Page 105 of The Tangle of Awful

Dempsey fires off another shot into Drew’s body, this time in the chest. I’m no expert, but I’ve seen enough crime shows to know they’re covering their tracks, making sure Dempsey will have gunshot residue on his hands, solidifying their coverup.

“We’re going with that story, understood?” Spencer asks me. “It’ll be the safest and quickest way to get us cleared of all this. When Dad gets here, he’ll follow our lead.”

I nod even though it hurts my sore neck to do so. I don’t care what Spencer and Dempsey tell the cops. I just want this day to be over and done with. My whole body hurts and I feel disgusting.

“I want to go home,” I whisper, more tears spilling. “The only thing I need is you and Hugo.”

He hugs me tighter. “You have us. No one can hurt you ever again. I promise.”

With my abduction, Drew managed to get inside my head. Something else happened to Mom. Something no one wants to fess up to. Eventually, I’ll press the issue, but right now I’m just thankful to be alive and in the arms of one of the men I love.

“Is he dead?” I croak out.

“A bullet to the ear, face, and neck. Yeah, he’s dead.”

“I want to see.”

Spencer groans. “That’s a terrible idea.”

“He hurt me. I want to see his body.”

He lets out a resigned sigh before shifting me in his lap. I peer down at Drew’s unmoving form. It’s gruesome to see so much blood. There’s a gaping hole on the side of his neck and a smaller hole that went in his face just above his eye and below his eyebrow.

He’s dead.

This man can’t torment me ever again. No more snakes or kidnappings or beatings. He’s dead. How could my mother even care for someone as twisted as him?

“Spencer! Aubrey!”

Hugo’s voice booming as he enters the house has me crying out with joy. He storms into the room, curses, and then steps over Drew’s body to sit on the other side of me. His hand grips my jaw that’s smeared with vomit and he turns me to look at him.

I know I’m a mess.

But he looks at me like I’m the most precious and beautiful thing he’s ever seen.

“So happy you’re alive, Love,” Hugo murmurs, leaning his forehead against mine. “So fucking happy.”

“I threw up,” I say, beginning to notice the smells coming from my body.

“Pissed all over the place too,” Spencer adds, burrowing his face in my hair. “You smell fucking awful, leech.”

I cry with happiness because despite his mean words, he’s holding me like I might vanish. His lips are kissing me near my ear.

“You know we love you,” Hugo assures me. “Even when you’re messy. Especially when you’re messy.”

He dips forward, kissing the corner of my mouth that I hope is dry of vomit, completely forgetting we have an audience.

“Well, fuck me,” Dempsey mutters. “I am not seeing this shit.”

Hugo stiffens and Spencer laughs.

There’s no time for an explanation because seconds later, the tiny home of a monster fills with policemen and policewomen, Sloane leading the fray.

I’m bloody and bruised and sore beyond belief. I’m covered in bodily fluids and wearing splatters of another man’s blood. My body won’t stop shivering and my mind is a mess.

But I’m safe.

My guys came for me and I’m safe.

---