Page 122 of Wildest Dreams

“Tripp?” his eyes bounce between mine, trying to find a hint of what has me raging like a damn bull.

“These fucking bullets were meant for us,” my voice is hoarse from my screaming.

Pacey's eyes fall down to look at my bleeding palm before they're back on me. “Dixie left these with a note. Lucian was planning to put a bullet between our eyes if she didn’t leave.”

I hear my mom gasp and my dad's is furious. He pulls my mom close as she hides in his chest.

“Where is she now?”

“I don't know,” my voice trembles and I am so fucking angry.

Just as Pacey steps towards me on the porch, mom and dad still standing on the dusty pavement, Riggs pulls up on the driveway.

“Boot?” he asks, standing on the sidestep of the truck and my chest feels like it's about to cave in.

Pacey gives him a nod whilst mom walks past me to get my chair, all the while sniffling.

“I don't want to go, you guys go,” I sulk, turning my back on my brothers as my dad wraps his arm around my back and for the first time in a long time, I lean on him, just like I was a little boy again.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

TRIPP

Ihave no idea how long I have been laying on my bed, eyes pinned to the ceiling as I toss the bullets into the air and catch them.

My heart obliterated into a thousand shards inside my chest, and I feel like beat by beat it is slowing, until finally, it will stop beating all together.

I have no idea where she has gone, it can't be far. As far as I am aware, her car is still at Rusty's garage.

The silent house is filled with emptiness. Dad joined my brothers to celebrate Austin's trial, mom stayed at home with me and honestly, I think she is grieving for the grandchild that she had also lost.

Sighing heavily, I sit up with difficulty, my eyes trailing towards the closet in the corner of my bedroom, eyes sting, throat burns.

My dad and me rode over to Dixie's childhood home a week ago. I wanted to see if her guitar was still there, and with Marty's help, we got into the boarded-up house and sure as shit, her broken guitar was hidden in her dad's closet. Dad took it into his workshop, and whilst Dixie worked, we got started on fixing it upand I finished it off with a small dreamcatcher that I painted in a light pink on the lower bout.

I was going to give it to her this weekend.

I wanted her to know that she could still chase her dreams, and that she could do it with the guitar that meant so much. Sure, we had to replace certain parts, but most of it was patched up from what was left.

My heart rattles in my empty chest on my inhale of breath.

I was so close to having it all, only for it to be taken away in a blink of an eye.

My phone beeps and I wait a minute or two before I cast my eyes on the screen.Sunny.

I roll my eyes. I like Sunny, but we're not on friend basis.

Sunny

Wanted to let you know Dixie is crashing here. She is safe, so is Lainey. Just give her space. xo.

Pointless text. Tossing the phone into the bedspread, I reach out for the handrail that sits on the wall beside my bed and pull myself to my feet.

I'm done moping.

But before I can sleep this day that went from happy to shit real fucking quick, I need mom's help.

“Ma.” I call out as I slip my hand into my crutch and wrap my finger around the handle, hobbling down towards the living room where she sits. Her eyes pinned to the window, fingers knotted together, and she looks so sad.

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