Page 92 of Exodus

“Dominic,” I sob out in reply. His face falls, and he swallows, eyes gleaming just before they clear.

“How many?” Sean asks, drop-landing next to us with my purse and one of my sundresses spilling out of the top of it.

“I counted ten cars when we rolled up,” Tyler says, nodding toward the tree line as more brothers emerge, running toward the house.

“No one leaves breathing,” Sean repeats Tobias’s orders, and Tyler nods in understanding.

I turn to Sean. “Sean, where is Roman?”

“He’s not here. He’s safe.”

“But they said his car is here.”

“He’s safe,” he assures, stepping up to me and handing me my purse before he turns to Tyler.

“Get her out of here. She’s parked past the tree line.”

Sean looks over to me, hazel eyes flitting with emotion a second before he thrusts me in Tyler’s arms. “Go,” he whispers hoarsely, and with that, he stalks toward the house. “No, not like this, please,” I call after him. “Sean!” I scream, my heart disintegrating, fear consuming me that this may be the last time I see him—that I see any of them. He ignores my plea, and the second he enters through the back door, a shot sounds out, ringing in my ears. Tyler muffles my scream while gripping me firmly around the waist before dragging me away.

“Please, Cee, please, we have to go,” he shouts as I crane my head in the direction of the house. He stops, cupping my shoulders and shaking me, drawing my eyes to his. “I need you to soldier up, right fucking now.”

I immediately stop my fight, swallow hard and nod. He grips my jaw to keep me focused on him as more gunfire sounds just inside the house, drawing closer.

“I need five minutes,” Tyler pleads. “Give me five minutes. You can do this.” I nod just before he grips me by the arm and takes off at a dead run. I follow, letting the adrenaline take over as we zigzag on the outskirts of the large yard until we reach the trees. A few more ravens emerge racing past us, not sparing us a glance as we sprint in the opposite direction just as the morning sun breaks through the base of the pines. Tyler scans the woods. His head cocked, his posture rigid, his military training appears to take over as he keeps me quiet and plastered to his side.

Safely, he navigates us to a break in the trees and roadside as we collectively catch our breath. My Jeep is parked at the side of the road, and behind it sits Dominic’s Camaro.

Tyler pulls the dress from my purse and turns facing the woods, keeping guard as I peel the blood-soaked clothes from me. When I’m redressed, he gathers my clothes and turns to me, slapping a wad of cash into my hand. “Cash only until you reach home. Get in and do not fucking stop until you reach Atlanta. Do not speed, do not drive erratically, and as soon as you’re there, find a place to wash off. No one sees you until you’re clean. You were not here, Cee. You were never here. Got it? Wait for my call.”

“Tyler, I can’t leave like this! I can’t leave them!”

“Cee, let me get back to them.”

I nod as he pulls me to him in a tight embrace before releasing me.

“Go. Now.”

In a blink, I’m thrust behind the wheel of my Jeep, and in the next, Tyler disappears behind the trees. Shaking uncontrollably, I turn the engine over and put it into gear, the sight of the car I pass as I floor the gas has me releasing a guttural cry.

The road begins to rapidly blur as the sun climbs into the morning sky, shedding light on a day I know I won’t survive. It’s all I can do to keep the wheel straight.

Dominic is gone. Gone.

There’s no coming back from this. From losing him. Not ever.

“God, please.” I bang my hands against the wheel as agony rips through me while I re-live the last minutes of his life.

I did nothing.

I stood frozen with fear as I watched them fight for me. I watched Dominic die to protect me, and I did nothing, nothing at all to help them, nothing to help myself. I just stood idly by and screamed. I reacted like a coward.

We both know I was never going to make it to thirty, brother. Take care of her.

“P-p-lease, G-G-od, p-p-please don’t take them! Please!” I race away with the taste of Dominic’s blood on my lips, coating my hands as I drive past the county line and exit onto the highway toward a future I no longer want.

part two

Now

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