If You Fight(90)

"Then why do I have to go?" she asked in horror. "Why can't I stay here with you? He won't hurt me."

Taking her hand, I directed her toward the back door. I couldn't tell her the truth-that I worried her father had told Jesse to take care of her along with her mother. Even I didn't want to believe Robert could be that kind of monster.

"I just want you to go now, Serena. I don't want you around this. Go, and I'll follow in a few minutes."

I opened the door and guided her out onto the porch, but we'd run out of time. Jesse stood there on the path looking almost surprised to see us there.

Pushing Serena behind me, I whispered to her, "Run to your car. I'll keep him busy."

"Don't bother running. I'm here for her mother, not her."

"She already got away, so you failed. Go back and tell my father he won't get her tonight," Serena snapped.

"You need to go, Jesse. She's not here. Go tell him she was gone when you got here."

His eyes opened wide in terror at what we both knew Robert would do when he found out Jesse failed. He walked through the kitchen door and shut it hard behind him.

"I can't do that, man."

Serena and I took a few steps backward toward the living room. I felt her squeeze my hand in fear and wished to hell I had gotten her away from this. 

"Yes, you can. You can do it and you have to because she's not here."

Wincing, he took a step toward me and shook his head. "You know what he'll do to me if go back and tell him I failed. Just tell me where she is and you won't have to be involved in this anymore."

"You know I can't do that, Jess. I can't let you hurt Serena's mother. I don't care what Robert ordered you to do. Just turn around and go back. I'll do whatever I can to help you with him, but I can't let you hurt her."

He reached behind him and pulled out his gun. Waving it around, he sighed like this was all too much for him. "Why, man? Why did you have to get involved with his daughter? Jesus, didn't he warn you like he warned everyone else? Why couldn't you just keep your hands off her?"

The way he talked about Serena pissed me off. I gripped my gun until my palm hurt. "Don't say another word about her. Not another fucking word. Now turn around and leave here before you get hurt."

"You told me yourself about how he called you a stray that first night he brought you to the estate. He can claim you're his adopted son all he wants, but when it comes right down it, Ryder, you know you aren't one of them. You and I aren't like them."

Serena leaned around me and pointed her finger at Jesse. "You don't know anything. You're just like my father."

I pushed her back behind me and hoped I could somehow get through to him. "Jess, I know how you're feeling. I've been there. But you don't have to do this. Go back and tell him she was gone when you got here."

Frowning, he shook his head. "I can't do that, Ryder. I'm sorry. I'm going to find her and when I do, I have no choice. You know that as well as anyone else. Just accept this is how it has to go."

Nothing Jesse said was wrong. I knew he had no choice. None of us did in Robert's world. That didn't change the fact that I'd sooner die than let him hurt Alita.

"I'm sorry, Jess. I can't let you do that."

"You don't have a choice, man. Don't fight this. You have the girl. Let the mother go and he'll be happy."

I pointed my gun at him and hated that I knew what he said wasn't true. "No, he won't. He'll never be happy, and there's nothing you and I can do to change that."

There was nothing more to say. I never wanted to hurt Jesse or anyone else. I didn't have a choice.

None of us did.

I squeezed the trigger and felt the shot explode out of my gun, and then a second later I heard a second shot. Had I pulled the trigger a second time? Serena let out a terrified scream behind me. I wanted to turn around to see if she was safe, but I couldn't. All I could do was watch as Jesse collapsed onto the floor in what looked like slow motion before my legs gave out and I fell.

"Ryder! Talk to me! Please, say something!" Serena begged over and over, each time her voice sounding farther and farther away.

Until all I heard was silence.