Page 83 of Gemini
“It’s Sunday, Mom. I have work tomorrow?"
She shook her head, black curls bobbing. “Alright. Make sure you say goodbye to everyone.”
“I will.”
She closed the door and Jamie turned to me, smiling. “Kind of surprised you’re not fazed by your work after everything…”
Shrugging, I said, “I’m used to it.”
“Let’s just hope the morbid stuff sticks to your office for now on.”
My phone vibrated again but I didn’t take it out. I could guess what it said. “I have to go.”
“It’s a little early.”
“I have some errands to run before I go home.”
“Alright. I’m going to head out in a bit too.”
I turned for the screen door, and Jamie caught my arm. “Hey. If you ever need anything…”
“I’ll call you.”
“I’m serious. Even if I’m at work, we have the guest room. Ben doesn’t mind.”
“Thank you, but I’m okay. I’m better than you think.”
He squeezed my arm before releasing me. “I’ll see you soon.”
I turned and hugged him. Pulling back, I waved goodbye to my cousins, then went inside. I said goodbye to the rest of the family, promising Mom and Dad I would stop by again next week. I also promised my brother that I would grab dinner at his work before the end of the season. Trish pulled me into a hug last. Neither of us said a word, but I knew we’d see each other soon.
Outside, I strolled down to the end of the driveway. As I stopped to look around, I saw a black hellcat parked on the side of the street just a few doors down. It drove up and halted in front of me. I went around to the passenger’s side, getting inside.
“You were quick, I didn’t think you’d be here so soon,” I said as I shut the door.
Leslie stared at me, his gaze falling down my body and the green summer dress, a little smirk on his face. “Sooner than you think.”
I looked back at him curiously. “You were waiting?”
His hands were gripping the steering wheel. “I missed you.”
“I was only gone a few hours.”
He shrugged as he drove down the neighborhood street. “Too long,” he murmured.
He was still off even after all these weeks. Not nearly as bad as that night we escaped, thankfully, but not fully recovered.
Even in my shocked state, it didn’t take much for me to see he had snapped. Xavier had been the one to make the call and drive us to the hospital that night, knowing it was for the best, especially for Trish. But it took all the men in the vehicle plus my begging for Leslie to let me go.
“You got me,” I’d told him. “I’m right here. I’m safe. But I have to go and be with my sister and make sure she’s okay. You’d do the same…for Dom.”
Those were the only words to convince him. He almost followed me in, but his friends stopped him, telling him it was too risky for him to be seen with me. Thankfully, Xavier took us to the same hospital Leslie had gotten out of. Andrea was there to monitor me and my sister. For all the times she checked her phone, I knew she had to be in contact with Leslie, giving him constant updates. He was scared that someone would come and grab me again. That he would have to burn the city down to get me back. By early morning when they had put us in a room, I could see out to one of the parking lots, and I swore I saw his hellcat parked there, not moving the whole time.
When I was finally able to come out of my shocked state for even a moment, I later learned Dom was in that same hospital a few floors down. Andrea was generous enough to take me to see him.
My heart sank to my stomach when I found him lying there unconscious, all wrapped up, an oxygen tank pumping air into his lungs. I dropped into a seat next to him and thought I might cry, instead I took his hand and stared at him. Andrea spoke, telling me his condition, but I hardly responded. Now it made sense why Leslie had snapped so badly.
As Leslie turned out of my neighborhood and headed southeast. I didn’t need to ask where we were going. We followed a small river into rural country, trees lining both sides of the narrow road. Passing over a bridge and turning down a dirt path, I caught a few deer running through the trees. Leslie pulled into a drive, hidden by a set of pines. Beyond them was a house situated on the end of a hill looking down at the river below. He parked next to an old pickup. Getting out, I saw one of the older members, Kris, next to a small fire, burning papers. He looked over at us and waved. Leslie nodded as he took my hand and led me into the house.
