AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As soon as the words leave her mouth, I reach for my phone in my back pocket and swipe it to answer when I see Jordan’s name. “What?”
“Cartier, it’s the show.”
“What about it?” I snap, looking around The Brothers when I see them all finally answering their own phones.
“There’s been a fire of some sort… multiple deaths…” My phone slips from my hand as white noise fills my mind. Shoving Keaton down onto the chair, I reach into his jacket and flick off the lock to his holster, snatching the knife that I know is always there. His. The same one I’ve seen since I was a little kid. Ignoring the yelling in the background, and King and Killian rushing down the corridor to check on Saskia and Perse, I kick the lock of the cell with my red bottom heel and pull the door open so fast Delila falls onto her back in a fit of laughter.
Straddling her, I rest Keaton’s knife against her throat, my eyes wild and my blood so hot I think it’s going to explode out of me. “What did you do…”
Delila’s mouth curves upward. “You knew what I could do, and you knew Dove was mine, and you knew Kohen was hers. What did you think would happen, Cartier? One last fuck you. Perfect, wasn’t it?” I put pressure on the handle of the blade.
“Baby…”
Harder. Until I watch as her skin separates over her throat and blood spills out of the cut. I keep going. Blood gushing over my hands, over the ground, with the only sound her choking on her own blood. Arms wrap around my torso, lifting me up from her body as tears flow down my cheek. Death. So many hurt. I was supposed to protect them all.
Keaton turns me into his chest, and I wrap my legs around his waist as he carries me across the room. Falling into the crook of his neck, I sob into him. “I was supposed to protect them.”
“Shhh.” He holds me by the back of the neck gently, removing the knife from my hand like one would a maniac. “It’s okay. Everyone is going to be fine.”
Kyrin mumbles to someone in the background, but I continue to jerk through my cries as Keaton carries me down the corridor and up the trap door steps. The moonlight wraps around me like a blanket. I let my sobs die out against Keaton’s chest. I should have done more. More to protect everyone, but I was so caught up in what was happening I lost my way, which was exactly what Delila wanted.
“Do we have an update?” Keaton asks Kyrin as he walks me across the field. I don’t know where we’re headed, and I’m not sure I’m ready to face everyone knowing I failed them. I could have stopped this. I knew more than anyone what was happening. I could have stopped this.
“Yeah, it’s not good. Multiple fatalities, some civilians since it was during the show. I’ve got Eli heading there now to meet with Bishop since it was a show in Riverside.”
I gasp, squeezing Keaton’s shirt. His big hand clenching my thigh reassuringly. Riverside isn’t far from The Village in NYC, but right now it feels like a world away. “Who all died?”
“We don’t know yet, T. Stop blaming yourself. There’s nothing you could have done.” Usually my brother’s words are a comfort. This time they just feel like a lie a parent tells their child when they know they did something wrong.
“Put me down.” I tap Keaton’s shoulder and he slides me to the ground as we reach the Axtons’ mansion. It’s lit up brighter than I’ve ever seen it, and there are cars out the front I don’t recognize.
The backyard gate is open and we step through, passing the pool and guest house, following the trail that leads to the back door. Keaton opens it and I step through first, quickly seeing who is in here with us.
Perse is in the corner swiping her tears.
Kenan is beside her.
Lilith beside him.
Brantley Vitiosis is opposite with a glass hanging between his fingers, looking up at the ceiling with another man beside him I don’t recognize. Maya, Rose, and Callan are on the other end, with a couple of the other girls who do the aerial.
“Why was there a show?” the words fly out of my mouth before I can catch them. “I specifically said no shows! How was there a show without The Brothers? What the fuck!” I spin around when the door opens and Eli walks through with Bishop on his tail. “Talk to me.”
Eli’s face falls slightly. “It seems that Dove and Kohen had told a few sets that they could do a show in Riverside. A tent was already set up with equipment, but it wasn’t ours. It was from the other crew. From whom I spoke with, it looks like—” Eli blows out a breath, finding Perse. I watch as her eyes turn wide, seeking the answer I know she wants to hear. Her shoulders fall. “There was a show. Well, somewhat of a show. The Angels and Demons were hit, as well as a few dancers. From what they’ve said, Kohen and Dove were the last act, and during that final act, they shot fire into the crowd, into the backstage, and then finally each other. It was a suicide mission. Perse, fuck, I’m so sorry.” Perse bursts out into tears, launching from her chair and running up the grand staircase. The kitchen falls silent for a moment, and I stare blankly at where Perse left.
“How many casualties?” I ask absently as The Brothers all fall quiet around us. As much as Kohen wasn’t a Brother of Kiznitch, I know that it will still sting for them. Especially for King.
Eli is in front of me in a flash, his hands on my cheeks. I feel Keaton stiffen beside me. “This isn’t your fault.”
“How many?” I demand, staring up at him.
“We’re looking at roughly nineteen civilians and—” He looks between me and someone who is behind me. “All of the crew that was there.” I feel like he’s punched me in the gut and I fall backward, thankfully landing on an empty chair.
My hand is on my mouth. “Midnight Mayhem is over.”
“Cartier, baby…” Keaton interrupts, kneeling down beside me.
I shake my head, my eyes on his. “No.” Looking around the room at everyone. My family. The people I trained for three years to protect. “The show is done.”
