Mac is standing about ten ft away from Steven, who has a gun in his hand. Mac’s gun is pointed in Steven’s route. Steven’s now mendacity on his abdomen, with the weapon pointed in our route. The place he obtained the gun from I don’t know. What issues is the pool of blood seeping out round him. He’s gone and the menace isn’t any extra.

I look to Mac and his grim expression. He merely nods and turns again towards the now lifeless physique of Steven.

Good fucking riddance! I hope you burn in hell!

I carry my head near Bailey’s ear and whisper, “It’s okay. He’s gone now. He can’t damage you anymore.”

Her cries develop into stronger, however I do know it’s from aid. Realizing that Steven is lifeless and may now not damage her is a aid to us each. If he have been nonetheless alive, there’s an opportunity he might nonetheless get to her. Steven has connections, and whether or not he was in jail or not these connections would nonetheless stand.

Making my option to the door, I step by way of and zone in on the shadowed type of Nick sitting on the bottom with Anna in his lap. He has his head bent towards her. After I attain them, I discover that Nick discovered a blanket to wrap round Anna and is holding her tight to his chest. Within the mild of the porch, I get my first actual glimpse of Anna and it actually brings me to my knees. Nonetheless holding Bailey, we each sink to the bottom beside them.

“Oh, Anna,” I whisper with a jagged breath. Bailey spasms in my arms, however my focus continues to be on the damaged and defeated physique of my child sister. I don’t know the way, however I do know that is the top. The data causes an insufferable ache in my chest to type. My breaths are coming sooner and it looks like I can’t get sufficient air in. My physique sags, and I hunch over a nonetheless sobbing Bailey in my arms.

Nick seems over at me with bloodshot eyes. There are not any tears, however I’ve by no means seen eyes that confirmed a lot ache earlier than.

“Jax—I can’t…,” he says in a cracked voice earlier than he stops and squeezes his eyes shut. “I don’t know…” He stops once more after we hear a mushy whisper.

“Nick,” Anna says, in a voice barely heard.

Nick whips his head again round and brings his face nearer to Anna.

“I’m right here, child,” he whispers again to her.

Anna shifts in Nick’s lap however then stills once more when she whimpers in ache. My jaw clenches on the sound, and I need to return inside and end off the job Nick began.

“No, Anna, keep nonetheless. The ambulance is on their manner, okay?” His voice continues to be small.

Anna ignores him and shifts once more, bringing an arm that’s riddled with marks from beneath the blanket. She will get it midway to his face earlier than she drops it once more. She’s so fucking weak she will’t even elevate her arm. I need to slaughter the bastards.

Nick helps her by elevating her hand and bringing it to his lips after which settling it in opposition to his cheek. She closes her eyes and takes in a number of shallow breaths earlier than opening them once more, focusing again on Nick.

“I like you, Nick,” she breathes in a damaged voice.

Nick bends ahead and kisses her brow. “I like you too, Anna Banana.” I barely hear his whisper.

Along with her eyes opened solely to slits and her palm on Nick’s cheek, Anna tries to talk once more, however I can inform it’s laborious for her.

“Be completely satisfied for me,” she says weakly.

“Don’t do that, Anna! Don’t you dare die on me! You dangle on, goddammit! You may’t go away me!” Nick’s voice will get louder and louder as he speaks. It comes out damaged, however decided.

Bailey shifts in my lap and lifts her head towards Nick and Anna. I can nonetheless hear her quietly crying. I gently begin to rock her backwards and forwards, attempting to appease each our shattered hearts.

“It’s… too late… for me, Nick. I want… you to vow… you’ll be… completely satisfied. Promise… me. Please.”

Her voice is rising weaker by the minute and all I can do is stare at her. I can’t consider my little sister is correct right here, proper now, dying. The fad I felt earlier is changed by crushing grief and helplessness. We have been each too late. Sure, Bailey is now protected, however my sister is dying in Nick’s arms. I really feel a single tear path down my face.

“No!” Nick says heatedly, and brings Anna’s physique nearer. “I can’t promise that! I can’t be completely satisfied with out you. You’re my completely satisfied. Please, Anna, simply dangle on slightly bit longer.”

Anna ignores his pleas and sends her personal in return. “Promise me, Nick.”

“Fuck!” He throws his head again and bellows to the darkish sky. Bringing his head again down, he seems at her. “I promise.”

I watch as Anna’s cracked and dry lips type a tiny smile at Nick’s phrases. Subsequent, my physique jerks and my coronary heart freezes as Anna slumps in Nick’s arms, the smile nonetheless in place. She’s gone. My lovely, shiny sister is gone.

“Anna?” Nick asks with no response. “No, no, no! Jesus Christ! Please, Anna child, reply me.” Nonetheless no response.

Nick drops her palm that he nonetheless had mendacity on his cheek and pulls her limp physique even nearer. He buries his face in her hair and begins mumbling phrases I can’t perceive. He sways backwards and forwards.

Supply: www.seynovel.com