“We should probably have Julio join us,” Raul says.
“I texted him. We are going to stop by the office and get him and some supplies,” I say.
As we drive, I can’t help but think about Alania. I know she is mad at me, and she has every right to be mad, but I can’t risk losing her. Edward would make sure to cause Brent as much emotional damage as possible. Call me selfish, but I don’t think I’d survive this world without her, and I think Raul and Brent are in the same place.
Chapter Thirty Three
Alania
Three hours have passed,and I haven’t heard a word from the guys. I have been pacing the living room since they pulled out of the driveway, it seems. I shouldn’t have been so mean. I should have given him a hug and just accepted that they were trying to keep me safe. He isn’t even wrong. I would freeze up if something happened and I could get everyone killed. Clearly, they know what they are doing, so I should just let them take care of it.
I have thought about texting them a hundred different times to apologize, but I don’t know what to say. “Sorry, I am a crazy bitch who doesn’t know how to regulate my emotions. My bad.”
My phone starts ringing in my hand, and I rush to answer Cian’s call. “Hey. Are you on your…”
“Hey,” Cian says with sorrow in his voice. I can hear someone screaming in the background, but I can’t tell who. Raul? Brent? I can’t tell.
“What happened?” I snap. “Cian, what happened? Is everyone okay?”
“I’m so sorry, Alania… We tried to get to the gun… It happened so fast,” he says.
I hear his words, but I refuse to let them sink in. It can’t be true. I can lose anyone else… I listen to his explanation while someone continues to scream. Their sobs are heartbreaking. I feel like my world is caving in, but I am too far away to help. I won’t get to say goodbye. I have to at least be able to say goodbye.”
I abruptly end the call as I get into the truck. It’s late, but I don't care. I need to get to them. I have to. They shouldn’t be alone. I shouldn't be alone.
I speed down the highway, praying that this is just some kind of sick joke. Why would God do this to me? Two people in one week… two people I loved. This can’t be true. It just can’t be.
I am driving on a long stretch of desolate highway when an all-too-familiar, deafening blast stuns me. The steering wheel jerks to the right, but before I can attempt to straighten the truck out,the nose grabs the guardrail and suddenly everything is quiet as my world turns upside down…
Chapter Thirty Four
Adrian
We stop about aquarter mile down the road from the cabin so that we can approach on foot. We don’t want him to know that we are coming. When we get close to the cabin, we take softer steps and move cautiously. Cian stays with me as Brent and Raul go around the cabin to come in from the back. Julio is hanging back a bit. We want someone to be a step behind us, just in case we get ambushed.
When we reach the front door, we hear voices inside. “You raped her!” Vanessa yells.
“Vanessa, baby. Please. Put the gun down, sweetheart. I didn’t…” Edward pleads.
“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I heard you. There was a camera. You lied. You lied to me,” Vanessa shouts. “You raped her. She told me. She was just a baby, Edward. A baby!”
“Vanessa, please put the gun down, baby,” Edward says pleadingly.
“Alania deserves better,” Vanessa growls. Right as I throw the door open, a gunshot booms through the cabin. The first thing we see is Edward getting blasted backward. He is tied to a chair, but the force of the shot to the head sends the chair falling back.
“Vanessa, don’t!” I scream at her. Cian tries to grab her, but Brent gets to her first. He tries to pry the gun out of her hand, but she times it perfectly.
The barrel of the gun is facing her for a fraction of a second, but it’s just long enough for her to pull the trigger. “Mom!” Brent screams as the gun clatters to the ground. He catches his mother's limp body and brings her down. Her appearance mirrors Fiona’s, and the entire left side of her head is missing. I am absolutely stunned as I stand here watching Brent scream and beg his mom to wake up.
“Call Alania,” I say quietly when Cian steps in front of me. “It’s her mom. Call her.”
“I’ll call. Try to get him away from her. Both of you,” Cian says. I nod and look at Raul, who is just as stunned. As I pass the side table next to the couch, there is a paper lying on top of it with neatly scribbled words.
I can’t live without him, but you can.
He can’t hurt us anymore.
I love you both so much
