Page 802 of The Tempted

“We’re sorry for your loss, Sir, but you’re not allowed in the morgue,” a policeman informed him.

“Pipe, you have to let her go, man,” Deuce says from behind him.

Every single one of us gave Pipe grief over marrying Oksana, called their marriage a joke and every single one of us were fools. Pipe loved that woman and he loved her just as hard as the rest of us love ours.

His grip loosens from the stretcher and he takes a retreating step back. Changing his mind, he takes a step forward and reaches for the bag but the paramedics quickly roll her away from him.

Oksana wasn’t the only one who lost her life.

Prospects, Mack and Bosco were both murdered too.

Lauren wraps her arms around me, burying her face against my chest as I hold on tightly with everything I am. I glance over her head toward Pipe and watch as he stares at the closed doors they wheeled his wife through. He turns his head, his gaze travels over me and Lauren and I open my mouth to offer my condolences but he quickly looks away. Solemnly he takes the shoes from Cobra’s hand and walks out of the hospital without a word.

Some stand, others fall, in the end we all bleed.

And we’re all bleeding for Pipe.

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