I SEARCHED ALL MY OLD haunts, asking every person I passed where I could find Anthony. I greased so many palms with benjamins that my wallet was practically empty, and still, I came up with nothing.
Not one fucking clue.
The fucker was hiding out somewhere and I’d find him. In time, I’d have my hands wrapped around his throat and I’d be choking the life from him. Oh, it would happen. I didn’t have any other choice. He chose to fuck with my world, so I was going to fuck up his.
Life for a life.
An eye for an eye.
He threatened me and mine, and I was going to end him. With a baby on the way, that was the way it had to be. I couldn’t sleep on this shit anymore. I needed to act.
For Rosslyn.
For our baby.
For my world.
Leaving Anthony’s final spot, a run-down metal building full of meth and its makers, the heavy door squeaked like a dying animal as it shut behind me. I stood here a minute, my hands on my hips, as I debated on where to go next. But there was nowhere else. I’d spent the day hitting every spot.
My car stood out next to the shitty area it was parked in. A few hoods stood close by, their grimy fingers skimming the perfect paint job as they debated stealing it. I started toward my car, pressing the button and making the horn beep and the lights flicker. The assholes standing around it jumped at the sound and lights and scattered like cockroaches.
I was almost to my car when I tripped over something and landed on my knees in the pitted asphalt.
“Fuck,” I muttered as I wiped my muddy hands against my expensive slacks.
It was then that I saw what I’d tripped over.
My heart stopped.
The ground went blurry as my blood pressure shot up and my fingers shook with nerves. Swiping up Rosslyn’s purse, surrounded by the letters and the pink gun I’d bought her years before, I held it in my grasp as I scanned the area around me.
She was there. Or at least, she had been there.
How else would her purse have gotten there?
She’d followed me. She’d followed me right into the fucking mouth of the beast, and now, there was no telling where she was. I had to find her before something terrible happened—before Anthony got his paws on her.
He was a dead man.
THE CLUB WAS IN FULL swing, people danced and laughed as if my life wasn’t in total chaos. People smiled at me and tried to talk to me as I made my way across the room toward my office.
“Hey, Black, have a drink with us, man!” Someone shouted as I passed, but I didn’t even look his way. I was on a mission, one that required every firearm I owned.
After finding Rosslyn’s purse, I searched the area on the verge of insanity. I’d even considered calling the police, but I knew they couldn’t do anything. It was up to me and me only. I called her phone only to hear it ringing inside her purse.
She was gone.
I’d tried to call Mac the entire drive back to the club, but he wasn’t answering, which put me into overdrive. Something was definitely wrong. Mac always answered.
I took the stairs to my office two at a time, my legs powering through the steps and pushing me to my goals.
Guns.
Finding Rosslyn.
And blowing Anthony’s fucking brains out.
Throwing open my office door, I hit the lights, but nothing happened. The room remained dark. I flipped the switch up and down, the clicking noise filling the room. And then realization set in and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
It was then that the lamp on my desk clicked on and I was able to see Rosslyn sitting in the middle of my office tied to my chair. She was unconscious, her face resting against her chest and her red hair, tinted with blood, falling down around her face keeping it covered.
I rushed toward her and fell to my knees in front of her. Her skin was cold to the touch when I lifted her head and pushed away her hair to reveal her pale face. My fingers felt the gash on the back of her head, and when I pulled my hand back, my fingers were stained with her blood.
“Rosslyn,” I whispered. My voice cracked with emotion and fear. “Please, Rosslyn.”
I’d never been a praying man, but at that moment, I sent up prayers to every deity in existence. She had to be okay. I couldn’t lose her. I couldn’t lose our child. Cold had consumed my body, and I held my breath as I felt the side of her neck for a pulse.
A flicker of movement against my finger sent me reeling with joy.
She was alive.
Again, my fingers found the side of her head. She moaned, her head rolling lifelessly to the side, but still, she didn’t open her eyes. I went to work on the ties around her wrists, my fingers digging into the corded rope until the tips burned.
“I’m going to get you out of here, baby,” I promised. “You’re going to be okay.”
A chuckle sounded from the corner of my office and my head snapped up to find nothing but darkness.
“You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep, Sebastian.”
My eyes slowly began to adjust to the darkness, and I could see the outline of his body lounging against the wall. I didn’t need to see his face. I’d never forget his voice—the lazy lean to it—the carefree grit.
It was Anthony.
Anger exploded inside of me. I’d been searching the entire fucking city for him, running from place to place, when he’d had every intention of coming to me.
“What’s wrong, Boogeyman?” I mocked his name. “Too much of a pussy to come into the light and face me like a fucking man?”
Again, his chuckle filled the dark corner.
“Looks like you finally figured out part of the puzzle. Took you long enough. I remember you being smarter than this, Sebastian. What happened, bro?”
“I’m not your fucking bro,” I snapped.
“Sebastian?” Rosslyn’s voice broke in.
I swung my attention back to her, and suddenly, we were the only two people in the room as my eyes locked on hers. She blinked and then her head rolled to the side again.
Bending over, I lifted her head until she was looking at me. Her eyes fluttered opened, but they closed just as fast.
“I’m here, baby. I’m here.” I checked her over, my hands lingering over her stomach. “Where does it hurt?”
“My head,” she moaned.
I kissed her forehead, her skin cold against my lips. “Anywhere else?”
She shook her head and moaned again. “There was a man. He … I don’t know what happened.”
Tears filled her eyes before rolling down her cheeks.
“Shhh,” I soothed her. “It’s okay, baby. Everything’s going to be okay.”
Anthony’s chuckle filled the room again, and Rosslyn’s head whipped in his direction.
“Still making promises you can’t keep.”
And then something strange happened.
Rosslyn’s expression shifted from pain to confusion. Her breathing came out in a rush before she paused and shook his head. “Kevin? Is that you?”
The darkness in the corner shifted, and soon, Anthony’s face came into view. The boy I remembered from back in the day was long gone, and in his place was a man. The stubble on his face was a few days old and his clothes looked dirty. His eyes were red and bloodshot as if he was slowly coming down from one of his binges.
“His name’s not Kevin. It’s Anthony,” I said, tugging once again at the rope holding Rosslyn in the chair.
Anthony laughed. The sound radiating hatred in my heart.
He’d burn.
I’d kill him and he’d burn.
“Hey, pretty girl. Miss me?” he asked Rosslyn.
I was confused.
How the fuck did Anthony know Rosslyn?
And why was she calling him Kevin?
“Kevin Anthony Brewster,” Rosslyn whispered to herself as if she suddenly recalled something important. “I can’t believe this. You were my friend.”
Desperation and heartbreak filled her eyes.
“You’re sweet. Too sweet, actually. You made it so easy to move in on you,” he responded.
“You know him?” I asked, confused.
Rosslyn nodded, her eyes locked on Anthony.
“I was his probation officer, but we became friends.”
And then I remembered Mac telling me about Rosslyn’s friend. Kevin, she’d said his name was.
It was Anthony the entire time.
I swallowed hard, holding my emotions in check. This entire time, he’d been in charge. This entire time, he’d been in her life. He could have easily ended her. Killed her. Raped her. Whatever the hell he’d seen fit, but he didn’t. Instead, he decided to make my life a living hell. He’d decided to make me suffer by making me push her away.
“We were never friends, Rosslyn. You poor, stupid girl.” He shook his head. “You were my leverage, and you fell right into the palm of my hand. A word of advice … never trust a criminal.”
“Why are you doing this?” she asked.
“Because he …” He pointed at me with a gun I hadn’t realized he was holding. “Took something very precious from me.”
Rosslyn looked at me, confusion tugging at her brows. “What’s he talking about?”
My eyes locked on Anthony. I knew exactly who he was talking about. For years, he’d followed Vick around like a puppy, so in love with her that he looked pathetic. Meanwhile, she wanted nothing to do with him. She only used him. And when the time came for her to choose between Anthony and the streets or me and the club, she’d chose me. She’d always choose me.
“Vick,” I said her name.
I hadn’t said her name out loud in many months. It burned my tongue as the memories of our lives together came rushing over me. She was gone, and as sick as it was, a tiny part of me still missed the girl she was before she turned on Rosslyn and me.
“He was in love with Vick.”
“A life for a life,” Rosslyn repeated the words from his letter. “Wait, you think Sebastian killed …”
I cut her off.
“You’re right,” I said loudly over Rosslyn. “I took Vick away from you. I took her. Not Rosslyn. She didn’t do anything. She has nothing to do with this. Let her go,” I negotiated. “Let her go. I’m the one you want. Let’s end this. Me and you.”
Anthony shook his head and bit into his bottom lip.
“I fucking loved her, Sebastian. I loved her, and you took her away from me.”
My eyes moved over Rosslyn noticing that she was completely untied now.
“Yeah, but she didn’t love you. She never did.”
“You poisoned her mind—made her think I was dirt.”
“No,” I snapped. “You did that on your own. She wanted out of that life, man. She wanted out, and you stayed in. You want to blame me for taking her away from you, then fine, but let Rosslyn go. She has nothing to do with any of this,” I repeated.
He rested the gun against his hip and used the back of his other arm to wipe away the sweat on his forehead.
“Yep. She wanted out of the life. She left me behind for you and look where that landed her. Dead. She’s fucking dead. You killed her, and now, you’re going to pay. A life for a life, Black. It’s only fair.”
I panicked when he lifted the gun once again. My spine stiffened as I settled myself in front of Rosslyn.
“She had nothing to do with Vick’s death. It was me. I’m the one who killed her … not Rosslyn.” I swallowed hard. “I know you, Anthony. You’d never take an innocent life. She’s innocent. I’m the one you want.”
“No!” Rosslyn cried. “Sebastian …”
Anthony laughed.
“This is fucking rich. Sebastian Black playing the fucking knight in shining armor.” His laughter broke, and he swiped at the moisture around his eyes. “I hate to break it to you, man, but chivalry is dead. It doesn’t matter anyway. I have a much better plan.”
“And what plan is that?”
At this point, I was just trying to keep him talking until I could figure out my next move.
“Since we’re all here, there’s no need to keep the suspense going any longer. It’s simple really.” He moved closer, his shadow engulfing the space behind him. “I’m going to kill Rosslyn, and you’re going to take the blame for it. You’ll spend the rest of your life in prison knowing that you’re the reason the woman you love is dead.”
I closed my eyes at his words—the world around me slowed, and I could hear Rosslyn’s hyperventilating breaths behind me. This was it. This was the moment. I’d die before he hurt her.
Looking over at her, her eyes locked on mine. The fear in them crushed me. I’d failed her. I’d failed the woman I loved and I’d failed at being a good father before our child was even born.
What else could I expect?
I came from a shitty father—one that left me like a piece of trash—so it was only reasonable that I’d be a shitty father, as well.
“Say good-bye, Sebastian.”
I faced Anthony again, prepared to make my move, when suddenly Anthony’s hand dropped to his side, the gun dropping to the floor with the loud pop. His eyes rolled back in his head and he fell forward with a grunt revealing Mac, who was standing behind him with the heel of his gun in the air. He’d knocked him out.
Mac moved into the light, blood smeared the side of his face and the side of his lip. He looked like shit, like he’d fought a damn good fight, but none of that mattered. He was there, and I’d never been so happy to see him.
“About time.” I sighed. “Where the fuck have you been?”
“The fucker came out of nowhere and hit me outside the club. He must’ve dragged me inside.” Mac winced, rubbing the side of his head. “I hope he pulled a muscle pulling me around.”
I chuckled as relief moved over me.
Reaching down, I pulled Rosslyn into my arms and breathed her in. “Let’s get you out of here,” I said, before turning my attention to Mac. “Hold him here. I’ll deal with him when I get back.”
“I’m sorry, Black. It was my job to keep her safe.”
I shook my head as Rosslyn and I moved toward the door. “No. Protecting her is my job.”
Mac opened the office door for us, and the music from downstairs rushed into the room.
I kissed Rosslyn’s forehead as we made our way toward the door. Tears moved down over her cheeks and her skin was still pale. This kind of stress couldn’t be good for the baby. “It’s okay, baby. I promise you’re okay now.”
The distinct sound of a gun cocking had everything freezing.
“I told you not to make promises you can’t keep,” Anthony’s voice rang out from behind us.
I turned, bringing Rosslyn with me. Anthony stood, blood dripped from over his left eye and streamed down his cheek. His gun was pointed directly at Rosslyn and my world stopped spinning once again.
“I told you, Sebastian. She’s not walking out of here alive.”
“No, Kevin, don’t,” Rosslyn begged, one hand guarding her stomach, the other held out defensively. “I’m pregnant.”
Anthony’s jaw twitched with tension, and the gun shook slightly in his hand. His eyes dropped to Rosslyn’s stomach where her hand rested, her fingers clutching her shirt in her fist.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his eyes finding hers. “But I don’t care. He has to pay.”
The gun fired and the dim room flashed with light.
I stood paralyzed by the sounds of people screaming in the club downstairs. Obviously, they’d heard the shot, but still, I couldn’t comprehend what was happening around me.
And then he fired again, the impact knocking me back.
I pulled Rosslyn down with me and rolled my body on top of hers as if to protect her, but it was too late. The damage had been done.
Her eyes found mine, and my name rushed from her blood-spotted lips in a broken whisper. Her face went pale, her skin clammy and bloodstained as her body went limp in my arms.
I looked down between us and blood that should have been mine was spreading in the fabric of her light shirt. My hand covered the wound beneath her breast and I applied pressure.
Behind me, more gunshots sounded, the lights of the gun firing flashing, but I didn’t care. My attention was on Rosslyn and Rosslyn only.
“No!” I screamed. “Rosslyn, talk to me. Open your eyes and look at me, baby.”
But she didn’t move. Her eyes remained closed and her breathing slowed. Ripping my phone from my side, I pounded in the numbers 911.
I didn’t remember what I said to the operator. I only remember screaming every word into my phone and begging for someone, anyone, to help.
I didn’t know what happened to Anthony. I didn’t see him or Mac again. I only saw Rosslyn’s deathly pale face and the blood that spotted her perfect complexion.
The ambulance came, the lights filling the night sky outside of Clive’s. I rode in the back with her, the ride feeling like days instead of minutes. I held her limp hand in mine while the paramedics worked to save her life, and again, I prayed that she would survive—that she’d come back to me—that our baby would be okay.
I was as good as dead at that moment.
My life draining from my body as her life drained from hers.
But then she opened her eyes, her mouth opening behind the plastic oxygen mask as she sucked in a deep breath of life.
Her fingers tightened on mine and her eyes begged me to take away the pain. It was more than I could stand.
I cried.
“The baby,” she cried behind the mask.
I couldn’t do anything. Instead, I smoothed away the hair at the side of her face and let my thumb smooth away the tears that escaped the corner of her eye. Nothing compared to watching the woman you love suffer in pain—physical and emotional—as she cried for our baby, as she cried in pain from her wound.
I would have preferred torture with a hot poker—I would have preferred death. Her hot tears and painful moans were too much. It was breaking me—stealing my life force with every shallow breath she took. I was dying with her. I was in pain with her. And like her, I was bleeding out. My heart was breaking, and I felt as if I were bleeding to death at her side.
She screamed in agony and the paramedics continued to work on her, pushing me to the side.
I couldn’t do this. I wouldn’t sit there and watch her die.
Leaning back out of the way and against the inside wall of the emergency vehicle, for the first time in my life, I felt like I was going to faint. It wasn’t manly, but neither was not being able to protect your woman.
I’d done this to her. I’d put her life in danger and when she finally took her last breath, there would be no one to blame but me. Like her parents, I was responsible. I’d murdered her just as surely as I’d murdered them.
I’d planned to spend the rest of my life making it up to her. I’d planned to spend the rest of my life with her, but evidently, I was paying for my sins. The woman I loved was dying in front of my eyes, and there was nothing I could do.
I was a powerful man. I didn’t know what to do with the powerless feelings that moved through me, but when my eyes found hers and I saw her begging for me in their depths, I moved to her side. Twisting my fingers with hers, I squeezed.
“I’m here, baby. I’ll never leave you. Never.”
And then she sucked in a deep breath, but she never had a chance to exhale.