Page 68 of Quiet Rage
He curses under his breath, as he helps me back on my feet. “Will you please let me help you now?”
“Okay,” I agree, frustrated with myself for needing help at all.
I hold onto the IV stand with one hand while clutching onto Kellen’s forearm with the other. He walks me into the attached bathroom, leading me to the toilet.
“Um…I got it from here,” I say, a little embarrassed.
Kellen doesn’t look convinced, but he gives me a little privacy, anyway. He steps out of the bathroom, and I do my business. When I’m done, I briefly contemplate getting up on my own, but since that didn’t work out so great five minutes ago, I decide to swallow my pride.
“I’m done,” I say, loud enough for Kellen to hear through the door.
He comes back in right away, helping me off the toilet and to the sink where I wash my hands. I make the mistake of looking at my reflection in the mirror. My skin is pale, there are dark circles under my eyes, and my hair is all tangled. Using my fingers as a comb, I try to tame some of the snarled strands but quickly give up.
We walk back into the hospital room, where Kellen guides me to the bed. I climb back on top, and he covers me with the blanket.
“Thanks,” I mumble quietly while Kellen takes his seat in the chair again.
I know I don’t owe him an explanation of what led me to do what I did, but I feel the urge to tell him regardless. “Dante came to the store earlier.”
Kellen sits up straighter at my words, worry edging his features. “What did he do? Did he hurt you?”
“He told me that he was coming back for me later today.” I shudder at the memory, fear lingering in my bones.
“Dante is dead,” Kellen tells me. “You don’t have to worry about him ever again.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
I never thought I would be happy about someone’s death, but I can’t help but feel relieved.
“What happened?"
“I killed him,” Kellen says, his voice emotionless.
I stare at him in shock, waiting for some further explanation, but it never comes. I blink, trying to wrap my mind around Kellen ending someone’s life,
“Why?” I finally ask, wanting to know more about what happened.
“I saw him at your house. I was coming to check on you, and he was there. We fought. I won,” Kellen explains. “That’s why I have to go. His body is currently laying in your kitchen. I have to get rid of it.”
“Oh…” I don’t know what else to say; my mind is reeling with this new information.
Dante is dead.
Kellen killed him.
“What about the police? What if someone finds out it was you?”Oh my god, Kellen could go to prison for this.
“Don’t worry about that. I got everything under control,” Kellen assures me, like this is no big deal to him.
“How can you be so calm about this?”
“I got more important things to worry about,” he says ominously, which somehow reminds me of what else Dante told me.
I probably shouldn’t bring this up, especially not now, but I just can’t help myself. I have to know if it’s true.
“Dante also said that you are with another girl.”
