Page 56 of Fall

“You can’t believe that, Harley,” Elliot says.

“Tell us everything,” Sebastian says, placing a hand on Elliot’s shoulder.

“I’m going to find her some milk,” I tell Harley, who gives me a nod. I walk out of the room and shut the door behind me, just as Allie and Emilia come running down the corridor.

“I heard something happened to Luke,” Emilia says, panic all over her face.

“Is Elliot in there? I’m so happy you have Hope back,” Allie says, giving me a small smile.

“Luke has been stabbed and is in surgery. I don’t know anything else. Elliot, Sebastian, Izzy, and Harley are having a talk in there. I would leave them for a little bit,” I respond, answering all their questions. Emilia runs around me and straight toward the reception desk.

“Do you need anything?” Allie asks me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

I look back at the door, giving her the only answer I can. “I want everyone to be okay.”

“Me, too,” Allie whispers.

Chapter Thirty

Harley

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Arthur laughs as I walk into the office at the back of The Cage.

I slam the door shut and walk across the room. Arthur tries to pull the drawer to his desk open, to, no doubt, get a weapon out, but I get to him first. I slam my fist into his face, sending him flying from his chair, and I lean down, picking him up and slamming him onto the desk. I wrap my hands around his neck and start squeezing. He struggles against me, trying to move my hands and mouthing words I’m not listening to. I loosen my hands a little and move closer.

“You may think you’re indestructible in here, but this is proof you are not. I know what you did, I know you helped that shit-head, Daniel. That my brother is in court tomorrow because of you. That my girlfriend went through hell because of you.” I lean closer. “Why shouldn’t I kill you? Get rid of your pathetic existence?” I say then let go, and he slides off the desk. I stand, looking down at him as he gasps for breath.

“I . . . I will leave you alone. Nothing more from me,” he gasps out, and I laugh as I pull the gun out of my jacket. I unlock the safety and point the gun at his head.

“You spent years trying to make my brothers like our father and me, but you never realised that if you succeeded, it was likely I would kill you. My father tried to kill you because he was stupid, and you’re lucky I’m not.”

“Thank . . . y-you,” he says, and I lean down, placing the gun next to his head. He goes very still.

“But, Arthur, I’m not fucking around. Now, you mess with my family once more, in any way, and I’m going to kill you.” I push the gun into his head, making him lean his head to the side. “And, it won’t be quick.”

“I get it,” he says, and I stand up.

“One more thing, I want you to leave this town. If I see you around, you’re dead. That’s your price for everything. I know you have other businesses,” I say, and he nods, rubbing his swollen neck.

I walk out of the office, slamming the door behind me and looking down at the four, knocked-out guards outside the room. Sebastian and Elliot are leaning against the entrance to The Cage. I slide my gun back into my pocket as I step over one of the men and walk toward my brothers.

“Alive?” Elliot asks.

“Yes, but he gets it. We won’t be seeing Arthur again,” I tell them both.

We walk out of The Cage and get into my car before making the ten-minute trip to the nursing home I’ve put our mother into.

“You sure you both want to do this?” I ask them as I turn the car off.

“I am,” Sebastian says, getting out of the car.

“Elliot?” I ask him as he stares at the building.

“I’m staying in the car. I just can’t see her. I know what you told me. I know she didn’t leave me, but I need Allie here. I just can't,” he says, shaking his head. I place my hand on his shoulder.

“I get it. No matter what, she will be here for a long time, and you can meet her when you want to,” I tell him.

“Go.” He nods his head toward where Sebastian is waiting outside the nursing home.

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