Page 39 of Lost in Her
“Ethan!”Shawn again tries to get me to not do what I have already made up my mind I’m going to do.
I take a deep breath and turn my head and look at him.His breathing is becoming more rapid as the flames start to spread.
I watch Shawn’s eyes rapidly search mine.I know he can see it.He knows he can’t change my mind.He takes a deep breath and nods.He quickly lowers his gun and makes his way behind me down the stairs.I can hear him take off into a run towards the car.
Tristan needs to know that more of his men are dead.He needs to know that there are consequences for what he is doing.He needs to know that I am not just going to sit back and wait for him to make a move.
I watch the flames continuing to spread, the smoke taking over my nose.My eyes begin to water as I watch two men start to run down the hallway.They are cussing and yelling at each other.I keep my hand steady as I pull the trigger.I watch the first guy go down.The other one stops and looks down at his friend then looks up at me, his eyes are wide.
“You were on the wrong side, motherfucker,” I state calmly.Not feeling any remorse for what I am about to do.
Before he can say a word, I pull the trigger and watch him fall to the ground.My heart is racing as I see the flames spreading faster, becoming hotter.
I quickly turn around and run down the stairs and take off in a sprint towards the car.
I make my way through the trees.Shawn is sitting on the hood of the car with his arms crossed over his chest.He is staring at me as I slowly make my way over to him and take a seat next to him.I put the gun back in the back of my jeans and look through the trees at the fire.
The smoke is alerting everyone that a fire is happening.I can hear people screaming in the distance.
“This will send him a very strong message.”Shawn sounds calm.
I continue to watch the flames.Luckily, from here no one will be able to see us, but we will be able to see everything.I want to make sure that fucking building burns to the ground.That building will no longer for a nightmare for women.“Good.He needs to understand.”I’m a lot calmer then I thought I would be.
All of this is bringing out a different side of me, a side of me I tried to run away from and lock away.But now this is the side of me I need to win this war with Tristan.I can’t be the good guy right now.I just fucking can’t.
“Ethan.”Shawn says my name in a pained tone.I know what he wants to talk about.I know he doesn’t agree with what I did.But it had to be done and I am the only one that could do it, so I did.It’s that simple.
“Shawn.”
He takes a deep shaky breath.Luckily the girls are passed out and they will be for a while.They don’t need to see all of this and when they wake up, they will be able to start a new life if they want it.“You didn’t have to shoot them,” Shawn whispers.
“Yes, I did.”I had to make sure that the job was done and now it is done—no loose ends for Tristan.The message will be loud and clear to him.
“Ethan, look at me.”His voice is low and stern.making my stomach turn.I slowly turn my head and lock eyes with him.His eyes are filled with worry and concern.
“You didn’t have to shoot them,” Shawn repeats.
I feel the anger boiling inside me.They would have shot us if they had the chance.They would have tortured us if they had the chance.I did what I thought I had to do.And I would fucking do it again.“You think they would have let us live?”I ask, not hiding my irritation.
Shawn takes another deep breath and shakes his head.“That doesn’t matter.We are not them.We need to be better than them.”
“We are,” I snap back.I don’t mean to snap at him, but I can’t take it back now.This is how things must be.This is howImust be right now.
Shawn searches my eyes for a moment.“Ethan, be careful, brother.Once you go down the path you are going on you might not be able to come back from it,” he whispers.not hiding his concern and worry.
“I know.”I turn my head back and look at the flames that are now spreading to the back of our club.We will rebuild the club.We’ll rebuild whatever we have to.
Shawn and I watch as a black SUV pulls up and stops in the alley.
We both watch as Tristan steps out of the car.He crosses his arms over his chest.The blackness of night is making it hard to see, but I can tell he isn’t happy.His body language gives him away.
My message has now been received.
