Page 47 of Love and War

“Someone better start fucking explaining to me WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!” Mila screamed. When no one answered, she smacked Dimitri’s arm.

Dimitri ignored her, eyeing me from the side. “Aziza, just go a little further and then get out.” I almost snapped at him to not take that tone with me, but time and place. “Aziza is going to take you to a safehouse she has set up. We’re going to meet up with them later,” Dimitri explained to Zane and Mila. Slowing down just enough, Killian climbed underneath me. I shot into the backseat, opened the door, and dragged Mila out.

Killian drove off leaving us behind. I didn’t listen to Mila as I grabbed her hand and basically dragged her across the dirt road to a car we had stashed here. Thankfully, she shut up the moment we got inside and didn’t bother opening her mouth until we were a few minutes down the road.

“Can you tell me what’s happening?” she whispered.

Letting out a sigh, I glanced over. “I don’t really know.”

“What does that even mean?”

“I don’t know what they’re doing. My job was to get you out and to the safehouse. Killian is supposed to help Dimitri get Tobias and Zane is going to help Salem.” Flicking my blinker on, I changed lanes.

“Salem?”

“Yes, Salem, uh, when we were getting you and Zane out, Salem went for Tobias.”

“Uh-huh.”

I didn’t like the way she said that, and I felt myself growing defensive of her. Salem had been through a lot, more than anyone. And I was at the point that I was losing all patience I had with these people not caring.

“Aziza, I’m not saying anything bad about Salem.”

What?

Unsure of what she meant, I gave her a questioning look.

“I trust Salem, more than I think Dimitri would like, honestly. I think I would trust her more than anyone else. I don’t know if she told you anything or much about when we first met. But she saved my life, and not in just the literal way. She saved it in the way that I emotionally can accept what happened.”

***

One month later

I stared at the fireplace, watching the orange flame, the wood burning. The crack and pop of the wood being the only sound in my backyard.

My body felt numb, my feelings were numb. Everything was.

It had been a month since we’d recused Dimitri’s family along with Zane. As much as I wanted to be happy that they were safe, it came with consequences. That being Salem, who was currently lying in a cold hospital bed with tubes down her throat. I still had yet to ask the details on what happened. It was like if I didn’t know, it couldn’t be true.

Tobias cried himself to sleep, blaming himself for being kidnapped, because he knew Salem would save him again. Mila was a mess, trying to stay healthy for her baby, while taking care of Tobias and Dimitri.

I hadn’t seen Zane, probably due to the fact he hadn’t left her side. And I hadn’t gone to see her.

Then Killian.

I didn’t want to deal with the emotions that came along with him.

My phone buzzed, breaking the silence that I was enjoying. I wouldn’t have looked, but I did, due to the fact it could be anyone telling me Salem was awake. I pulled my phone out, only to get irritated when I saw Holly’s name.

Today

Find him!

If you don’t find him. I’m telling everyone who you really are. Stupid bitch!

You’re going to regret this.

Throwing my phone off the porch, I listened for it to hit the concrete below. A smile appeared on my lips when I finally heard it. Only to drop when I heard him behind me.

---