Page 121 of Wildest Dreams

“I'm shooting back to the station, want to see what is going on with Lucian and Wallen...” he trails off, rubbing his beard before trudging over to the whiskey bottle and pouring a small glass, knocking it back in one with a wince. “Also, want to know what the fuck is going to happen to Kelcie because let’s be honest, we all know that his pockets have been heavily lined. That son of a bitch is getting away without any repercussions,” he shakes his head from side to side before he walks out the room, a high whistle echoing as he calls for Hudson and I hear the sound of Ace's collar as he barks at Riggs.

Minutes pass, and the silence is deafening.

“Dixie?” I call out, head resting on the cushion of the armchair. Nothing. “Dix?” my voice is a little louder now and slowly I sit up, heart thrashing in my chest like a feral great white. Pushing up from my seat, I groan as an ache radiates through my leg and slowly travels up my body.

“Baby?” the voice slips out not quite sounding like my own and my chest tightens.

Worry begins to prick at the back of my neck, my stomach knotting as I move slowly.

The kitchen is empty, pristine and clean and Lainey's stuff is exactly where it should be. My eyes move upstairs, and I debate trying to climb them, but I know if I fall I will fuck myself completely.

“Dixie?” my voice grows louder and so does my worry. What if something has happened to her and Lainey? What if Lucian or Wallen's men came for her?

My heartbeat bangs in my ears, blood rushing through my veins.

Hobbling down the narrow hallway to my makeshift bedroom, I stand in the door way, wrapping my fingers around the frame as I steady myself and ignore the burn that is consuming my leg.

Moving slowly into my bedroom, the glint of gold catches my eye from the afternoon sunlight. I step closer and my brows furrow, confusion masking my face and my heart bottoms out.

Three bullets sit on my bedspread along with a note and my throat burns, a lump lodging itself there and it doesn't matter how much I try and swallow, I can't rid it. My stomach knots and twists as anxiety cripples me. Scooping the bullets into the palm of my hand, I look at them before—lump growing—my eyes slice across to the handwritten note that lays on my bedspread.

Tripp,

I promised a night, not forever.

The three bullets are the ones that would have killed you and your brothers if I didn’t keep up my end of the bargain.

The fourth I have with me was meant for Lainey.

I thought it would be best to leave when you were gone, but just know we will be safe.

I will never stop loving you, and no doubt you will hate me now.

But I do Tripp. I love you.

Me staying would only bring more hurt and upset to your family, and I couldn't be the reason for that any longer.

I’ve not run, just stepped away.

Yours always,

Dixie xxx

She fucking left me.

Reaching for the note, I read it again. And again. And again.

Tears well in my eyes as I screw the note up, crushing it into a small ball and tossing it behind me. My head drops, my eyes locked on the three bullets.

She saved our lives whilst destroying mine. My heart is screaming at me to find her, hunt through the town until I find both of them, but my heart is telling me to stop. She left me. She broke me, again. My heart can't take much more and neither can I.

A choked sob vibrates through my chest. Clasping my hand shut around the bullets, my nails dig into the palm causing a small sting. I should stop, but I don't. I keep squeezing until the pain consumes me.

My whole body begins to tremble and all I can do is scream, shattering my heart into a million pieces all over again when she was finally piecing it back together.

I hobble towards the door, tugging it hard I nearly pull it from the hinges. I ignore the way my body screams at me, the way the pain becomes too much but I keep moving forward.

Pacey is just walking up the steps when he sees me, Mom and Dad behind him.

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