***
Henry sighed and drank more whiskey. He looked at Nick, “Women. Can’t always make them happy, can we?” He chuckled a bit, and Nick half smiled at him.
Henry was starting to feel the effects of the whiskey and he stumbled over the chair as he tried to turn toward the hallway. “I suppose I should go speak with her.”
“No. I don’t think that’s your greatest idea, Henry. I’ve got this one.” Nick headed down the hall.
Chapter 7
I
buried my face in Henry’s pillow and sobbed. Someone jiggled the doorknob, then knocked on the door. “Elaina, can I come in?” It was Nick. I didn’t want to see anyone at that moment, no matter who it was. The fucking president could come knocking on that door and I would still have cranked the bird at him and told him to go the fuck away.
“Go away,” I choked out.
“Elaina, please stop acting like a hormonal thirteen-year-old.” He knocked again. “Elaina!” I got up and opened the door because I knew he wouldn’t stop. “Thank you.”
“I only opened it because you wouldn’t have stopped.” I went back to lie down on the bed. He stood there, rocking back and forth on his heels with one hand in his hair and one hand in his pocket.
“Listen. What Sophie said was right. You could never give us true death if you had to.”
I sat straight up. “I shot our father!”
“I know!”
“I did what I had to do for him. I don’t want to be separated from any of you anymore.”
“I understand.” We were both quiet for a moment. He sat down on the bed next to me. “Elaina, I don’t think I could give you a true death.”
“You could if you had to.”
He shook his head. “No. I don’t think so. Look how I was with Jenna.” I sighed. I hated to admit it, but he was right. I picked at the fabric of the coverlet.
“Henry and I shared a huge moment while we were in here a few minutes ago. I grew to understand him more. I learned so much about who he truly is. We connected so well. And then he treats me like I’m garbage. I felt like I was an inch tall. It’s like he is two different people.”
“He’s under a lot of stress. This whole thing, whatever the hell it is, is resting on his shoulders. He feels he’s responsible. Don’t you see that?”
“Yes!” I yelled as Henry stumbled into the room. He had his hands in his pockets. It was hard to look at him. He was looking at his feet, and from what I could see of his face, it was flush. Probably from all the whiskey that he was drinking.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “My intention was exactly as Sophie said. I don’t think you could take me out, and I know I couldn’t take you out.”
“You would if you had to. I can’t believe we are arguing about whether or not we could shoot one another.” We were all silent for a while, until we heard Sophie booking down the hall.
“Henry!” she hollered. “Undeads in the hallway.”
“Shit.” Henry nodded at Nick, and they ran out to the living room. I got up and went out there, as well. Henry grabbed the walkie talkie off of the table. I heard him instruct Claire. He had been drinking heavily, and I was worried.
“Henry, you can’t go out there! You’ve been drinking! You’ll get killed.”
“I’m fine,” he snapped.
“No, you’re not! You were stumbling.” I looked around at everyone else. “No one is going to say anything?” Henry ignored me, and continued to shout instructions. I glared at everyone. No one was backing me up.
Un-fucking-real!
“Claire, I want you to open the door slowly like you did before.”
“Got it.” She was all business.
“Nick, cover me.”
“On it.” They grabbed their Sigs and Claire waited for the signal to open the door. He held his hand up and listened. He lowered his hand and Claire pulled open the door.
Sophie stood between me and the door, blocking my view on purpose. Two shots rang out, and I jumped. I couldn’t see who shot, or what they were shooting.
Then Henry shouted, “Claire! Come with us. We are going to clear this floor.”
Claire and I stared at one another for a moment, then she headed out the door. I was afraid that would be my last time seeing them alive.
Sophie closed the door and locked it. Nate stood in silence, not knowing what to do or where to go. As for me, I was lost, emotionally and mentally.
“So we just stand here and wait? I don’t understand why I’m the only one concerned that he was drinking!”
“Yes. He’ll be fine.” She was a woman of few words for a change. I could sense she was worried about Henry, too.