Page 45 of Festive

Rubbing the back of my neck, I exhale, knowing I need to do this.

It’s not going to be an easy call to make. In fact, I have been dreading it, but Rebel needs to know what is happening here.

Whether she wants to be a part of this club or not—she needs to know.

Groaning, I tilt my head and start walking away from the rest of my brothers to find a quiet place to make the call. Pulling my cell from my pocket, my fingers don’t work like they used to, and with great difficulty, I swipe onto Rebel’s number and hit dial. It rings a couple of times, and then she answers. “Zero? Is everything okay?”

She knows if I’m calling, something must be wrong.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I shake my head even though she can’t see me. “No… no, Thay. Everything isnotokay.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

REBEL

The Next Day

As we race into the hospital with Phantom by my side carrying Kinzley, Kenna runs beside me. Her little feet can’t keep up fast enough. I speed through the halls, my heart beating faster than I thought possible as I spot the guys and women standing vigil, and my stomach sinks. Tears flood my eyes when Phantom reaches out to grab Kenna’s hand, and he smiles at her. “C’mon, firefly, let’s go say hi to everyone.”

She giggles nonchalantly. “Okay.” He takes off with the girls as Zero and Prinie step up to greet me, their faces ashen and tired.

The sight of their forlorn faces concerns me instantly.

“How bad is it?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper.

Prinie pulls me into a tight embrace, and Zero weakly smiles. “He’s gonna be okay. He’s weak. We haven’t told him you’re coming. I think maybe he felt like he had nothing here to fight for.”

The moment Zero’s words hit me, it felt like the ground disappeared beneath my feet.

Nothing to fight for.

My soul dies a little.

My bottom lip trembles, and I swipe a tear falling down my cheek. My chest tightens painfully, like someone is squeezing the life out of my heart, and I can’t stop the sob that breaks free. My bottom lip quivers uncontrollably, and the tear that falls down my cheek feels like it’s cutting straight through me.

How could Six ever think that?

How could he believe for even a second that I wasn’t here forhim?

Well, you weren’t here, were you?

I swipe at the tears with trembling fingers, but they keep coming, blurring my vision as I nod. “Okay... we’re here now,” I whisper, my voice shaky but determined. I have to see him.I need to see him.“Can I go to him?”

My legs feel weak like they might give out from under me, but I force myself to stand tall. My heart is pounding, fear and guilt colliding inside me like a storm, but all I care about is getting to him.

To let him know he’s everything.

And that he’s always had something to fight for.

Me.

Us.

Zero dips his chin. “I think that’s the best idea I’ve heard in the last couple of days.”

“Is it okay to leave the girls out here with you?”

“Go. Just be with him,” Prinie urges, practically shoving me toward his room.

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