Page 93 of Beast: Part Two

“You’re not leaving. We’re staying together,” Hawk demands.

“Let him go. If he’s going to act like a lunatic, then let him go. We don’t need him,” Zel yells.

“Fuck you,” Seth shouts. Now instead of trying to leave, he’s trying to get to Zel. Sim pushes away from the wall. He gently moves Malia out of the way as he grabs Zel and holds him back.

I glance at Gabriel. He’s so unbothered you would think he wasn’t in the room right now. He doesn’t even look over at his brothers.

“Hey,” Brooklyn stands up and shouts. “We are not doing this shit here. Seth, calm the fuck down and stop being an asshole. Zel, take a seat. You’re not the only ones in here hurting.” She points at Fem.

Both men seem to come to their senses. Zel walks away and retakes his seat. Seth runs a hand over his head.

“Sorry,” he mumbles before sitting down. Malia quickly takes the chair beside him. She rubs his shoulder as he leans forward on his knees. Hawk and Many both retake their seats.

We sit in silence for another hour before the doors swing open and Doc walks out. His scrubs are covered in blood and sweat is pouring down his face.

Everyone stands on their feet. Well, all except Gabriel.

“Talk to me, Doc?” Seth says.

Doc removes the little surgical cap off his head and twists it in his hands. He turns to Fem.

“I’m so sorry. We did all we could do.”

I gasp before covering my mouth. A piercing scream leaves Fem’s lips before she drops to her knees. Brooklyn goes down with her, trying to console her. Malia pulls Seth into her arms as he weeps onto her shoulder. Many is silently staring off in space with tears streaming down his face. Zel has his face buried in his hands while Hawk is back sitting with his head leaning against the wall as tears fall from his eyes.

I’ve only known these men for a short period, but never have I seen them so broken. Their father is gone. Although Priest had no blood tie to any of these men, he was their father. And nothing can change that.

Out the corner of my eye, I watch Gabriel climb to his feet and walk out of the room. I’ve been giving him his space. Somethingtold me that he needed it. However, now my gut tells me he needs me.

“Gabriel,” I call his name as I follow him out the waiting room and into the hallway. He stops but doesn’t turn around to face me.

“Go back inside, Summer.”

“No.” I walk up on him slowly until I’m standing right behind him. “You promised me you wouldn’t run anymore.”

His breathing is so labored his shoulders and back expand with every deep breath.

“I’m not running. I just….I need to get out of here.” He tries to walk away again, but I rush to stand in front of him. I place my hands on his chest to stop him. His eyes are red and they glisten with unshed tears.

“You can’t run off every time things get hard. You have to face it.”

“I can’t,” he whispers. “Not without him.”

I cup his cheek guiding his gaze to mine.

“Yes, you can. Because he taught you how.”

He shakes his head, but I keep talking.

“Your brothers need you right now. You all need each other. You have to stay for them.”

“He’s gone.” He shuts his eyes. “He’s gone.” His voice breaks, and he falls to his knees, burying his face in my stomach. His body shakes with his sobs. The tears fall down my face as I hold tight to the man I love. The man that has been everything I needed him to be when I’ve needed it.

“I’m here for you, baby. I’m right here,” I say as I stroke his hair and place kisses on his head.

Maksim walks up. His blood-shot eyes stare at me. He goes to his knees beside his brother and wraps his arm around him.

“I got you, little brother. No matter what. I got you. Priest was a good man.”

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