Page 23

23

SEBASTIAN

I stared at him blankly. “This is fucked up. I haven’t felt anything like this before.” I glanced around and then I looked at him again, trying to understand what was happening. “Both are here. I can feel both inside my head. What the fuck is going on?”

Ryan started the car, then hurried out of the parking lot. He fumbled for his phone in his back pocket, then slapped it on the seat next to him.

“Siri, call Kip Renshaw.” He shot me a sideways glance as the cell began to ring through the phone’s speaker.

“Hey man, how’s everything? How’s Ella?”

“Uh, pretty fucked up. How close are you?”

“We are just about to take off, so it will be a few hours. I’m assuming something else has happened since you’re calling?”

“Ella … she didn’t make it, and Death went crazy and started tearing up the emergency room. He almost got arrested, but I was able to get us out of there. At the moment, he and Sebastian are aware of each other.”

Silence filled the line as I blinked, wondering if what I was hearing was correct. This had all happened while I was Death? My Ella had died? Tears welled in my eyes. My phone buzzed in my back pocket, but I ignored it. Nothing could be more important right now.

“How?” I asked. “How did my wife die?”

“Bass?” Kip questioned, his voice tight with emotion.

“Yeah, it’s me. I don’t remember how I got here or what happened.”

Ryan turned left, then continued toward the outskirts of town. “A shit show. Death almost got you arrested. Is he still around?”

I stilled for a moment, the world blurring, then I heard his voice. A chill traveled down my spine with his words. I got her killed, that’s what happened.

“He’s here, and said he got Ella killed. She’s … is … is that how it took place?”

“Her heart stopped from the trauma. Death and I found her in the middle of the road. A knife was in her thigh, but the back of her head was also bloody. I think she must have hit her head at some point. I need to get back to the hospital and see what I can find out. Death told the doctor that I’m her brother, so I should be able to learn more. I just had to get Death out of there before they arrested him and discovered who he really was. But, then Bass started to appear.”

“Fuck,” Dope said. “She can’t be gone, dude.”

I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of my loss, but I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to digest everything. The sound of sniffles filled the car, and I realized tears were running down my face. “What the hell did Death do? If this is my fault … how will my kids ever forgive me?”

“I need to find a hotel room where Bass can lay low. I’ll tell you guys where to meet us, and as soon as I have him settled, I’m going back to the hospital to demand some answers. Plus, I probably have to talk to the cops and try and get Death off the hook for his outburst.”

“Okay, keep us posted,” Kip said before he disconnected the call.

Minutes later, Ryan turned into a parking lot of a seedy hotel. “It sucks, but at least if Death reappears and loses his shit, they won’t call the cops because they’ll lose all the drug and prostitute business. I think you’re safer here than anywhere else.”

Ryan whipped the car into a parking spot at the side of the motel. “Hang tight, I’ll get a room. Do not fucking leave this car. Are we clear?”

“Yeah.” I wiped my eyes.

“Are both of you clear?”

Death muttered his agreement in my head, then I responded to Ryan. “Yeah.”

I watched as Ryan hurried to the entrance and disappeared inside.

“Why are you here?” I asked the person everyone referred to as Death. “Why am I aware of you suddenly?”

A voice without an accent filled my mind. Because Ella is dead, and it was too much for us to both block out is my guess. It’s my fault, but you need to get the fuck out of my way because I’m going to hunt the motherfuckers down and kill them all.

I winced at the knowledge of being able to communicate with the dark side of me.

“Do you know who took Ella?”

Not yet, but we were close to finding out. Ryan and I were making our way to a place we suspected she was being held, but then it got too dark. On our way back down the mountain we found Ella unconscious in the middle of the road.

A soft wail escaped me, imagining her beaten, bruised, and all alone.

You’ve gotta let me take over, Sebastian. I’m not fucking asking. We can do this the nice way, or I will shove you aside and take control.

Deep inside me, I knew he was right. If we wanted to learn the truth about who was behind killing my wife … I stared out the window, trying not to lose my shit. The car door opened, and Ryan climbed in.

“We’re in the back where it’s a little quieter and more private. I’m going to get you settled, then head to the hospital.”

Ten minutes later, I’d gone to the bathroom and Ryan had gotten some snacks and bottled water from a vending machine he’d located in the hall.

“Sorry to do this, man,” he said.

I frowned at him as he produced his handcuffs. “It’s for your own good unless you want to land in prison and lose your kids too.” He tilted his head and indicated for me to sit on the mattress.

I sank onto it, a spring poking me in the ass cheek as I did.

“Scoot back and get comfy.”

“Are you sure you have to do this, mate?” My voice sounded sad and foreign to my ears.

“Yup. I can’t take a chance of you disappearing on me. When we go after the fuckers that are responsible, I’ll be right by your side, but I have to take care of …” He swallowed as he grabbed my wrist and secured me to the headboard.

As if that will hold us. A sinister chuckle echoed through my mind.

He stepped back and pocketed the key. “You can have your phone, but you have to promise no calls outside of me, Kip, and Dope.”

“Sure.” I snatched up the remote control and pushed the power button, hoping for the noise to drown out the voice in my mind.

“I’ll return as soon as I can.”

I stared at the television, desperately needing a moment alone to process what had happened. I still couldn’t fathom the idea that Ella was gone. “Take your time.”

Ryan nodded, his mouth pursed into a thin line. He’d always been one to hide his emotions, but with the news about Ella, it seemed as though he was struggling as much as I was. Something inside me required proof. To see her body and to say goodbye. It wasn’t going to seem real until I could do that. I needed closure.

And when we have it, I’ll turn this world into a fucking blood bath. I’ll cut the bastard’s cock off and shove it down his throat while I filet him alive.

I winced as the voice in my head continued sharing in graphic detail what was going to happen.

“I can’t listen to that right now. I need answers, so tell me everything you know, you piece of shit.” I scrubbed my face with my free hand.

The voice responded with a gruff snarl, then explained the calls and riddles, and what he and Ryan had figured out so far. It was strange to realize that I had retained bits and pieces of Death’s conversations with others. Not much, but more than ever before.

I glanced at the clock. Ryan should be back at the hospital by now. My phone vibrated and I pulled it out of my back pocket and looked at the screen. I had three missed calls. Frowning, I ignored the call since it wasn’t from a number I recognized. I placed the cell on the nightstand and stared into space as my mind and emotions sank into a pool of numbness.