Page 51 of The Last Call
“I had plans for us.”
Not at all what I was expecting him to say. Now it’s my turn to inspect him. Trying to garner clues from his face of what he implies. Although his slack expression is devoid of any emotion. “Plans?”
“Yeah.” His head bobs a few times. Slow and deep with contemplation only he seems to understand. Yet he never meets my gaze. His focus drawn toward Julius’s voice wafting from down the hall. “I was biding my time until it was my turn.”
“Your turn?”
I sound like an imbecile. Parroting everything he says. Dumbfounded as hot fear flickers in my chest. Something’s off with him. Something’s really off.
“I knew you didn’t care about any of them. You were just fucking them because you were hiding from something in your past. That you never admitted to me.” His furious eyes catch mine. “But you probably did to him didn’t you? You told Julius why you were hurting yourself?”
Sweat rolls down my back despite the chill engulfing me. Too frightened to answer because I know the answer will only infuriate him more.
“I knew you were this close…” He holds his thick finger and thumb apart a few inches, raising his hand to his eye, peering at me through the narrow width. “This fucking close to retirement, and I would have you all to myself. We could finally be together. Until that bastard ruined it.”
Nodding toward the corridor, he unbuttons his jacket and pushes the gray fabric to the side. Revealing a thick black holster stuffed with a gun that I didn’t even know he owned. Never aware he carried a weapon when he guarded me.
He slides the Glock out of the strap, training the barrel on the doorway leading to Julius. The delicate pink plate slips from my trembling hand. Bouncing and rolling off the stack of brown packing paper. Splintering from a crack I’m too terrified to be upset about. “Why do you have that?”
“I thought I was coming here to save you. That I needed to rescue you from him. I guess I don’t.”
“N-no.” I take a calming breath. Praying the soothing motion will relax him too. “I’m okay. I’m not his prisoner anymore.”
“That’s so sick. You’re fucking sick in the head that you’d rather be with a man who kidnapped you than one who loves you and takes care of you like I do.”
“You motherfucker!”
Julius.
Oh shit. I put my hands up trying to stop him. Stop Mack. Stop everything. But it’s useless. Too damn late as both of them aim their weapons at each other. I can’t reason with Julius when he’s like this so I try to reach my friend. “Please Mack. Don’t do this. We can figure this out. I love you.”
“No you don’t. You love him.”
I do. As much as I hate it I love Julius, and he doesn’t deserve to die because of me. I force a smile on my face and an agreeable tone in a frantic attempt to sway him. “I’ll give him up. I swear. It’ll be you and me, okay? We’ll be together just like we used to be. You’ll take care of me just like you always did, and I’ll–”
“I know we will.”
Deadness takes over his expression and his body stiffens. The decision made in his mind.
Mine too.
I jump in front of Julius, but jerk backward when fire lights through me. Tumbling to the floor. My elbow scraping across the rough texture. But my arm doesn’t hurt as much as my chest. Wet and hot and throbbing.
The ground feels really good though. I’m so very tired and want to lie down. I’m cold too. Shivering in the fading light. While people scream and argue. Mack falls down too. I guess he’s sleepy like me.
Strong hands lift me.
Julius.
He’s sad and mad and worried. Shaking me. Stroking my hair. Pressing his lips against my skin. Saying words I don’t understand. He knows I don’t speak Italian.
I try to tell him I love him and I’m sorry and I didn’t mean to hurt him with what I said. But my mouth won’t seem to work right. My tongue arguing with my chattering teeth as I grasp for his shirt. Although I can’t seem to reach the fabric. Red now instead of white.
“Don’t close your eyes lion. Don’t you dare fucking close your eyes.”
Silly Saint. Always yelling. Doesn’t he remember I never obey? That I’m too damn stubborn for my own good? Like always, I ignore his demands and let the warm, sweet darkness swallow me.
If I wasn’t holding my lion’s tiny hand, I would punch this motherfucker in his god damn mouth. Spewing on and on about the shit they’ve done to try and help her when all of it means nothing with her still unconscious. Still trapped in this bed with too many wires going who knows where in her frail body. Still terrifying me that she’ll never open those gorgeous jade eyes for me again.
