She rolls on her back, and I pull my hand away as I see her face is blotchy, her eyes puffy, her skin pale. There’s no twinkle to her eye, no light.
“I just… I can’t…” She trails off as tears fall down her cheeks and I grab her hand and squeeze it gently. Despite what happened, I don’t hold her responsible. She was just doing what she thought was right at the time.
“Is it Lucas?” I ask, because it could be that, I guess, or it could be the other thing I’m yet to ask.
“No. I couldn’t give a toss about him. He was evil, and the world is better off without him here.”
Fair enough. I don’t think anyone would argue that fact with her.
“The bikers… they were more than just a favour to you, weren’t they?” I ask quietly, and even though I said I wasn’t going to push her, I think she needs a little nudge.
She nods her head and starts to talk.
“Jason… he and I… we… had a thing. It had been going on for a few weeks. We were keeping it quiet until we knew where it was leading, but I know I was falling for him, and because of me and my stupid actions, he’s dead.”
“Oh, Zoey,” I say as I reach for her and pull her up to a sitting position, embracing her in a hug.
“I don’t want to be part of this world anymore, Kat, but I know there is no escape. Nate’s been the crime lord for so long that I know he can’t just make a clean break. There would be too many people wanting to take him down. But… we’ve lost so many people. Jason, Stefan, and more before that… I just… I don’t think I can do this anymore.”
I let her cry it out, just holding her, letting her tears dampen the shoulder of my shirt.
There’s not much I can say. Nothing I can do to ease her pain except be there for her.
Because this is my family now.
Zoey and Nate.
I’ve never really had a family before. My mother was useless and my dad even more so. I never knew what being close to anyone felt like, until the Knowles blew into my life.
I always wanted a sister, and now I’ve got one.
I always wanted the love of a man who would put me above himself, and I have one.
And no matter what happens from here on out, I know that we will always look out for each other, because that’s what a family does.
* * *
Nate
I didn’t mean to listen in, but as I walked along the hallway and heard sobs coming from Zoey’s room, I stopped and then Zoey started to speak.
“Because of me and my stupid actions, he’s dead.”
“We’ve lost so many people.”
“I don’t think I can do this anymore.”
I had no idea that she had something going with one of the MC guys.
I had no idea that she wanted to leave all of this behind.
I had no fucking idea.
None.
But now that I do, I have a choice to make.
And if I’m going to do right by my family, then I have to make sure everything is tied up. Finished. Done.
