Page 61 of Fight Or Flight

“You barely know her,” he resigns.

Yeah, well, we all gotta start somewhere.

“I know enough about her to know I want to know everything.”

His eyes widen and he raises his hands like the maniac he is and shoves his index fingers into his ears.

“Oh, God, make it stop,” he protests. “La-la-la-la. Can’t hear you. Ha! I really can’t hear you.”

That’s because I’m not fucking talking.

It’s a good thing too because just as I’m about to leave my dad to his tantrum, I hear Brooklyn scream. Without a second thought, I follow the sound and I realize she’s not screaming; she’s sobbing hysterically. My chest tightens as I race toward Joss’ room. I’m too panicked and too desperate to get to her to see if my dad is following, and when I reach the doorway of the bedroom, my breath hitches.

My pretty little hurricane is laying across her mom’s body, sobbing hysterically. Not sure if it’s adrenaline or instinct that makes me move, I hurry to the side of the bed and swallow as I take in Joss’ very still body. Her lips are slightly open and though I’m sure she isn’t breathing, I press my fingers to the side of her neck.

Nothing.

We knew this was inevitable, but somehow, it’s still a shock. There are things you can never prepare for, and death is one of them. You can’t anticipate when it will happen or how you will feel or even how you will react.

“Brooklyn,” I rasp, gently touching my hand to the back of her head. She doesn’t look at me, she just buries her face deeper into the crook of her mother’s neck.

My dad rushes into the room.

“What…” The rest of his sentences dies as his gaze settles on Joss and I watch as he grips the doorjamb to steady himself. He takes a minute to get his bearings and as soon as he does, his eyes find mine. “Go wake your mother.”

My gaze wanders to Brooklyn and back to him. I’m not even sure if she realizes we’re in the room, but it doesn’t matter, I shake my head.

Sorry, Dad, no can do.

“I’m not leaving her,” I tell him, my tone hoarse.

He stares at me for a beat, his face void of any emotion, then he looks back at the girl we both swore to protect, and he closes the distance between them. He touches a hand to Brooklyn’s back. He hesitates for a moment, looking torn, and then he leans over Brooklyn and lowers his lips to Joss’ forehead.

“Rest easy, my friend. We got your girl,” he whispers hoarsely, and I watch as a tear slips from the corner of his eye. “Say, hello to my brother…”

Another sob sounds from the back of Brooklyn’s throat as she lifts her head and looks at my dad.

“She’s gone,” she wails. “She’s really gone.”

My dad turns his head to meet Brooklyn’s gaze, lifting a hand to her cheek and I swear my heart breaks for the two of them.

“She’s at peace,” he murmurs, his voice strained. “No more pain.”

I watch as her shoulders shake violently as she looks back at her mom. Again, I’m fueled by instinct and before I realize what I’m doing, I take a seat on the edge of the bed and wrap my arms her. She goes lax against my chest.

“I didn’t say goodbye,” she cries. “I didn’t say I love you either. She said it to me, and I didn’t say it back.”

“It’s okay,” Dad assures. “She knows, Brook. I swear she knows.”

“It happened so fast,” she reveals, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hands. I tighten my arms around her and kiss the top of her head. “I…” Her voice fades and her body goes still in my arms as she jerks her head to glance up to my dad. “What do I do now?”

His eyes find mine as he contemplates his answer, then he touches a hand to her cheek.

“You let us make good on our promise to take care of you.”

He looks at me and gives me a jerk of the chin.

A silent command from him to me.

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