I've had her back, she's become a part of me that I can't live without.
People can talk shit all they want. They can say it's not right or that what we're doing is forbidden, but there is nothing wrong with the love I have for my stepsister.
Why can't people get it through their heads that we are not of the same blood? Yeah, we've been family since the fifth and sixth grades, but does that even matter? Fuck it, and fuck anybody who tells me the love I feel is wrong when it's the only thing that has ever felt right in my entire life.
I'm just starting to close my eyes to try to catch a little nap when I feel a pull on the hand I'm holding. My head snaps up, and I gaze at the most beautiful sight. Saraya's eyes are open, and she's staring right at me. I kiss her hand again and smile at her.
"Thank fuck, I've been going crazy, baby. Don't ever scare me like that again."
The look she returns has my smile faltering, and when she pulls her hand out of mine, I frown, but what she says next has me sinking back into a dark abyss. I may have heard her wrong—I couldn't have heard her correctly.
"What did you just ask me?"
Her brows crease, but she speaks louder as she asks, "I asked who you were. Do I know you?"
Hearing this has my world spiraling, and it's about to crash and burn…