Page 111 of Ruthless God

“What happened to your father and Carter?”

Snow grabs a bag from the corner, pulling out a sweater and some sweatpants. He removes my gown and helps me into my clothes, trying not to touch the stitches on my side and the back of my leg and below my ass cheek.

“Carter is dead—I killed him. I can’t locate my father, but Clemon and Keanu are working on it.”

Good. I’m glad Carter is dead. He deserves it. And his father needs to be killed too.

My legs burn so Snow picks me up, and I snuggle up in his arms. My face feels like it’s lit on fire from being punched earlier. Even though we’ve broken up, I like the fact that he’s still taking care of me.

He carries me to Bailey’s room, and I sit on the bed next to her.

She’s thin and weak. I hug her and kiss her forehead as tears continue to run down my cheeks.

“I can’t believe you’re alive,” I whisper. “I’m so happy to see you. I missed you so much. The last several months have been hell without you. When you get out of here, we’re going for ice cream, and I’ll catch you up on the latest gossip, and you’ll meet Lilac and Winter too. They are cool friends. We can have a girls’ night out.”

Snow stands behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

Bailey stirs awake and her eyes land on us, then she smiles weakly. Her eyes drink in the way her brother clings to me, and he holds her hand, squeezing. She glances around the hospital, then back at us.

“Hey.” Her tone is weak and low.

I slip my fingers into her other hand, and I kiss her palm.

“We’re going to get through this together, Bailey. I promise we will. We love you and we miss you so much.”

“I’m… tired.”

She lets go of my palm and slips back into sleep, and the monitor makes a beeping noise before all of the numbers say zero.

Realization hits me like a ton of bricks as I shake her shoulders.

“Wake up! Please, Bailey, wake up!!” I scream as I sob uncontrollably.

Doctors and nurses push us out of the way as I stand there in shock, but Snow drags me out of the room while I keep my eyes glued to the window, feeling numb, unable to breathe, clutching my sweatshirt and trying to catch my breath. I turn to Snow, wrapping my arms around him as he keeps his eyes glued to the window.

The nurses turn off the monitor and remove the IV and breathing tube. A moment later, one of them states Bailey’s time of death. The nurse places a white sheet over her body.

The doctor walks up to us and places his hand on Snow’s shoulder.

“The infection in her body was too great and she was already severely malnourished. I’m sorry.”

I collapse to the ground, screaming, while Snow just holds me in his arms.

Snow

I drive Lyrical to the farmhouse because she told me she didn’t want to be bothered by anyone. She sobs the entire ride. I’m trying to be strong for her, but I’m also trying to fight the urge to spaz the fuck out. It feels like someone took a sledgehammer to my chest. I thought for certain Bailey would survive after we found her and that I got my sister back.

Sometimes fate feels as if it’s fucking with us. My sister had a tragic life. I didn’t protect her like I was supposed to or stand up to my father like I should have. Maybe I could have prevented all of this and my father would pay for his crimes. Once he is found, he’s going to suffer in the worst way.

Once I pull up to the driveway, I carry Lyrical into the living room, laying her on the couch, then I sit next to her. Eventually, she cries herself to sleep.

There is a knock at the door, so I grab my gun from under the couch, slowly walk to the door, and look through the peephole. I sigh in relief to see my mother, so I tuck the gun in the back of my pants and unlock the door before opening it.

She throws her arms around me, hugging me and sobbing. We stand there for several moments, but it feels like eternity.

I walk her to the kitchen, and she sits on of the barstools with neither one of us saying anything.

“The hospital called and your sister… your sister passed away… again.”

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