Page 44 of Blood for Blood

“What’s the last thing you remember, Luna?” He asks, holding onto my shoulders.

“Mateo grabbed my shoulder to stop me.” I’m trying to take a deep breath, but it feels like I’m sucking through a straw. My ears feel like they need to pop, and don’t even get me started on how horrible my arms feel.

“You don’t remember grabbing the bat?” He looks at the floor where the bloody bat is laying. I shake my head no, not able to form words right now. “When he tried to stop you, you grabbed the bat and hit him in the head.”

“Oh god, no!” I gasp, jumping away from him and running toward the stairs. “No, no, no, no, no, no!”

“Hey,” Alaric grabs me as I reach the last step, “The doctors are here, we need to clean you up so you can get checked out.”

My chest heaves as I gasp for air. What the fuck have I done? Why don’t I remember hitting Mateo with a bat? Or completely destroying Mathias? My vision turns blurry and I squeeze Alaric’s hand, hoping to ground myself.

“Come on, let’s get you showered.” He squeezes my hand back, leading me through the doorway and up the stairs to the guest room. Once he closes the door, he pulls my shirt over my head, tossing it in the trash can in the corner. Next, he pulls my shorts and panties off, throwing them in the same spot.

“I got blood all over you.” I whisper, rubbing my hands up and down my arms. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t care about the blood.” He strips off his pants and shirt, throwing them both in the trash. “It will probably be weird when I walk downstairs in my boxers though.”

“I’ll get you some fresh clothes when we’re clean.” Turning around to walk toward the bathroom, I see myself in the vanity mirror. A gasp leaves my mouth as I take in the blood and tissue that’s stuck to my face and hair.

Grabbing a few pieces, trying to pick them out, my heart rate begins to increase again. Even in death, Mathias just can’t let you have any peace.

“You didn’t expect it to just stay on your clothes, did you?” He asks, placing his hand on the small of my back, leading me to the shower.

“I didn’t expect any of this.” I sob, fresh tears running down my face again. “It’s too fucking much.”

“You’ll get through this, Luna.” He says over his shoulder as he bends down to start the water. “You’re a strong girl, you just have to let someone help you.”

“A strong girl?” I throw my head back, laughing hysterically. “Your brother said the exact opposite.”

“He got you out of your head and into that basement, didn’t he?” He grabs my hand, leading me under the spray. “He’s never going to tiptoe around anyone’s feelings.”

“He doesn’t have to tiptoe,” I chuckle, “maybe just don’t stomp so fucking hard.” Turning under the spray, I motion for him to get in the shower. “You’re not going to get clean standing out there.”

He pulls his boxers off and I lick my lips as his cock springs free. I wonder if I can convince Mateo to get the same piercing? When he steps into the shower behind me, he puts his hands on my shoulders, spinning me around so I’m no longer facing him. “You’re not going to get clean staring at my cock, Luna.” He whispers against my ear.

Chapter 29

Mateo

My head throbs as the Doctor presses the ice pack against the side of my head. “You’ll probably have a killer headache for a while, but everything is fine.” He informs me. “Keep the ice on for twenty minutes, then rest for twenty. That will help the swelling go down.”

“Thanks, Doc.” I nod, standing from the chair. Something feels wrong, I need to get back to the basement and check on Luna. I’m hoping that Alaric was able to get back down there before she hurt herself.

After I tried stopping her, she grabbed the baseball bat that was leaning against the wall, cracking me in the side of the head with it. Alaric must have been watching the cameras, because he was down there a second after I hit the ground, unconscious.

He carried me upstairs to the doctor, then ran back down to help Luna. As if they could read my mind, they both walk into the room, completely naked.

“Right, that’s my cue.” Doctor D laughs, quickly gathering his shit and leaving.

“I’m so sorry, Mateo.” She rushes to my side, cupping my cheek. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

“You don’t have to apologize to me, Baby Girl.” I drop the ice pack onto the bed, pressing my forehead against hers. “I knew you were blacked out the second you shrugged me off. Does it feel any better?”

“It feels like one weight was lifted, only to be replaced with another.” She whispers, closing her eyes. “You’re not supposed to outlive your children.”

“You’re right, and I’m so fucking sorry that I couldn’t get to you in time to save our son.” Pulling her against my chest, I wrap my arms around her.

“You called him our son.” She cries against my chest. “He could have had the best fucking life, if we would have just let someone adopt him, none of this would be happening.”

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