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I look out the window and see Abi weakly dragging Tristan’s unconscious body away from harm’s way.
How can this be happening? Who’s going to protect them now that we’re gone?
Phil starts the engine, and as it roars to life, I weep into my hands because I thought I knew what I was doing, but everything is now so fucked up.
“It’s okay, Red,” Quinn softly coos, wrapping his arm around me, and I sob into his embrace because I don’t know what else to do.
The moment the van commences moving, I sob harder, but I allow myself one final look at the bedlam I’ve left behind. All I see are victims, victims because of me.
Abi begins screaming as she runs after the van, begging for me to help her, but I can’t. I’m just as trapped as she is. Lucky also runs beside her, not understanding why I’m leaving him behind.
I lean over Quinn and place my splayed hand out against the glass, silently promising them that I’m coming back. I’m coming back for them all. I don’t know how or when, but I’ll find a way.
Abi and Lucky are a distant blur when I finally remove my hand from the window.
Settling low into my seat, I wish I could disappear without a trace.
“Why did you bring him?” I whisper to Phil, who looks at me through the rearview mirror.
Quinn stiffens near me, but I ignore him as I need to know why.
“Because he’s valuable to me. And because he’s valuable to you, too,” he simply replies, dismissing me as he returns his attention to the desolate road ahead.
Phil saw no value in Tristan because he saw the inner strength in Quinn. And being the true predator that he is, Quinn is now Phil’s new plaything.
With that disconcerting thought in mind, I lean my head on Quinn’s shoulder and try not to cry.
The van is still for minutes, but I break the cruel silence as I sadly whisper, “You were right.”
Quinn stills under my comment but doesn’t speak. He only glances out the window.
But I know he’s heard me, so I desolately declare, “Love really can’t save you from your own fate.”
Because it sure as shit didn’t save me from mine.
