Page 45 of Saint

“Shit.”

“Yeah.”

Tommy snatched the cigarette out of my hand. He seemed to be working his way up to something big, something that even he was struggling with. In the darkest parts of our souls, we’d already suspected what had happened in that room. I couldn’t imagine what could be worse that what had already been said.

“Dad left,” Tommy said. “He couldn’t stand to listen to it. Cass thinks he doesn’t care, she thinks I don’t care, but fuck, man, that’s my baby sister in there—”

He broke off, chest heaving, fists balled like he needed to hit something. I stepped in front of him, palms raised. “Tom. Hey. You here with me?”

“I need to go find Dad.”

He looked like he was in shock.

“Talk to me, Tommy.”

“She’s pregnant,” he blurted. “Eight, um…eight weeks. Connor didn’t know.”

I exhaled sharply. Jesus fucking Christ.

I glanced over at Tommy. His face was pale and his expression was bleak. "I should have been there. I should have protected her--"

"You couldn't have known."

"I should have tried harder." Tommy looked like he was about to blow his top.

"Hey. look at me." It took a while, but he finally met my eyes. "She's alive, Tom. That's what matters."

"Yeah," he said. "I know."

"Do you want to go back in?"

He shook his head. "No, I...I need to take a walk. Find dad, make sure he's not lying in a ditch somewhere."

"Are you good?"

He nodded. "I'll be back in a bit."

I watched as he made his way down the street. Tommy had taken it hard, and he was blaming himself for what hadhappened to his sister. A lot of that seemed to be going around. The guilt was eating him alive, and it didn't help that his father's health was already fragile.

I lit another cigarette and let the rain patter down on me. My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my pocket, hoping it was Emilia. Instead, my stomach sank as I saw who was calling.

"Yeah?"

"It's Sloane," the voice on the other end of the line sounded pinched and tired. "I’m sure Tommy told you what’s going on. Callum sent me to lock up Lady D’s, but…there's someone here for you."

"Yeah?" I said, trying to keep my tone casual. "Who is it?"

"She says her name is Emilia."

My heart skipped a beat. "I'll be right over."

It was a miracle I wasn't pulled over on my way to Lady D's. I don't think the car dropped below eighty until the bar's lights appeared up ahead, illuminating the solitary figure standing protected from the rain under the eaves. I left the car running and sprinted through the rain towards her.

"Emilia!"

She turned to face me, her eyes bright with tears. She was soaked to the skin, her hair plastered to her face, but I'd never seen anyone so beautiful in my entire life. I pulled her into my arms, burying my face in the crook of her neck. She clung to me, trembling, and I could feel her heart racing against my chest.

"You're alive," she whispered, her voice hoarse.

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