Page 98 of Heart Sick

“I’m okay,” I assure Alanna, hoping she doesn’t see through my ploy.

I wish I could let Luna in on what I have planned, but she needs to be genuinely scared for this to work—not that I’m certain it will.

Alanna nods, watching me closely for any signs of deceit.

“You’re right. Let’s go. I’m done with this.”

The disappointment on Luna’s face is clear. It’s almost enough to have me forgetting about this, but I need him to talk and I don’t know how.

Alanna stays close to me as we walk down the aisle. She doesn’t trust me, and she shouldn’t because the moment an opportunity presents itself, I plan on taking it.

We step outside, and the dismal weather reflects the current mood. The light drizzle soon becomes a heavy downpour. We’re escorted to a white van, and I hate that this entire ordeal is a fucking stereotype. Noah grips Luna by the arm and drags her toward the back doors.

His heart begins beating faster when headlights appear in the distance. They’re two small dots on the horizon, but they may as well be beacons of hope because I have an idea. I clutch at my heart again as if needing to catch my breath.

The rain doesn’t relent and seems punishing as it continues to fall with force.

I bend down, discreetly looking between Luna and the approaching car. The sounds of nature are suddenly amplified and the music returns. It’s becoming easier to hear and I wonder if that’s because Jack is calm.

That provides me no comfort because his harmony is Luna’s battle. I don’t care what she did. It doesn’t change my feelings for her, feelings that just continue to grow. Even though this is the “right” thing to do, it feels like anything but.

But maybe we’re just as fucked up as the other.

Noah shoves Luna when she doesn’t move because she’s trying to see if I’m okay. “Let me go!” she screams, yanking from his hold.

Her words are caught in the rainstorm, but I can hear her concern, which is why I need to do this. We hurt the ones we love, and what I feel for Luna is something like love. I say that because this extends past love.

The car gets closer and closer and just as Alanna bends low to offer me help, I do something despicable and grip her by the throat before tossing her aside. She slams into a wall, the impact winding her and ensuring she stays down for a while.

The two men run to her aid, just as I knew they would because I think Alanna uses her looks to get what she wants. Noah, however, has other ideas and shoves Luna to the ground. She skids along the wet cement, which incites my rage.

I charge for him, focused on nothing but ripping off his fucking head. He, too, comes running for me, but the anger inside me is no match and I punch him square in the jaw. He falls to the ground and I don’t wait a second as I stomp on his kneecap, breaking it in one brutal snap.

His howls rival the pouring rain, and as much as I want to continue beating Noah until he is one with the pavement, I need to put this plan into play before it’s too late. I run to where Luna is trying to stand, but the rain and the fact she got the wind knocked from her is making it hard to move.

Grasping her arm, I yank her up and drag her toward the road. She doesn’t fight because even after everything I’ve done, she trusts me. The car is approaching us and as Luna’s eyes widen, I slam my mouth to hers.

If this is to be our last few moments on this godforsaken planet, then let it be in the arms of the woman I love.

She threads her fingers through my hair, pressing her body against mine and kissing me back with as much intensity. She doesn’t care we’re standing in the pouring rain, kissing like our lives depend on it, because they do.

She bites my bottom lip so hard it draws blood. “I hate you,” she mumbles against my mouth, pulling my hair.

“You should,” I reply, rubbing my erection against her. “But you’re about to hate me even more.”

Before she has a chance to ask what I mean, I spin her around and press my forearm over her throat. She squirms, trying to break free, but with her back to my front, I tower over her. We’re blinded by the rain and headlights.

“Dutch!” she shrieks, clawing at my arm.

Her panic breaks his heart, and he begins rattling at the invisible bars on our cell.

“That’s right, you son of a bitch!” I roar, pressing over Luna’s throat harder. “Talk! Tell me what to do! You want me to save her? Tell me how!”

A thousand guttural screams echo in my head so loudly I want to dig out my brain. But the more frightened Luna is, the louder he screams.

“Dutch! No! Please d-don’t do this.”

But I ignore Luna.

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