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“You’re too late. If Seth has her, you’ll never see her again.” Vanessa chokes around the blood filling her mouth. I stare into her eyes, willing the words to be yet another lie out of the disgusting woman’s mouth. All I see is her empty acceptance of what’s going to happen to her, a dejected form of honesty.
“Fuck!” I yell, my throat burning against the assault to my vocal cords. Wringing my hands, I pace across the gravel. My fingers twitch, aching to wrap around the motherfucker’s throat. Of all the people, Paige had to know this piece of shit. A flash of the man walking past me as I smiled and wished him luck crosses my mind.
If only I had known. Had done something…
My shaking fingers work through my hair, tugging hard against my scalp. I welcome the stinging pain, a small price for my failure to protect her.
Another rough cry erupts from my chest as I whirl around and slam my fist into the building. The weathered brick isn’t fazed by my attacks as I punch repeatedly, my knuckles splitting and staining the wall.
A sound pulls me out of my destructive meltdown. I feel the buzz in my pocket and whip out my phone, answering without looking. “What?” I snap.
“Wow. I was calling to see if you were good but I think I have my answer.”
Clenching my fist, I ignore his snide comment. “What do you want Jesse? I’m not in the mood for a chat.” The line goes silent. When he finally does reply, all traces of humor have left his voice, leaving behind an unmasked tone of concern.
“I’m worried about you man. The way you took off earlier…” Jesse sucks in a breath and I brace myself, apprehensive of what he’s going to say next. “Look, I’ve known you for a long time.” He pauses, clearing his throat. “You’ve been acting strange these past few months. I don’t know what’s going on and I’ve tried to just give you space to work through whatever the fuck it is. But Mick. You gotta talk to me.” My defenses shoot up, there’s no way I’m discussing Paige with him. I’m about to tell him to piss off when he starts again, his voice lowered. “I’m really worried about you. Please, let me help.”
I don’t say anything for a while, not trusting what would come out of my mouth. The cool night air breezes, blowing cool wafts around me. I can feel my control slipping as the chilly wind cools some of the burning emotions consuming me. Without making the conscious decision, I find myself whispering into the line, desperately reaching out to my oldest friend.
In a voice I can’t be certain the phone picks up, I brokenly whisper, “She’s gone.”
The moment the words leave my lips reality crushes me. Words echoing in my head and clawing at my heart.
You’re too late. She’s gone. You’ll never see her again.
I sink to the ground and lean back against the wall. Pain that I haven’t felt since I was a small child consuming me.
I’ve failed again. The only other woman I’ve ever loved and I’ve lost her too. Just like…
My thoughts cut off abruptly as it hits me.
Paige has not only become my obsession, my desire. She has stolen my heart.
A strangled sound leaves me.
I love her.
“Mick? Hello? What’s going on?” The sound of my friend shouting through the phone pulls me out of my anguished thoughts.
“I’m here.” I mutter.
Jesse lets out a relieved sigh at the sound of my voice. “Good. Did you sayshe’sgone?” I don’t reply and he presses, his tone cautious. “Who’s gone Mick?”
The most important person to exist.
At my continued silence, Jesse keeps talking. “Do you mean Veronica?” I let out a low growl.
Not that fucking woman.
“Okay, not V. Then who are you talking about dude? You haven’t mentioned anyone else to me. Fuck, I didn’t even know therewasa she.”
Taking a deep breath, I cut off his rambling. “Her name’s Paige. And she’s everything. But she’s gone and I don’t know how to get her back.” My heart cracks as the words leave my mouth.
Jesse exhales heavily. “Shit man.” In a soft voice, he offers, “Why don’t you come over and we can try to figure this out together?”
Desperation overtakes me and I cling to the small hope my friend offers. “Okay.”
“Okay.” He repeats cautiously.
