Page 10 of We End With Us

“King,” she whispers.

His fingers touch her cheek, brushing the tear away that slides down. Nova tilts her face into his touch, her face crumbling when he bends, placing a kiss to her forehead. “I-I t-thought you-u,” she stammers, lifting her head trying to hold back her tears.

“I know, I know,” he says, pulling her into his arms.

“I got you, princess. I got you.” He promises her. I force my own tears down as I watch them.

“This is all my fault,” Nova says, pulling from King’s hold.

“Don’t you dare think like that, mamas,” I tell her.

“It’s the truth,” she shouts, turning to look at me.

“You got shot because of me. Because you were …” She stops.

“Saving you,” he says. Finishing her sentence.

Shaking her head, she's going to argue no matter what we say, Nova is determined she’s no good for us, that we’re better off without her.

Nova’s eyes slam shut as she crumbles again. King holds her to his chest, not once letting her go.

“What about Carter?” King asks, changing the subject.

“From what we can tell he’s on the run,” Jordy says.

“We’ll find him,” King says with confidence.

“Miller?”

“Seems he's also on the run,” Cass remarks.

“Fucker better hope I don't find him first,” King growls, holding Nova to his chest a little tighter.

That we can agree on.

“What about your parents? Have you heard from them?” he asks me. After finding my brother dead, knowing they most likely had a hand in it, I’m not surprised King’s determined to find out the truth.

The truth that I've hidden from them all.

“No,” I lie because I’m not ready to share with my brothers yet that my parents are on their way and won’t stop until they end me. After all, I know all their dirty secrets. My brother paid with his life, but I'll be sure they pay with theirs. This ends now.

My parents are deranged and psychotic. They never blamed anything on themselves, my brother and I always took that wrath. But now he’s gone and all it leaves is me. They craved power and control.

They used us to lure kids, kidnap, and sell them for their own sick benefit. Back then my brother and I were just trying to survive. We didn't know any better. We knew it was wrong by the time we were older and that our parents were sick. The beatings we got if we disobeyed were enough for us to fall in line.

He’d try to protect me but could only do so much.

We got out, or at least I thought we had. Now my parents are back and want one thing.

My fucking soul.

They destroyed everything in their path, taking what they needed with no care or regard for anyone else.

“I’m going to take a shower,” I tell them. Taking my phone out while I walk up the stairs, I open the message and read it once more.

Unknown

If you think we’ve forgotten about you, Sebastian, it’s only a matter of time. You screw up and we spill your secret. We’ll see you soon … Son!

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