Chapter 32
A chorus of 'happy birthday' fills the air, our house crammed full of our nearest and dearest. Max is the centre of attention, squished between me and Masen, two flickering candles lighting up his happy little face.
I'm feeling super emotional as he attempts to blow them out, clapping for himself when he manages one. A whole two years since he was born and I can hardly believe it.
Masen catches my eye over the top of his head, his arm around my shoulder. He smiles, fingers tickling the nape of my neck.
Things have been tense underneath the surface. Ever since Christmas when the calls started up, day and night; him sloping off with pitiful excuses, when I know it's to do with Alec. I resent them and him; the promise he made left in tatters. He's risking everything, and for what?
I can't help but wonder whether this will be the only birthday of Max's he'll see. Fear of him ending up back inside, or dead, have been plaguing me. I haven't voiced these aloud yet, not to him, but I think them. All the time.
Heidi sidles up to me as I'm cutting the cake in the kitchen. "OK," she whispers, bumping her hip into mine. "I can see why you waited for your man to get out. Damn, girl." She fans herself.
"Shut up!" I laugh, shoving her in the arm as she picks up plates to hand out.
I glance at Masen through the doorway, stood with Petey and Emmett, beer in hand. He looks relaxed. Happy. And I like him like that.
He catches me looking, picking up empty bottles, bringing them through and putting them on the counter.
"Any more beer?" he asks, arms wrapping around my middle, kissing the skin behind my ear as I slice more cake.
"If there's none left in the fridge, there's a crate in the garage."
He swipes frosting off a piece of cake I've just cut, sticking it in his mouth before I can tell him no.
"You're supposed to wait for yours," I laugh. "Everyone else is."
"Mmm, but where's the fun in that?"
His hand finds my ass, slapping it. I pout at him over my shoulder as he disappears with a grin through the door into the utility and then the garage door beyond that.
Esme volunteers to get the door when the doorbell rings, her voice cutting across the noise of kids and adults chattering and laughing.
"Hopefully it'll be Carlisle," I hear her say. I doubt it, but for Esme's sake, I hope it is.
Moving into the living room, I pass out more plates, only stopping when Charlotte utters a 'what the fuck' in my ear, elbowing me in the ribs followed by, "What's he doin' here?"
I look up to find Esme stood with the last person I expected to show up here, right now, because he's not invited. Or wanted.
Esme's eyes meet mine, and I resign myself to joining her. I'm not sure whether she knows who Alec is, but if she does, it might confirm any suspicions she has left about Masen.
"What are you doing?" I ask through gritted teeth, voice low, when I reach Alec.
"Thought I'd drop by, give the little guy a little somethin'." He holds out a neatly wrapped present covered in dinosaurs.
I stare at it, and then at him. Feeling little arms wrapping around my leg, my hand finds Max's hair as he looks up at Alec with big brown eyes. I lift him up onto my hip, Alec offering the present to Max this time. Max doesn't hesitate, taking it, shaking it, beaming; no idea that this man is partly responsible for depriving him of his Daddy for so long.
"You shouldn't have," I tell him. And I mean it. It's like rubbing salt in a wound.
Masen joins us, much less diplomatic than I am, pushing Alec away, his face tight now, annoyed.
"Outside."
"Later, Princess," Alec winks.
I watch them disappear, placing Max down, kneeling beside him as he wastes no time tearing off paper. I smile at his enthusiasm but when I realize exactly what Alec's just given Max…
Standing abruptly, I snatch up the toy before he can look at it properly, a broken cry escaping from his mouth.
"Mommy just needs to… Char, can you..."
Char scoops Max up, hushing him as I dart out the room, out the front door. It slams behind me, causing Alec and Masen to turn around from where they're stood on the drive.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I launch the present at Alec's head, hitting him square in the face before I reach him, fleeting flashes of metal pressed against my forehead, stroking down my cheek; Masen stood aiming at my head; the way my heart thudded in the moments before I thought I was going to die.
It thuds now, loud in my ears, turning my vision red. I don't think, I just do; my hand connecting hard with Alec's face before either of them can do anything about it.
Hand stinging, the feel of Masen's hands on me, already between us. His face swims, concerned, asking me what's wrong, then rounding on Alec, asking him what the fuck he's done.
Alec massages where my hand has left an imprint on his face.
"Damn. You wanna play, Princess?"
"Fuck you! You know exactly what you're doing, you asshole!" My voice is wavering, shrugging Masen off as he tries to calm me down. "No! Let go! He's fucking sick. Is this some kinda joke to you?"
Masen retrieves the present from the ground and I can see the moment it registers, the same look that must've passed over my face, clouding his.
To anyone else, it's a toy gun.
To me; given by him it runs a lot deeper than that and he knows it. A threat, a reminder… And giving it to Max? Giving it to my baby who never asked for any of this? My eyes tear up, angry and frustrated.
Masen steps up to Alec, pushing the present into his chest, hard.
"The fuck is this?"
"What? Thought I'd start the ball rollin'... little man taking after his Papà, his Nonno. Didn't mean shit by it." He adjusts his dark suit jacket, brushing it off.
Masen gets in Alec's face.
"Bullshit," he grits out. He grabs a fistful of his shirt. "I work for you, but you stay the fuck away from my family. My son. My wife. You gotta problem, I'm right here. You come near them again. I'll make sure it's the last thing you do. Y'hear me?"
"Remember who the fuck you're talking to," Alec snarls, shoving Masen back. "One call…" He's menacing, eyes flashing dangerously, but Masen doesn't back down.
"Yeah? Go on then, Alec! The fuck are you waitin' for?" He squares back up to him.
They stare at each other in a tense stand-off before I hear Masen utter a 'thought so,' under his breath.
He turns to me just before Alec speaks again.
"And there I was thinkin' you'd gone soft since our little Principessa showed up."
Masen spins around, fists clenched.
"Our? She ain't yours."
"You sure she's yours? Real cosy lookin' with that Doc she works for. Two years is a long time to go without. Couldn't blame her for gettin' her kicks elsewhere," he goads.
I take a step forward, hand finding Masen's, sure he's seconds away from landing a fist in Alec's face. Alec is hitting a nerve, and he knows it.
"That's not true," I say quietly.
Masen glances at me.
"Not gonna say it again," he says to Alec, finality in his tone. "Stay the fuck away."
The front door opens behind us, Demetri coming out and standing on the porch, assessing. Alec's eyes fly up to him, before he sniffs and turns on his heel.
The look he shoots us both before he gets into his car is enough to make my stomach churn, and as his black Mercedes disappears into the night, all I can think about is how fucked this is.
He could put Masen back in prison. Or worse.
"Everything alright?" Demetri asks as we come back inside the warmth of the house.
Masen walks away, not uttering another word to either of us. I shrug my shoulders, because I'm not sure, and it makes me want to slap Alec all over again.
...
It's only after everyone has left and Max is fast asleep that Masen comes back in off the back porch. He stands there for a minute, smelling faintly of smoke, watching me as I load the dishwasher before he brings it up.
"Did you fuck anyone else while I was inside?"
I laugh bitterly, but I don't stop what I'm doing to answer.
"Bella!"
I whirl around, furious.
"Jesus, Masen! No. How can you even ask me that? Nothing happened with nobody. I was too busy changing diapers, trying to get by on five hours of broken sleep a night, raising our baby by myself to even think about getting myself off, let alone anyone else!"
I stand with my hand on my hip.
"Y'know what you should be mad about?" I hear myself say, unable to hold my tongue any longer. "You should be mad that Alec kept you away from us for fucking years. All the stuff you've missed out on with Max. Every scan, his birth, his first steps, his first words, his first birthday." I list them all off in my fingers. "You should be mad that he just gave him a toy gun. After everything him and his family have done to mine. To me. To us! Now more threats? Putting doubts in your head about me? I waited for you. Don't you fucking dare throw that back in my face."
My bottom lip trembles as a huff of air escapes his mouth. When he looks up his eyes are burning. He reaches for me, but I move away, raising my hands.
"No!"
His hands retreat into fists.
"I ain't just mad, Bella. I'm fuckin' furious."
"Then you need to figure shit out, Masen! Because you working for him means you're never going to put Max and me first. And if you don't or won't, then I will."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
He knows what it means.
I lick my lips and look away, stomach clenching painfully.
"I'll leave you if I have to."
"Bella—"
I don't stay to hear what he has to say, pushing past him, heading for the stairs. He turns and follows me.
"I wouldn't be doin' this if I had a choice!"
"There's always a choice, Masen! You promised me. You promised no more and yet here we fucking are. Again."
We stand gazing at each other for too long. I'm breathing hard, raging, pulling at my hair in its ponytail. He looks away first, knuckles finding the wall as he knocks his fist against it.
"You're right."
The words hang in the air as he steps closer. "Your right. I'm sorry."
I reluctantly let him draw me to him. His forehead finds mine, my eyes lowered to his chest.
"I'm sorry."
Tears roll down my cheeks, stress and worry and anger winning out. I'm too stiff in his arms, but slowly the fight drains out of me and I melt into him, craving his comfort.
Fingers find my hair, lips pressed to my head. "I'm sorry," he says again.
He lets go slowly after a while, stepping back, reaching for his coat hanging up behind me.
"Where are you going?" I ask, alarmed.
He pulls his coat on, adjusting the collar, taking out leather gloves from the pockets. He leans over, pressing his mouth to mine.
"To finish this."
...
Hours later I'm tossing and turning under cold sheets, unable to sleep, worrying myself sick about what exactly Masen's doing.
By the time the sun gets up, so has Max, and I haven't slept at all.
Oblivious to the anxiety spiking through me, Max chats away, hugging his favorite teddy, to his chest as I fix up breakfast. Going through the motions of our morning routine distracts me a little, but not much. Porridge and fruit for us both, milk in his sippy cup, a coffee for me and a few early morning cartoons for him while we eat, even though I'm really not hungry.
I'm the one who set this ball rolling. And… He's going to kill him. That's what my gut says he meant by 'finish this.' There's no other way out. There's just no other way for this to end, surely?
I jump when I hear the slam of a car door, startling Max so much he starts crying.
"Aw, Max. No crying," I hush, plucking him out of his highchair, kissing his forehead.
Reaching the hallway at the same time as the front door opens, I freeze as Masen slips inside the house, bringing cold morning air in with him.
My skin prickles as our eyes meet. I'm not sure what I'm expecting him to say.
"Did you..." I trail off as he shrugs his coat off.
"It's not what you think." He leans in, kissing me, taking Max from my arms.
I frown in confusion.
"Hey dude, what you sheddin' all those tears for, huh? Gonna take you to see your Nana and your Auntie Es today and then me and your Mommy are going out for the day."
He smiles at me tiredly as Max stops crying, wiping his face on Masen's grey sweater. A hand runs down my arm.
"We'll talk later."
"Dadda play cars?" Max asks as they head for the living room, leaving me standing there, alone.
"Sure, dude. Nothin' I like more than playing cars. Do I get to be the red monster truck this time?"
"No. Mine, Daddy. Green one, OK?"
"Green one it is."
...
Dropping Max off with Elizabeth and Esme a couple of hours later, I find myself hovering a little longer than normal, fussing over him even though he's content; lapping up the attention Angela is giving him as he demonstrates just how high a monster truck can jump.
When we do leave, it feels strange. I can count on one hand the time we've had alone together since he was released.
He drives us into Chicago and I've no idea where we're going or what we're doing until the big wheel on the Old Navy Pier appears in the distance.
Parked up and paid, a little thrill runs down my spine as the car door slams behind us. The last time we were here together was the morning after Carlisle had fixed me up. The years have passed, but the pier somehow stays the same.
Masen offers his hand and I take it as we slowly wander along, a biting wind blowing my hair up and around. I laugh as he gets a mouth full, before I duck into the shelter of a shop and throw it up in a bun.
"Does it look OK? I'm blind here." I wave a hand over my hair and Masen reaches out, tucking a stray hair behind my ear with cold fingertips. "What?" I ask when he says nothing.
A little smirk creeps onto his mouth.
"Feel like I didn't say it enough when I was inside."
"Say what?"
"That you're real fuckin' pretty."
I pull my scarf tighter around me, hiding my smile behind it. He tugs it down so he can kiss me, and I let him, even though last night's argument is weighing on my mind.
Masen suggests the arcade as we make our way further down the pier. It's a distraction, and the right kind. I get we need to talk, but time together, alone, is so rare I let it slide so we can just… be happy. In the moment.
After my fingers have warmed up, we take full advantage of how quiet it is. He lets me beat his ass at air hockey twice and spend way too much on the slot machines, only for me to win twenty bucks anyway.
After we've exhausted the games and my tummy is beginning to growl with hunger, we get steaming cups of coffee to go, and share cheesy fries out of a takeout box, walking along the pier until we stop pretty much where we did the first time he brought me here. Same bench, same view. Opposite seasons.
I fiddle with the lid of my coffee cup, looking into eyes that are too tired. A reminder he was out all of last night and he hasn't said a word about it. Neither of us have.
"Why are we here?" I ask quietly, sensing there's something more to this visit than a date day. Before he speaks my mouth starts running. "I'm sorry... for last night. I know Alec's holding a lot over you. I just… I don't want this for Max, Masen. I'm worried that you're either going to end up back inside or you're gonna end up dead. I'm scared. And no matter how much my heart wants this, my head says somethin' has to give here. We can't carry on like this."
He's silent, studying me for ages before he speaks.
"If I tell you this. You gotta promise me you won't breathe a word to anyone."
"Queen of secrets right here."
His lips twitch and then he exhales as if he has the weight of the world on his shoulders, a seriousness settling over him. He looks around, checking we're alone.
"The reason I ain't done nothin' yet... since I've been out, the reason I'm working for Alec again…" he pauses. "I'm givin' info to the Feds as part of a deal. They're building a case under RICO against Alec. The family."
I suck a breath in. "Seriously?"
"In return I'm immune to prosecution, option of WITSEC for you, Max, and me if it all goes south."
I take a minute, looking out at dark murky water.
"And how is this supposed to end? What if Alec finds out?" I swallow hard, suddenly terrified because betrayal like that is… Well, betrayal like that is a certified death sentence, no doubt.
"Gotta hope that he don't. Last night I was talking to the Feds about speeding this whole thing up. I dunno how long I can carry on without taking the fucker out myself, cos believe me, that's what I wanna do right now. After that little stunt he pulled yesterday. They just need me to carry on for a few more months."
"A few more months?"
"I know this isn't what you want, ain't what I promised. But I'm really fucking hoping to make good on those soon." He looks down, tugging me closer. "I don't want this for us either." His cold nose brushes against my forehead. "I don't want you to leave me," he murmurs. "I wouldn't blame you. But it's not what I want. You're what I want. You and Max."
"Me too. I just…"
"It'll happen. It will."
I squeeze my eyes shut, heart racing, and I nod. Acceptance, resignation, the magnitude of danger he's putting himself in making me more fearful than before.
But if it means we're free from this, from Alec—It's gotta be worth it.
"And there's no other way?"
"I've thought 'bout this for so fuckin' long." He chuckles, shaking his head. "All the fuckin' time while I was inside. Dreamed about all the ways I could pull this off. But even if I… even if I got rid of him, it don't solve the fact there's others who'd then be a problem. This is the only way most of the organization goes down. It's the only one that'll work, long term. And that's what I need for us. What we need. A solution that's gonna last."
"OK." My voice is small.
"I want to send you and Max away somewhere, 'til this is done. Him showing up last night… I'm not gonna risk my family becomin' collateral. You've been through enough."
"And you haven't? I know what I said, but I don't want to leave you. I—"
"I need to know you're safe. It's only for a little while." He pauses. "I already talked it over with Demetri. He'll go with you."
"But what about you? What if—"
"I'm gonna be fine, B," he says, trying to be reassuring. But he can't know that for sure, and we both know it.
...
It's growing dark by the time we head back home. I turn the radio loud and sing along to all the tunes they're throwing out, trying to forget the seriousness of the last hour, the noose around our necks.
Masen glances over at me, amused.
"How many hours do you think we've spent in cars together?" I ask him as he pulls up at a stoplight, reminded of our long journeys, hopping state to state, on the run.
"Too many," he says, his hand finding the inside of my thigh. "And your singin' ain't improved, that's for sure." His fingers creep higher. "Shame 'bout these jeans too."
"It's January," I stress. "It's cold, I ain't getting naked for you in a car in Chicago in January."
His mouth pulls into a smile. I can see it even in the dark, and I just know he's thinking about the times I have shed my clothes for him in a car.
"Besides," I say looking behind us. "Still got Max's seat in here. That gives us even less space."
"Then I'm gonna have to take you home before we pick him up," he squeezes my leg before shifting up gears.
I hum in agreement. A whole house to ourselves is something we should be taking full advantage of, for sure, especially if Max and me are leaving for a while.
Lights bounce back off dark windows as he swings the Beamer into our drive, putting it in park. He leans over, hand finding my neck, turning my face so he can kiss me as his fingers find the buttons on my jeans.
"What'll the neighbors think?" I laugh, slapping his hand away.
"Don't care. I fuckin' love you, Mrs. C," he says against my mouth, taking my bottom lip between his teeth.
It's then, in a groan of want, as my legs part and his hand works its way into my panties that I see something. Or I think I see it. A movement in the house, a dim light.
I freeze, pushing Masen away.
"What?"
"There's someone in the house."
"What?"
"I mean, I think I saw—"
Masen's already reaching under his seat, bringing out black metal. He releases the clip, checking it, before snapping it back in.
I would grind him out over it, but I just can't bring myself to right now.
"Which window?"
"Living room."
His eyes scan. Then he cranes his neck to look up and down the street.
"You sure? What you saw?"
"I think so…"
He's out the car.
"Masen you can't just—"
"Stay here."
A beat of fear finds its way into my heart, what if's starting to rattle around my head. He disappears, opening the front door with no hesitation.
His lack of fear is something I've come to hate. He's just not afraid when he should be. When someone would normally be. It's not bravery, not by a long shot, it's just the way he is.
I'm not like that, so I pull my cell out, texting Demetri.
As soon as the message is sent, I'm straining my eyes and my ears. Minutes pass, each one excruciatingly long.
Suddenly lights switch on and Masen appears on the doorstep, jerking his head, gesturing for me to join him.
"Meet your intruder," he says with a wry grin as I join him in the doorway. He holds up a torch from a dinosaur projector toy Max got yesterday. "We were using it this mornin' for the monster truck show. Must've rolled or somethin'."
I look at it and then him, clutching my coat to my chest still.
"Really? I could've sworn." I shake my head and laugh, shoulders relaxing. I look around.
"And you sure you've checked everywhere?"
"No forced entry, nothin' outta place. I'm sure."
"OK." I laugh again then. "How paranoid am I?"
I lean up and kiss him as he kicks the door behind us, his mouth never leaving mine as he walks us back into the kitchen, sliding coats off as we go.
"Where d'you want this," he asks, eyes dark, lustful, moving my hand to feel his dick.
"Urgh, don't care. Just want you," I tell him as granite digs into my back.
He lifts me up onto the countertop, spreading my legs so he's in between them, palms rubbing up and down my thighs. He pauses.
"Sorry for askin' you last night about—"
"Shh," I hush him, hands on his chest. He's already forgiven. I'm kissing him harder, tongue against his, fingers touching his abs underneath his jumper and t-shirt.
He's intoxicating. I don't think I'll ever be able to say no to him.
Not ever.
The sound of glass breaking comes out of nowhere, a whole pane cracking behind Masen. I flinch, a strangled noise leaving my mouth as Masen spins sharply, the entire pane shattering completely seconds later.
Masen's hand is fumbling for his gun on the counter beside us, a look of pain crossing his face fleetingly, his free hand flying to his stomach.
He looks down, bringing his hand away, red coating his fingers. And I see it then, red already seeping through his sweater. My face mirrors his: surprise, shock.
His name escapes my lungs, but he's firing back, pulling me behind him, from the kitchen toward the front door. Another bullet misses us by inches, hitting the wall above my head, plaster spat back at us.
Pulling the front door wide open, he slams it back shut with a harsh, "Fuck!"
Forcing me up the stairs first, he pushes on my back with his hand, the thudding of my heart louder than our feet as we flee.
I twist the lock closed on our bedroom door, struggling to understand what's going on… How one minute Masen can be setting my skin on fire and now he's dragging the dresser in front of our bedroom door, things on top clattering to the floor.
"Stay away from the windows," he says, his voice hoarse, grunting as he pushes the dresser up against the door.
My mind runs a million miles a minute, my heart hammering in my chest, and as my eyes meet Masen's I realize I know exactly who this is. Exactly why this is happening. My eyes drop from his face to his stomach, patch of red getting bigger.
"Masen," I breathe, taking his arm, dragging him into our bathroom.
"Shit," Masen hisses as if he's only just registering the pain. "Fuck."
"Let me see. Let me see!" I demand, hoping it's just a graze, because anything more… anything more... I can't think about right now.
He moves his hand away, covered in dark red blood. I grab the hem of his sweater and t-shirt and peel them gently upwards.
The wound shows the entry point of the bullet, oozing blood. It drips down his stomach, into the waistband of his jeans, splattering onto the marbled tiles of the bathroom floor.
Internally I'm panicking. My mind running through all the possibilities, the location of the bullet… There's no exit point.
If it's nicked a major vessel, then he could bleed out within minutes.
Minutes.
Masen slowly sinks to the floor as I pull his t-shirt from his sweater, scrunching it up in my hand, applying pressure down hard, despite his hiss of protest, trying desperately to remember what to do. All my training out the window.
As his face screws up in pain, I take my cell out of my pocket, frantically dialling 911 with one hand, his blood all over my other.
My words are edged with hysteria as I talk to the operator. It's almost as if my mind and body are disconnected; as if I'm not speaking. My eyes flitting around Masen's face as he grimaces.
His hand finds mine, coating it in blood as I hang up.
"Get outta here," he says, breathing unevenly. "Run, Bella."
"I'm not leaving you," I say stubbornly. "There's nowhere for me to go."
"Hide," Masen urges. "For me. For Max. He needs you."
"He needs you too," I tell him, blinking back tears. Then, my voice breaking, "I need you."
Sounds I wasn't aware of before filter upwards. Voices. Footsteps.
"I love you," I tell him. "They're coming. The cops and the EMTs... They're coming. You're gonna be OK. We've still gotta go and pick up Max from your mom's, remember?" I brush his hair back, kissing his forehead. "Remember?"
He smiles, his movements jerky as he shivers, his body starting to go into shock.
I shake my own head, wiping away a stray tear with my shoulder, the whole t-shirt beneath my hand saturated now. I swap it out for a towel, packing it over the wound again.
The door is being kicked open behind us, I can hear it. See the dresser moving when I look over my shoulder. I look at Masen, panic and fear rushing through me, coming out in short shaky breaths. If Alec or whoever he's with gets in here, it's game over.
Masen moves, heaving himself up. Swaying on his feet as I protest. He steadies himself over the sink, looking up into the mirror, face pale, sweaty.
"Bella," he grits his teeth in determination. "Please."
He staggers out the bathroom, gun in hand. Standing just to the side of the door, head tilting back to rest on the wall.
The dresser shifts again, the next forceful push sending it crashing over, the door forced wide open. Some guy I don't recognize comes crashing through the door, but Masen's already put a bullet in his head before he can look around.
He shakes his head, as if he's dizzy.
The sound of bullets peppering the wall next makes me crouch, hidden behind part of the bathroom wall.
"That how it's gonna be?" Masen shouts with a laugh. "Ain't even man enough to do it yourself?"
I chance a look. Masen wavering on his feet and I know, I know he's losing too much blood now. He needs compression; he needs to be lying down. He needs the fucking ambulance and cops to get here.
The sound of laughing makes me shudder and I hide myself again before I see Alec enter the room.
There's a loud thud that makes me jump.
"Too easy, brother. The fuck happened to you? Huh?" I hear Alec say.
I can't help but look again. Masen on all fours now. Alec aims a swift kick to his torso, followed by another and another. He's vicious. He kicks and he stamps, and I can't watch, stuffing my fist into my mouth, my cry a whimper.
Masen's gun slides into the bathroom, ricocheting off the wall, stopping inches away from my feet.
"I told you not to let your feelings become a fuckin' problem. Remember? Colombia," I hear Alec say.
I reaching shakily for the gun, blowing out my breath in little pants.
"Yet here we are. Y'think I wouldn't find out... Y'think I'm that stupid. That I don't have eyes and ears everywhere? Huh? You should've known better."
I chance a glance as bloody hands grip black metal. Alec dragging Masen to his feet, spinning him against the wall with a thud, gun to his head.
He taps the gun against Masen's temple. "All for her? Where's she at? Huh? Where's your wife?"
"Leave her outta this," Masen snarls, mouth full of blood.
"What's gonna stop me if you're gone?"
Masen spits in his face.
"You're done… Even if I'm six feet under. It's all fuckin' set," he pants, taking in shallow gasps of air.
I steel myself, closing my eyes. For Masen to have any chance of coming out of this… for us to have any chance...
Masen's face is ashen, eyes landing on me as I come out of the bathroom. The look on his face makes Alec turn. He releases Masen and I watch as he slowly slips down the wall, a look of agony on his face that makes my heart drum harder. Physical pain or his reaction to this, to me, I'm not sure.
But, he saved my life twice, and now I'm going to do whatever it takes to save his.
"Put it down," I demand quietly, gesturing to the gun in Alec's hand. He looks at it in his hand, but he just laughs at me, as if he finds it funny. As if he finds me funny, and it makes me so angry. So fucking hateful.
He points his at me in return and for a second I'm right back to the first time we ever met.
"Don't make me hurt you. You put it down, Princess," he smiles as I swallow thickly, trying to curb the fear. "You ain't gonna do shit with that. I mean, you look hot with a piece in hand, but—"
Masen moves suddenly from behind Alec causing him to twist his head on reflex, and I don't hesitate to take advantage.
I try not to think about it too much; I try just to remember what Masen taught me. Line up the sights and...
I squeeze the trigger. The kickback jolting down my arms. But I do it again, and again, and again.
Until Alec's on his knees, looking at his chest, then back to me, open-mouthed.
Releasing the breath I've been holding I walk over, my boot clad foot pushing Alec over, back onto the floor.
"You should've known better," I say softly, leaning over him, repeating his own words back to him.
Dazed, he stares at me, before smiling, coughing blood. He's gasping, words I don't care for.
The last bullet I aim at his heart.
I don't have time to process what I've just done, because I'm rushing over to Masen's side.
His jeans are soaked, blood pooling on the floor beside him, my hands shaking badly as I pull a t-shirt from the dresser draw, bloody hand finding his neck, checking his pulse—faint but there, his breathing shallow and head spins as he watches me with lazy eyes. Heavy lids closing.
"Don't you dare!" I cry, pushing his hair back, cradling his cheek in my hand. "Don't you dare leave me now. After everything… everything… we've been through."
My cry is harsh against the stillness in the room, choking on my own words, tears blurring my eyes as I hear myself beg him to open his.
A movement in the doorway makes my head jerk up. Ben is stood there taking in the room; Alec lying silent on the floor behind me. His gaze lingers, his mouth opening, and before he can utter a word, a shot rings out, his head exploding infront of me. Demetri appearing behind him as he hits the ground.
I forgot I'd even messaged him.
"Jesus Christ," he murmurs, stepping over Ben.
"Help me," I plead, my whole body trembling. "Help me with him, please! I can't—I can't lose him. I can't."
Demetri is over to my side, shaking his head slightly. Like the situation is hopeless, but I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear him say it. "Bella…"
"Please. I can't…" I sob, pressing harder on Masen's wound.
"Move him flat," he says, as he helps me move him so he's lying horizontal.
In the distance I can hear the sirens. Demetri takes over compression, a faint groan from Masen.
"I love you so much," I tell him, cradling his face, smearing blood, my hands on his cheeks. As if love alone at this point can help. "Hold on. Just hold on, OK?"
Masen's hand reaches out clumsily to cup my cheek, his eyes blinking open as he tries to focus, my hand folding over his, sticking with blood.
"My girl," he says, his voice barely audible, thumb sliding across my cheek.
His hand falls back slowly, his eyes shutting again, and the silence after is deafening.