I pull my gun from my jacket and his eyes lock onto it instantly.
"No," he whispers.
"Yes."
"I said I’m sorry."
"That doesn’t undo what you did."
"I’ll go to prison," he says quickly. "Call the police and turn in... I’ll go willingly."
I shake my head.
"That would give you ti.... Appeals and lawyers. Ti for you to pull connections and we can’t have that now can we?."
My voice doesn’t rise.
"You don’t get that... and you should be thankful, really’ that I’m giving you this grace, usually i would torture the shit outta you before finally killing but because you aren’t worth my ti I’m giving you the easy way out. I’m starting to see you don’t sound very appreciative of tht..... makes wanna change my mind."
He’s fulll blown sobbing now.
I think about Elaine and the way her voice shook when she first told .
I step closer, my decision made.
"She thinks she survived you," I tell him. "She did."
I raise the gun.
"But you don’t."
He tries to jerk away even though he’s tied down.
"Please!!. Please " he says one last ti.
I don’t answer... he looks pathetic in this position, begging for his life. Real n don’t beg we go down with our pride intact.
I pull the trigger, the shot echoing through the warehouse and his body goes slack instantly.
Thomas steps forward after a mont.
"It’s done," he says quietly.
I stare at the body for a few seconds longer.
No satisfaction or triumph.
Just finality.
I holster the gun.
For a brief second, my sister flashes through my mind.
Then Elaine.
I visibly shake whatever thought is about forming in my head and walk toward the door.
"Clean it up," I tell Thomas.
Outside, the air is cold.
I inhale deeply.
Sowhere in the city, Elaine is sleeping.
She doesn’t know yet.
She doesn’t know that the man who hurt her no longer exists.... She doesn’t know that I would do this a thousand tis over if it ant she never has to look over her shoulder again.
I get into the car and drive ho.
——————
Back to present>>>>>>>>>>><
I wake up to the vibration of Zane’s phone on the nightstand. It keeps going and going, back to back calls.
He exhales heavily beside and reaches for it before the sixth buzz finishes. His body is already tense.
"Yeah?," he answers, voice rough and deep with sleep. Sohow I realized I liked hearing him like this he sounds... hot.
I turn onto my back and stare at the ceiling while he listens. He doesn’t speak for a while. Just listens and sits up.
Then his features tightens.
"When?" he asks.
Silence again.
His free hand curls into a fist over the blanket.
"Anyone hurt?"
Another pause.
"Okay i wll handle it."
He hangs up.
He doesn’t look at imdiately. He sits there on the edge of the bed, phone still in his hand, his shoulders tense.
Sothing is wrong that I can tell.
Before I can ask, I grab my own phone from the nightstand.
The screen lights up with twelve missed ssages all from Ivy. Woaaa
My stomach drops, sitting up straight and open them.
Where are you?
Call .
Elaine please.
It’s not serious but I need you.
They admitted .
I stare at the last one.
Admitted her?.
My heart starts racing.
I press call imdiately and she answers on the second ring.
"Elaine?" Her voice sounds weak and thin Like she hasn’t slept.
"Ivy. What the hell? Why didn’t you call earlier?"
"I didn’t want to freak you out," she says. There’s a faint beeping of machines in the background.
My throat tightens.
"How long have you been there?"
"A few days."
"A few days!?" I nearly shout it.
"It’s just so complications. They’re running tests."
"Complications with what?"
She hesitates.
"Just so issues. Don’t panic."
"Ivy."
"I’m fine, I’m fine " she says quickly, but her voice cracks at the end.
That’s not fine.
"Which hospital?" I ask.
She tells .
"I’m coming right now."
"You don’t have to rush."
"I’m coming," I repeat.
We hang up.
Zane is standing now. Already moving toward the bathroom but he pauses when he sees my face.
"What happened."
"Ivy’s in the hospital," I say. My voice sounds distant to my own ears. "She’s been there for a few days."
He watches carefully.
"What for."
"She didn’t say clearly."
He nods once, thinking.
"I’m going."
He doesn’t answer right away, he just disappears into the bathroom.
I hear the tap running a mont after.
I get out of bed and start pulling clothes from the dresser, I don’t even care if they match.
When he cos back out, his expression is different
"What is it," I say imdiately.
"One of my warehouses was set on fire last night."
I freeze.
"What?"
"Security called and It wasn’t an accident."
My chest tightens.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"Was anyone hurt?"
"No. Luckily."
"Then what’s the problem?" I ask, frustration creeping into my voice. "Go handle it."
"That’s not the only issue."
He looks at fully now.
"If they burned a warehouse, they’re escalating."
"And?"
"And that ans they’re around."
My fingers still on the zipper of my jeans.
"So?"
"So you don’t leave the house right now."
I blink.
"Uhmmmm What?"
"It’s not safe."
I let out a short breath of disbelief.
"My sister is in the hospital Zane."
"And my enemies just made a move, they would be out for you too as my wife it’s not safe for you"
"That has nothing to do with my going to see Ivy."
"It has everything to do with you."
I stare at him.
"You think soone’s going to attack in a hospital parking lot?"
"If they want leverage, yes."
My pulse starts pounding in my ears.
"Zane, stop."
"I’m not stopping anything. I’m telling you the situation so you know how to be careful ."
"I don’t care about any fucking situation Zane. My sister is in the hospital and needs my help."
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