Page 61 of Unloaded
“That could probably use some stitches,” he comments, looking at the cut on my right palm, “hopefully this will keep it closed long enough to heal.” Matthew holds the sides of the wound together while Dalton applies some wound glue.
He covers the burns on my left hand with non-stick dressings, securing them with a gauze wrap. He pats my hands when he is done. Our eyes meet again. Mine full of sadness and his full of understanding.
Everything has happened so fast it’s hard to comprehend, but I still don’t have time to think about it. Later, when the boys are safe and we’re much farther away from here, I’ll take a beat to let it all sink in. Until then, autopilot it is.
Rosco’s house had been targeted because ofme. It would never have been if I hadn’t been there. What would have happened if my brothers had been there, too? Could I have kept them from being taken?
I shake my head knowing second guessing isn’t going to change anything. The panic room hadn’t been large enough for all three of us. Either they would have sacrificed themselves forme or I’d be dead and likely Rosco, too, if Reginald hadn’t been able to get his hands on my brothers.
I shiver at the thought. I can’t lose them. They’re all I have left of my family. I refuse to stop and think about how Rosco or his friends could have been killed in the attack. I wouldn’t have been able to survive that, knowing I’d been responsible.
“Rachel?” I look up to see Luke studying me. His gaze is intense, making me feel like a child about to be reprimanded by their father. “I’m sorry about your brothers. We will get them back. You just need to give us time to locate them and work out the best way to get them free and end the threat.
“I’m also sorry you had to witness my brothers being idiots. Enos didn’t mean what he said to Rosco. Those two have been at each other for months, and unfortunately, it came to a head today. I’m sorry you got caught in the cross fire.”
“There’s nothing for you to apologize for,” I assure him. “I know they haven’t been getting along. It’s something they’re going to need to work out between themselves. I have enough to worry about without spending my energy on their issues. I have to focus on Nicky and Ricky. They’re all that matter?—”
“You know we will do everything in our power to find them and bring them home,” Luke interrupts me. “You don’t have to worry about that. As for Rosco, he will eventually get his head out of his ass, but he’s always been stubborn. It’ll just take him a bit longer than it should.” We share a sad smile.
“I hope he can find happiness,” I answer. “He deserves it, even if he doesn’t believe it. I appreciate everything you and Marley have done for me and my brothers. I’ll forever be grateful, and I’ll never forget you all.”
“What are you saying?” Marley asks with tears in her eyes. “Why are you talking like you’re leaving?” She heads toward me. Seeing her tears causes my own eyes to burn. I blink rapidly andtake a deep breath, hold it then blow it out slowly, steeling my spine. I can do this.
“Because I am,” I state. “I love you, my friend, and I’m going to miss you so, so much, but I have to go. I have to find them and get them as far away from Vena as possible. I’m so sorry I brought all this to you and your family,” I finish and turn to Luke, but Marley hugs me so tight I can hardly breathe. She’s crying softly, and I hug her back, fighting like hell not to cry myself. I’m mostly successful.
“Rachel, that isn’t a good idea,” Luke scolds, gruffly. “You can’t take off. You need protection now more than ever.” I pull away from Marley, shaking my head.
“I have to,” I plead, “don’t you understand? These people will never stop. I’ve kept the boys and I alive and mostly unharmed for almost six years. If we’d kept moving, they wouldn’t have gotten so close. Close enough to take my brothers.
“We never should have stayed here this long,” I explain. “But you all made us feel so welcome and safe. I’d hoped maybe we had finally out run our past, but it just isn’t meant to be.
“I have to go, Luke. I have to be the one to find them. It’s the only way to keep us and all of you safe. Please, let me go without a fight.” Luke’s face pinches into a tight mask of anger.
“No.” His tone is adamant. “There’s no way I’m letting you go out there to take on the fucking mob, Rachel!” I’m stunned into silence.
Luke has rarely raised his voice in my presence, and it’s never been aimed at me. Usually it’s aimed at Bo, Rosco, or Enos when they’re fighting amongst themselves. Having him turn his ire toward me? Frightening.
“At least wait until Rosco gets here,” he urges, lowering his voice to a normal volume. “You can’t leave without saying good-bye.”
“I’ve already said good-bye,” I counter. “Look, we both know he isn’t going to want to let me leave either. It’ll be easier if I’m gone before he gets here.”
“I can’t let you do this,” Luke argues as Bo and Enos arrive with Shelby and baby Axel in tow.
“Let her do what?” Bo questions, looking from me to Luke and back. My shoulders slump. The more Robertsons who know my intentions, the more difficult it’ll be to get away.
“She wants to leave, to track her brothers down and get them away from the mafia by herself, and then what?” Luke asks, turning to sneer at me. “Run off into the sunset to spend the rest of your lives looking over your shoulders?”
When he puts it that way, it sounds really stupid. But he can’t think I’m just going to sit here twiddling my thumbs while my brothers are with their fucking mafia father, being forced to do God only knows what.
“Abso-fucking-lutely not!” Bo bellows. Shelby steps up to him placing her hand on his arm, but he doesn’t stop. “Look, Rachel. I understand you’re upset about the twins. We all are.”
He looks at Luke and the others who all nod in agreement, which does nothing to calm me down. It only pisses me off even more. This is my family, not theirs, but Bo continues before I can say a word.
“I realize you don’t get it, yet, but you’ve been claimed by a Robertson. A completely idiotic one,” Bo continues, rolling his eyes, “but that’s beside the point. You’re his, and he’s yours. You can’t just take off on your own and get yourself killed.
“Rosco needs you as much as you need him, so, both of you need to pull your heads out of your asses and get with the program! Besides your brothers need you, too. Getting killed or taken captive by your stepfather won’t help them.”
I hate to admit it, but he’s right.How can I find them and get them free all on my own?This time I can’t hold back the tearsburning my eyes. They roll freely down my cheeks. I hate crying. It makes me feel weak. But mostly, I hate not having a plan and not knowing what is the right thing to do.
