Deadly (10 page)

I try hushing her, she was gaining us attention. “Baby, please. Shh.” I pick her up and take her back to her car, pinning her against it. Brushing the hair from her face, I grip her cheeks in both palms. “Calm down,” I beg, “They don’t know she’s Cereus.”

Her eyes bore into mine, the pupils swallowing all that beautiful green. With a deadly cold tone she growls, “Don’t you tell me to calm down God dammit, I will kick your ass.”

I hold up my hands. “Tell me how you knew she was here?”

“Screw you. I can’t believe you have been lying to me all this time. You put her here Blake, when you let that psycho brother of yours take her. I will never forgive you for this… Never.” She shoves me away from her and gets back in her car, screeching out of the parking lot.

What the fuck is happening?

36 HOURS AGO

Life eventually comes down to the sound of the slowing beats of your own heart. Thump… Thump… Thump.

Ironic really that I lay here dying by the hand of the only person I’ve ever loved. I was born cold, hollow, all emotions vacant within me. I questioned ever owning a soul until Cereus. My life shifted when I met her, I thought it was infatuation, her being the daughter of my brother and all, that alone made her a prime target for my mind to play with but it was so much more than that, she was so much more than that.

She was everything and life without her became nothing. I once again became nothing. I can’t let that happen again.

I reach for a breath, retching and choking on my own blood. Fuck, I was bleeding internally. How long had I been out? I tilt my head and drop it back down when excruciating pain burns through my stomach. Fuck, she went deep, I pushed her too far.

Where is she?

I call out but I’m weak and wheezy, I need to get this knife out and sew up this stomach wound. Pulling out the knife could kill me but I can’t walk around with a knife hanging out of my gut.

The blood’s cold around me and Georgina’s lifeless body is gray in color, which tells me I’ve been out of it for a while. I close my fist around the blade and ready myself, trying not to tense my muscles as I yank the knife from my body, wincing from the discomfort. I liked pain but this made me fragile, I was feeling lightheaded and my limbs feel heavy.

I needed to find Cereus. I can’t afford to be this weak.

The knife is serrated and I can’t help but love the fact she chose a serrated edge. It sucks for my insides…but showed Cereus’ true character.

Holding my palm over the puncture hole I attempt to sit up, blood leaks through my fingers with every slight movement. Reaching for the sheet from the bed and tearing strips from it I package out the wound and make a crappy but effective bandage to wrap around my waist to keep it there.

I had to get out of there to somewhere I could sew this hole up. There was no way I was going to be able to clean up this mess and we were supposed to be out of here by today so no doubt the property owner was going to come by to check the place.

I manage to get some clothes on and search the apartment for Cereus but she’s not here. My legs are weak and the copper twinge of blood is still present in my mouth. I grab the envelope, my passport and new cells, noticing Cereus’ driving licence and cash is missing. I need to find her.

I can’t believe I’m here, in a shitty motel room. If I don’t die from this wound, I may die from an infection I’m certain to get from this flea infested shit hole. Blake was right about motels, no cameras - none that work anyway. And the thing about motels… crime is so common that everybody knows to mind their own business. The blood seeping through my shirt didn’t even get an eyebrow rise from the desk clerk.

I look at the sewing kit containing one needle and a small reel of black thread, a thimble and safety pin. I chug a few mouthfuls of whisky and tip some over the tip of the needle. I needed a hospital but this was going to have to suffice until I found Cereus.

I wake up with a start. Fuck, I fell asleep again. I’d already been here a day. I need food.

Pulling back the strip of bandage I made from one of the pillowcases, I admire my crooked stitches. The scar won’t be pretty but at least it stopped oozing. I was nauseous but I needed to get moving. I need to call Blake.

Grabbing the cell from the envelope he gave me, I switch on both mine and Cereus’ cell. My insides churn when I have multiple voicemails from Blake.

After everything she’s been through you’d think she would lock the front door but no, she has a death wish. I let myself in and go straight to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. I can hear her upstairs, moving around and she’s humming without a care in the world, which proves I was right with the hunch that Blake wouldn’t have told her about Cereus. His voicemail said she was being held and he couldn’t do anything to get her out. That wasn’t an option, he needed to get her out.

Mel’s scream startles me which is almost amusing, if it wasn’t a sign at how injured and weak I was.

I’m about to speak when her limbs come flying at me, a kick to the stomach sends me crashing to the ground in a heap. I grab at the stab injury to try and stop it from ripping open and spilling my insides all over her kitchen floor.

“Don’t get up Ryan. I will kill you. How are you even here?” She’s grabbed a knife from the block on the counter. She’s pale like she’s seen a ghost … did Blake not tell her I didn’t die in that fire?

“Why do all the Braxton’s like to stab people?” I ask in jest but my breathing is restricted, causing my voice to barely be audible.

“How did you get in here? This can’t be happening,” she breathes.

I get into a sitting position, wary of the fact she’s waving a knife in front of me. “You left your front door open. You should really know better,” I mock, a smirk tilting my lips but it’s short-lived, I need to spit the blood in my mouth out.

“Why are you here?” There’s fear in her voice but overruling that is anger.

“I came for Cereus.” I cough, wiping my mouth on my sleeve.

“What the hell does that mean? She’s not here and if she were I’d die before letting you near her.”

“She’s been arrested, she’s at county and Blake won’t get her out.”

“Mommy…”

I look around Melody to the small toddler standing behind her. He looks just like Blake.

Melody’s eyes widen and fear causes tears to brim her lashes. “Baby, stay there okay?”

She kicks at my foot to gain my attention. “You don’t look at him, you look at me and you better start making sense or I swear to God I will end you.”

Wow, she’d gotten tough and kicked my ass. What the hell was that martial arts crap she pulled?

“Cereus has been with me these last few years, Blake didn’t tell you but it’s true. She’s gotten herself in some form of trouble and Blake won’t help her.”

“I don’t believe that.” She shakes her head, the tears dropping to her cheeks.

I use this opportunity to swipe my leg out against her ankles. She lets out a surprised yelp and goes over, hitting the floor and causing the knife to scuttle across the kitchen floor. The kid starts crying and I know Blake is more than likely going to add another puncture wound to my body but I don’t have time for Mel’s bullshit - I need Cereus free so we can be on our way.

I quickly get to my feet, holding my hands out in surrender gesture. “I didn’t come here to fight you or hurt you Melody, I only came for Cereus. She needs me and being in that place is dangerous for her.”

She does a backwards crab type crawl thing along the floor until she stops in front of the kid, wrapping him up in her arms without taking her eyes from me. “Why would a police station be dangerous for her?” Her breathing is labored and she’s gotten to her feet. I know she’s about to dart in the direction of the front door.

“She’s like me Mel, she has the darkness inside her.”

“No, I don’t believe you.” She’s getting herself all worked up and rational thinking is not her strong point at the best of times. She’s not going to stick around to hear me out. She rushes to the front door and I have no energy left to get to her before she disappears through it and down the driveway. I watch through the window as she still takes the time to strap the kid in before screeching out of here.

FUCK!