Chapter 9

Kate's POV

The light was only just shining through the slightly parted curtains when I opened my eyes the following morning; I needed a moment for my brain to wake up before the previous day's events caught up with me. My dad and brother was asleep outside with Richie on guard as Seth still lay peacefully at my side. I eased myself out of Seth's embrace, careful not to wake him, as I let the cool air brush against my skin as I stepped outside. Richie was talking to my dad, his body was ridged and agitated but it looked like my dad didn't care.

Richie was unstable, I knew this now, how naïve was I before? I thought back to my old self who was so forgiving and understanding and slightly missed her biased eyes. I trusted Richie with my life but I didn't trust him with my family. Walking up to them cautiously I caught snippets of the conversation

"What did my Scott mean yesterday?"

Richie just gave him a nonchalant shrug "No idea"

Both men turned to me as I stepped over a twig "Everything ok?" my eyes looking at both of them, they nodded before dad went back into the tent Seth had found for them last night, Richie stood in the same position "Have a nice sleep" he asked when he turned so his body faced me I saw the gun hanging loosely from his right hand my body tensed and my heart pounded furiously against my chest. I was wrong before I don't think I trusted Richie with my life anymore. Something was wrong.

"It was good, if you forget the two people you cared about have your loved ones captive"

He smirked, tucking his gun into the waistband of his pants "every job has its necessary casualties"

I tensed and crossed my hands over my chest "not this one"

We seem to glare at each other, the person in front of me wasn't the Richie I knew and loved, he was harsher more unstable

"Everything ok" I voice broke our silence, turning I saw Seth observing the scene his white shirt untucked and crinkled from sleep

"Yeah" I muttered

Seth's POV

I used to trust my brothers instinct, he was razor sharp even when we were kids, he could tell when something was off. When I met Kate she was this shy trustful girl who seemed to except everything we did without judgment, it's what made me love her and scared for her at the same time. But right now showed me how Kate and Richie had changed.

Richie was unstable I know this for a fact, what he did to the bank teller only seemed to set that thought in stone, I can see now he said. For months after Kate went I kind of brushed it off how her words of he sees things just run past my mind. My brother had changed and I kept on thinking in my head as long as I got him to El Ray he would get better maybe the pressure just finally got to him. Now Kate had changed every time I saw her again, the first time we separated her body changed she was more of a woman when I saw her in the clink, and now this time when we finally reunited she had grown stronger. She didn't take any bullshit from either my brother or me and I would never say this to her face but my jaw still hurt from when she punched me in the hotel room.

She stood her ground when she spoke to Richie her body was ready to fight and to be honest I didn't want to get involved.

This was going to be a long ass week.

Kate's POV

By the sixth day everyone was tense and ready to kill, Seth had to reign Richie from lunging at Scott more than once for making snide remarks regarding my closeness to the brothers, Dad tried to remain calm and try to control the situation to no avail and all I wanted to do was be normal. Thank god we were in the middle of packing Seth sent me down to the on-site shop to get some last minute snacks I grabbed some coronas for Seth, coke for Scott along with another comic book, dad some water and I spotted some Jolt for Richie, he loved that drink and it was the only place I had actually seen that drink. I smiled politely at the elderly woman behind the counter she gave me some extra food which was discounted and I thanked her kindly.

Seth was on the phone when I got back Richie was hovering by the back of the RV with a frown on his face he smiled shyly when I approached, maybe he had multiple personality disorder? Because now he looked like the old Richie. He grinned like a kid when I gave him one of the bottles of jolt.

"Richie what is going on with you?"

He shook his head "nothing"

He was about to walk away but I grabbed his arm and pushed him against the RV he looked at me with wide eyes "listen to me Richie Gecko I know something is going on with you now tell me"

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair "I'm seeing the goddess more often now"

"The woman who told you to hurt me?"

He nodded and I wanted to hug him so bad, he looked so lost and confused "she helps me see now, that's why I had to kill her"

"You killed the goddess?" I asked confused

He shook his head and took a sip of his drink "no, I killed the bank teller"

My body froze, I always knew Richie was dangerous, I wasn't that naive to think he just killed bad people but the shock of neither Geckos telling me this beforehand still made me feel sick

"Where did you kill her?"

"The Dew Drop Inn"

So that's why they were there, they must have stopped for a break, Richie continued talking "she was going to hurt me Kate, she pointed a gun at my head Seth had left when he went to go see Vanessa" he scoffed "although he thinks I don't know he gave her a cut of the money"

Now I felt ill, Seth was still seeing Vanessa? Richie had told me everything on our first night together before we got Seth out of jail, Seth and Vanessa used to be married but quickly divorced they only posed as married couple. I just assumed after they parted ways after they left our town they would stop communicating, how dumb was I. "Anyway the goddess told me to gut her to help me see, so I did and now I can see"

"What Richie" I whispered "What can you see?"

"You, when you were floating in the pool I saw you were bleeding from the inside, you were bleeding from pain, and when we touched I saw you're suspicious of your old man"

I remember that conversation

I stared at Richie

"What?"

He straightened his clothes before holding my cheek "I'm sorry about you mom Kate, you think your dad had something to do with that"

How did…how could he…

Shaking my head I back away from him shakily "I don't know…I've got to go"

I knew Richie wasn't a saint, but he didn't seem to care he killed an innocent woman

"Yeah alright" Seth came up behind me "Carlos said he's setting the border up"

He looked between me and Richie "Everything ok?"

"Yeah brother" Richie lit a cigarette before walking back into the RV Seth stood in front of me "Everything ok?"

"When were you going to tell me Richie killed that woman?"

His body tensed "never, unfortunately my brother had to open his mouth"

Sighing I closed my eyes, I couldn't believe this "Hey" Seth brought me close to him and I sighed, taking in the musty smell of his cologne "I need to get him to El Ray, then everything will be fine ok?"

Nodding against his chest I felt his place a tender kiss on my forehead.

"Nothing is going to happen I promise you Kate"

I somehow didn't believe him.

(+)(+)

The police were hovering around the border but none more than you would expect, the police stopped the cars and I saw them lift a picture up

I sat next to my brother while Richie looked out the window I was slightly scared someone would recognize him but the window was slightly dirty so I knew it wasn't a possibility. I needed to connect with him again

"Richie?"

He slowly looked a me like he wasn't certain if I just said his name

"Did you ever think it was god? Trying to communicate with you?"

He pointed the gun at Scott who seemed on edge, like he was planning something

"It's not god, trust me"

"Have you heard the story of Moses?"

"I know the Chuck Heston version which is the only one that counts"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes "Well Moses didn't believe either, not until god spoke to him, God might make his message clearer if you pray"

I moved to him slowly which made him back up I placed my hand on the table and waited for him to hold my hand "Take my hand and close your eyes"

He scoffed "I don't think so"

I smiled lightly "I promise it won't hurt"

He sighed before placing his gun in the wait band of his pants his hand met mine and a light shiver ran though my body, closing my eyes I started to recite the lord's prayer

"Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil"

When I opened my eyes I saw Scott pointing a gun at Richie's head