Rellik(62)

“Rellik, it’s not too late to walk away,” Phantom called out as Ella walked back toward the door.

“I promised Ella I would finish this.”

“You have finished this.” Phantom looked to Ella, who was kissing Macie’s head, whispering sweetly to her child.

“She won’t ever feel safe until they’re all gone.”

“Ryder, I won’t feel safe if I lose you.” Her voice shook as she clutched her child tighter, and I turned my attention to her. “You’re my magic shield.”

I shook my head, pressing the tip of the knife blade against my palm, my head spinning with doubt. “Ella, you deserve so much better, and I deserve nothing. Macie deserves so much better than what I can give anyone.”

“I love you.” Her words cut through me, shredding any last hope of being able to walk away. With a thunderous clap, the storm that had been brewing for all these years was upon us. Macie began to cry, Ella’s eyes widened, and I could feel the sensation of warmth on my chest.

Was this love? Excruciating pain radiated through my body in waves. My fingers went to my shirt, and I pulled back crimson-coated fingers as the color grew, bleeding out into the gray. My legs gave out, and I fell to my knees. My eyes met Ella. She was frozen in terror. The muffled shouts and screams faded out around me as my eyes closed, and I drifted off into my eternal nightmare.





Love

Chapter 34—Ella

Love: an intense feeling of deep affection

This was love. It was giving your heart to someone else with the understanding that it may be taken away.

I screamed, fingers clawing at my flesh as I begged to go to his side. Hangman wrapped his arms around me, cradling Macie and blocking me from danger.

Trigger wasted no time as he tackled Coach, struggling to disarm him. My eyes met Ryder’s, his fading and mine wide. This was why he didn’t want me to love him. He knew this feeling and wanted to spare me the agony. People die, but love doesn’t waver.

Phantom was on his knees, hands against Ryder’s chest as he fought to keep my love from leaving me. I couldn’t breathe, not knowing if his next breath might be his last.

Janel was screaming as another shot was fired. Everyone was shouting, and soon the voices came from strangers as police swarmed inside the small home. Ryder was placed on a stretcher, his eyes closed as they rushed him out of the house and into a waiting ambulance.

“I need to go with him,” I said, panicked as Hangman forced me to sit. Coach was wheeled by me on a stretcher, the white cloth that covered his body stained red like a Rorschach test.

I gave my statement as quickly as possible, handing over Katie’s suicide note to the police. The fact that Ryder had been shot in the back led the police to determine Ryder was the victim, not the aggressor. After they learned that Janel had been keeping my child from me, and that she knew about the abuse I’d been forced to endure, I was allowed to go to the hospital to be by Ryder’s side. Janel was going to finally get what she deserved, and it was only a matter of time before Bryce did as well. I tried not to think about the agonizing year I’d spent without my daughter. I had no choice but to flee the abuse I’d endured and I had no way to take care of a child. Keeping her from ending up in the system was the only way I could ensure I’d get her back, so when Janel told me I could never take her from her, I knew I’d have to wait until I was old enough to come back for her.

I grabbed Macie’s car seat from Janel’s car and placed it in the back of the Barracuda, hurrying to get to the hospital. I couldn’t fathom not being by Ryder’s side when he was in so much pain. When I arrived, he was in emergency surgery, and I couldn’t get any information, just sad eyes and pity.

“She’s beautiful. How old is she?” I glanced up at a nurse who stood by my side in heart-covered scrubs.

“Almost two.” I smiled at Macie as I stood her up on my knees.

“She looks just like you.”

I ran my hands through Macie’s messy hair, relieved that when I looked at her, I didn’t see any of Bryce.

“Want to get her a snack? I have some diapers too, if she needs changed.”

I hesitated, looking down the hall. The guys hadn’t arrived, and it had been nearly two hours.

“Come on. I promise you’ll know as soon as he is able to have visitors.”

Reluctantly, I nodded and stood. The nurse put her hand on my shoulder and guided me toward the vending machines.

The nurse bought Macie a bag of gold cheesy fish and an apple juice. I changed her and sat her down in the waiting room, allowing her to eat her snack.

Just as I was able to rock Macie to sleep, Ryder’s mother and stepfather walked through the door.