Page 146 of Rugger: The Huntress

“I’m coming to you. Stay put.”

He ended the call. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind he’d find me. I didn’t need to reveal my location. He’d fly the plane himself to get to me faster. I knew Teddy. And, I knew he was coming.

I gathered my Sonnie’s things along with mine and pushed my bike into the garage. When I made it upstairs to the empty loft, I rushed to the cabinet and removed my father’s bottle of aged liquor. I didn’t bother with a cup. I poured it directly intomy mouth. I was willing to try almost anything to numb the pain. To reduce the ache in my chest. When I lowered the bottle onto the counter, it was half empty.

“Damn you, Sonnie!” I yelled.

The veins of my neck threatened to blow, but somehow death felt more logical than life at this point. I slung the glass across the room. It slammed against the wall and shattered on the floor.

Damn you.

My back pressed against the counter. Slowly, I slid to the floor. I curled into a ball, pulling my knees up to my chest. My head laid on the cool floor. I closed my eyes, praying that it was all a sick dream and when I reopened them Sonnie would be standing over me prepared to take me home.

“Baby–”

Chem’s voice stirred me from my pain-induced blackout. I wasn’t asleep. I wasn’t awake. I was just… existing. Barely. On the cold floor. Covered in my lover’s blood.

The sun had begun to rise. Hours had passed. The tears had continued. There were no more left to cry. Whimpers had taken my voice. Death had broken my soul.

“Baby.”

“Tell me he made it,” I demanded, barely above a whisper.

There was nothing left in me. I was depleted. Chemistry’s hesitation caused me to open my eyes. He was squatting beside me with his hands collapsed in front of him.

“Tell me!”

He shook his head.

“He wouldn’t do this to me. Tell me he made it.”

He shook his head, again. This time, he placed a hand on my shoulder.

“He didn’t make it out, baby.”

He tried wiping the fresh set of tears I’d managed to produce. Hearing it from Chemistry made it real. And, the tears I thought I’d cried out came rushing down my face.

“Teddy– he’s gone.” I sobbed against his hand. “How? How could he– No one in that room was capable of–”

“Because no one in that room made the hit, baby. From what I’ve gathered on the way over, his superiors felt he’d been compromised.”

“He was a contracted kill?”

Chemistry nodded.

The news smacked me in my chest.

“By who?”

“I don’t know, baby. Not yet. I need a little more time. For now, I need to get you somewhere safe. I’m not sure what motherfuckers have up their sleeves. There won’t be a Clarke if anyone touches as much as a hair on your head.”

“I’m going to kill them, Teddy–” I promised. “I’m going to kill every last one of them.”

“And, I’m going to be right beside you. My chopper won’t quiet until they’re all resting with the worms.”

“Sonnnnnie–” I bellowed, unable to contain the pain that was turning my insides out.

“Shhhh.” He hushed me, scooping my limp body into his arms. “Shhhh.”

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