AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Say it one more time,” she slurs, clearly still somewhat out of it.
“Move in with me.” I oblige her, repeating my request.
Daph squints, her forehead scrunching up while she hisses in pain. “That’s what I thought you said. Great, I’m dead.”
I bark out a laugh, a few stray tears still making their escape. “You’re not dead, baby.”
“Then I’m delirious.”
“Hello!” A voice calls from the stairwell. “EMTs, is anyone here?!”
“Here!” I shout out over my shoulder. “We’re in here!”
The EMTs push into the room seconds later, beckoning me back so they can work. Taking hold of Daph’s hand, I press a kiss to her knuckles before releasing her so they can do their job. Standing to give them space, I turn toward the door, coming face-to-face with my boys who are looking at me like they’re straight up shell-shocked.
“I know you both probably have questions—”
“Nick,” Rico interjects, cutting me off. He grinds his teeth, his jaw tightening as he extends his hand out toward me. “You need to take this.”
I look down, retrieving my cell from his grasp and flipping it over to read the name on the screen.
TOMMY
Raising the phone to my ear, I take notice of JP, whose fists are clenched in anger.
“Tommy?” I ask. “What the fuck’s going on?”
“I got J, Nick. And if you want her back, you’re gonna have to do exactly what I say.”
My grip on my phone tightens, my eyes narrowing in response. “What the fuck do you mean you’ve got J? Tommy, this isn’t funny. Where the fuck is my sis…” The words die in my throat as the pieces pop into place. “It’s you,” I whisper. “You’re the rat.”
I spin, the sight of Daph being loaded onto a stretcher inciting a mixture of panic and rage to swell within me. “If you lay a single finger on my sister, Tommy, there won’t be a corner in this world you can crawl to that I won’t find you.”
“She’s fine,” he rushes out. “I swear. She’s fine. And I’m sorry about Daph. It wasn’t personal.”
“I assure you, it is incredibly personal to me. Now, where the fuck is my sister?”
“If you want her back, you’re gonna have to come to me. But first, I’m gonna need you to go get something.”
“And just what the fuck is that?” I seethe.
“Maverick Bishop.” His request takes me completely by surprise. “You bring me Maverick Bishop, and I’ll give you your sister. I’ll text you the details. Don’t be late.”
***
THEN
DAPHNE – Age 19
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The steady beeping from the machine I’m hooked up to cuts through my most recent stretch of sleep, letting me know I’m still alive.
Cracking open an eye, the room slowly slips into a hazy focus. It’s dark out now, though I currently have no concept of time. Damn, these pain meds are no joke.
“You’re awake.” A deep voice thick with exhaustion pulls my attention to the corner of the room.
Nicky pushes up from the cramped loveseat, coming to perch at the edge of the cushion. With an exaggerated yawn, he scrubs his hand back and forth atop his head, mussing his already disheveled blond locks.
