Page 59 of Blaze

“Hey, sleepy head,” I hear whispered, and I look to the right before locking eyes with Poppy’s, and I gasp before I throw myself at her and cry, “You’re okay!”

I thought I killed her, I thought…

My thoughts stop before I pull back and look around the yard, then back at my sister.

“You’re dead…” I choke, my tears falling, “You left me again, just like our parents, just like the first two foster homes…”

Poppy’s blue eyes turn sad, and she murmurs, “I would have destroyed you. Mitchel would have raped you, I wasn’t a good sister. I was long gone before our parents even died, and I just, I needed to tell you that it wasn't your fault, me dying, it was all me.”

I shake my head, but she squeezes my hand, and she reminds me, “I pulled the trigger twice, the first time I was adamant to hurt you, hurt your baby, I deserved this, please, don’t hate yourself for this little sister, hate me.”

“I don’t want to be alone anymore,” I choke, the fear gripping me, and Poppy takes me in her arms, and she whispers, “You’re not alone, you have your husband, he needs you, your baby needs you.”

My tears fall, and she kisses my head and whispers, “I’m sorry,” just as everything fades…

“How long until she wakes up, Trick?” I hear choked as a hand grips mine.

“Soon, brother, her body went into shock,” I hear Trick whisper back, “I bandaged her arm where a bullet skimmed it, she didn’t need stitches, and your baby has a strong heartbeat, everything is going to be alright.”

I squeeze my eyes tight before opening them, and I scan the room, seeing I’m in a room I don’t recognize, but as I turn my head, I notice a picture of Linc and me, and I settle slightly as a whine echoes.

“What’s up, girl?” I hear Trick whisper, and Linc choke, “She wants her mama…” and I squeeze my husband's hand, causing him to look my way sharply before he sags forward.

“Fuck, baby, you are a sight for sore eyes,” he rasps as he presses a kiss against my lips, and I croak, “P-Poppy’s dead?”

His eyes are sad, but he nods and confirms, “Yeah, I’m so sorry…”

My tears fall as a sob escapes and Linc gingerly climbs onto the bed before holding me close and Trick reminds him, “Be careful with your leg brother…” and I hear Linc grunt as Trick kisses my head then whistles, “Come, Snow,” before he says firmer, “Now!” then mutters, “Fuck me, did that dog just scowl at me?” as he follows my dog out and I can’t help the snort that releases with my sob.

“Shortcake, your dog has an attitude problem,” Linc murmurs against my head as he runs his fingers through my hair.

“Our dog,” I whisper as my tears fall, “She was trying to get inside, to stop Poppy.”

“I know, baby, I saw the footage,” he whispers, “You did good, Blair, really fucking good, but you need to know you didn’t kill her. She’s the one who pressed the trigger twice, you tried to save her.”

“I know, but now I feel like I’ve been abandoned again. I had hoped she’d change her ways if she went inside,” I admit, and Linc sighs and holds me tighter to him, and I sob.

The loss, the hurt, the pain, all come out, and I lean on the man who has become my world.

***

“Talk to me,” Linc whispers an hour later, and a few tears fall as I grip his tee, not lifting my head off his chest while his fingers run through my hair.

“She deserves to be buried with my parents, even if she had hate in her heart, she needs to be with our parents,” I choke, and Linc's grip in my hair tightens.

“You’ve got heart, baby, you know that?” he rasps, and I sniffle as my sister's blood swarms before me.

“She was lost and broken and got involved with the wrong guy. It happens, heck, it could have happened to me,” I whisper, my tears falling hard and fast, and I feel Linc nod.

“I’ll make it happen, baby,” he promises, and I choke, “You need to make it look like Mitchel left town, his dad won’t accept him being killed.”

“I know, baby, the club is on it, everything is good, I promise, just mourn your sister, okay?” he whispers, and I nod.

“I love you, Linc,” I choke, and he replies, “I love you too, Blair. I’m here, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good,” I choke, “that’s good,” before my sobs tear from me, and my husband wraps his other arm around me and holds me tight to him. He allows me to get my pain out, showing me that he will always be in my corner, and that is something I’ll never take for granted.

Chapter 29