Page 50 of Blinded
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
BRETT
Justin's screams cut right through me. I thought I'd be happy to see him suffer and die, but as Bayne held me in his arms as we waited outside, I didn't feel at peace. No matter how much Justin suffered or even when he died, it wouldn't bring Bridger back. It wouldn't make me see again.
I'd felt Bayne's letdown when I'd said I didn't want Justin's eyes. I just couldn't do it. It might have given me sight, but it would have taken much more than that from me. I needed to try and put all this behind me and that wasn't going to happen if I was looking into the eyes of the man who'd tried to kill me. I just wanted to go home, curl up on the bed and sleep for days. I was mentally and physically drained.
Again, I'd done nothing to wear myself out, but I could hardly keep my eyes open as I listened to Bayne's heartbeat as I leaned against his chest.
"He's all yours." Preston walked out in human form with Justice coming behind him still in wolf form, blood dripping from his jaws. They walked over to Bridger's parents and led them inside.
It was only a few seconds later that Justin screamed again. It was different this time. It was a death scream. My hold tightened around Bayne as I imagined Bridger's father tearing out Justin's heart and offering it to his wife.
I never understood the history behind eating your enemy's heart. I mean, it made sense in an old historic way, but it didn't work for me now. I couldn't have done it. Tear it from their chest, yes, but eat it no. Again, I didn't want any part of that asshole inside me, even if it was eating his heart.
I wanted to leave, but wasn't sure if Bayne had more to do. This was important to the pack, and we needed to finish what we started. There would be a body to get rid of and a story to start passing around to cover up why Justin was missing. Not to mention finding his friend Mark.
Bayne pulled back a bit, lifting my head with his fingers under my chin so he could brush his lips against mine. "Let's get out of here. They can handle the rest."
"Are you sure? If they need you…"
"You need me. They've done this before. I don't need to be here." He took my hand in his. "Kurt, we're leaving. Call me later with an update."
"And you call if either of you need anything," Kurt called to us.
I smiled, glad that he wasn't going to ask Bayne to stay. I was so done with the whole day. I don't know if it was the short length of time I was separated from Bayne, but I was restless. I just didn't feel like myself, but couldn't figure out why.
"You okay?" Bayne asked as he opened the passenger car door for me.
I nodded. "Just tired. I didn't think this would be so hard."
"Not a lot of satisfaction in it, is there? The only good thing about the whole day is that we won't have any more attacks now. The wolves are safe. It doesn't take away the pain of what is already done." Bayne shut my door and went around to get in the driver's side.
"I can't imagine what Bridger's family is feeling."
"Me neither." Bayne started the car. "You know, I always thought I'd like a couple kids, but after all this, after seeing parents go through losing one, I'm not sure I could handle it. I'm not the type who could handle a loss like that."
"You wanted kids?"
"I thought about what it would be like. Honestly, I never saw myself settling down to have kids. I never dreamed I'd find a mate." He reached over and gripped my thigh. "Did you want kids?"
"I never really thought much about it. I love the kids I teach. I guess I wouldn't mind my own. Maybe someday if the opportunity presents itself." The only way we'd have kids would be to adopt. In the shifter world that only happened if the parents died. It was rare. I'd only known of one instance where a child lost both parents. "I'm happy with it being just us."
"So am I." Bayne sent a wave of love to me.
I sent it right back, enjoying that we could say so much without saying anything out loud.
"You're not mad at me that I didn't take Justin's eyes, are you?"
"No, it was your choice. I understand why you couldn't do it. Cohen will find another donor in time. I just didn't want to pass up the chance if you wanted it."
"Even if he doesn't, blindness is better than having his eyes. I couldn't live that way, being reminded of all this each time I looked in a mirror." I leaned my head against the side window. "What will they do to his friend, Mark?"
"I'm not sure. I guess it depends on how much he knows. How big a part he played in everything? Kurt is fair, but you know how dangerous it can be to have any human know about us. He's a liability."
"This is so stupid. All this because he didn't take the time to talk to his sister and just assumed Bridger was hurting her. If she had bruises, it was because she wanted them. Bridger didn't leave marks unless his partner asked him to take things to another level."
"Was he really trained in autoerotic asphyxia?" Bayne asked.
