“He was the one to point out the possible flaw on the security system,” I say instead of my security system, I refuse to admit this is a flaw I made in planning. I’m methodical and a perfectionist, I don’t commit mistakes.
“Are you talking to him?” Love asks and I nod, she shivers, goosebumps erupting on her skin.
“Yes, we tolerate each other now. Thought you’d be happy,” I point out puzzled.
“I am. It’s just that I didn’t see my father giving in so quickly,” she says putting her hair behind her ear andholding my hand tighter when she stumbles.
“I’m a good catch,” I say and Love replies “Oh, that you are, the bestest,” she says and wraps her hands around my arm. My other arm still holding the gun. Whenever she holds me tighter, my muscles tense and I almost shoot the fucking gun. I have to get a hold of myself.
I look at Rian and can see what I’ve been seeing for weeks, no interest. He’s just Love’s best friend now, thankfully, I had too much planned, guess those planning notebooks will need to be burnt… in the near future. When Rian introduces his new girl to us, the one who swept any sexual interest he had for Love from his mind, body and soul. I wonder who that is. I’ve never seen anyone leave our house, no girl or boy for instance. I have seen him sneak out multiple times, sometimes consecutive nights, at the beginning I thought those were fighting nights, but it turned out it wasn’t. It’s something more. Thank. Fucking. God.
I walk towards the jet and get there just in time to see one of my guards throw himself in front of the jet’s motor, and shoot one of the abandoned building’s windows.
“Josh, get Love the hell out of here.-”
“NO!-”
“Get her to the jet and get back home. I’ll find my way back,” I order and Josh takes Love in his arms and brings her to the jet. Surprisingly only Sammy, Maya and Marcus follow.
“You’re staying?” I ask Rian, Damian and a still bruised Aiden. “Follow me,” I say and near the buildings for some coverage, while shooting at the building’s samewindow. I look ahead and not behind and only realise what a mistake it was when I’m shot. The shot goes through my back, somewhere near my kidney. I have two right? No big deal. I turn around and shoot the person who attempted to kill me in the head. Followed by his four nearest friends.
When I see the security team arrive and notice part of it turning against each other I look at Karl and scream “Get them out”. Karl doesn’t ask a question. He’s ordered not to. Even if my life is at stake. I put them as next in line so he wouldn’t try to save me, but I only did it because I also know he follows me and would never overthrow me, his family worked for mine for years. Our parents were best friends. We’re practically family. That’s why I also trust he’ll look after Love if something happens. I enter one of the emergency doors of a building and lock the door with a metal beam from the drainage tubes I rip apart.
I look at the entry and exit wounds, it went through and through. I bandage my lower belly with the sleeve of my shirt. I curse under my breath. I’m bleeding out. No- No. I’m not bleeding out. I’m controlling this uprising and returning to power, they bandage me, I’ll probably lose a kidney but that’s it. I refuse to die. I refuse to let the weak and sneaky bastards get the best of me. They won’t be my fall, they’ll be my rise.
Chapter 21
Love
“Rian?” I ask startled, feeling relieved to see him in person. He told me they were coming back. I search for Dominik but he’s not there. Karl is here, and Dominik isn’t. “Where’s Dominik? Where’s Damian?” I ask after noticing Damian isn’t here either.
“They had to stay,” Aiden says and I go in Rian’s direction and hug him, crying, until I fall to my knees at the realisation of what “They had to stay” means. Josh said there was an uprising…
“They’re dead aren’t they? I killed them, didn’t I? They’re dead because I murdered Dylan- They-They’re dead? I killed them?-"
“No one’s dead. We have no positive news, but no negative news either. No one has contacted anyone outside that island ever since we left,” Rian informs and hugs me sitting on the floor next to me.
“They-”
“Come on, it’s Dominik and Damian they’re alive,” Josh asserts but he seems unsure. “They have to be,” he whispers almost inaudibly. “I need to talk to dad, I’ll be right back. Karl will you follow me?” Josh asks knowing full well he’s out of his territory. Karl works for the Ricik’s not our family.
“Can’t,” Karl replies with his Mitkian accent. “I am bound to keep Love under my sight at all times,” he explains and my brother nears him.
“Let me enable you access to the property's cameras. That way you can still see her, does that work?” Karl just nods and hands his phone to Josh while I sink deeper into Rian’s arms and fall to the asphalt.
Dominik is ok. He needs to be ok, I refuse to believe otherwise!
“Let’s get you home,” Rian says and I get back on my feet holding his arm as he might disappear too.
“Is there anything you know you aren’t telling me?” I ask Rian and Sammy shakes her head at him. “Sammy?”
“He was hurt, that’s why Damian stayed,” he’s hurt...
He’s hurt. He’s hurt. He’s hurt.
He’s hurt. He’s hurt. He’s hurt.
But Damian is there. He’s the best trauma surgeon here he doesn’t lose anyone. Not anyone that he can possibly save. And he wouldn’t let Dominik die. He would never do it.
