Page 88 of Hurt

“I’ll come fetch him then.”

“You need to keep him in Elliott territory for a while. Lock him up if you need to.”

“Have you found yourself in the middle of a war?” Luther asked with a tone of amusement. Of course, the bastard knew about what was happening between the Weavers and the Vegas.

“Just keep him safe.”

“Obviously.”

Kurt slapped the phone shut and closed his eyes. The pain of ratting out Noah was muted by the agony in his chest. He hated handing him over to that snake. Those dimples on his chubby cheeks couldn’t hide the fact that Luther was as slimy as they came. But as awful as he was, he had the power to protect Noah and a vested interest in his wellbeing.

Unlike Kurt.

I bet he looks cute crying.

Ezra’s words cut through his pain, and Kurt suddenly doubled over and vomited off the side of the futon. Nothing much came up, and his chest screamed in pain. The feeling of a thousand knives stabbing into his torso was followed by the horrific sensation of not being able to breathe.

Panting and holding his sides as if he could somehow hold his body together, Kurt tried to convince his brain that his body was not being torn apart anymore. Not even the adrenalin from the pain could keep it at bay.

Noah and Willow burst into the room. They were holding a pile of blankets and pillows.

“I’m taking you to the hospital,” Willow announced as she tossed a set of clean clothes beside Kurt. “You heard Molly. There could be internal bleeding or something.”

Noah nodded. “I agree. You need to go.”

Kurt closed his eyes and knew it was time. He was already in pain, so why not add to it?

“I called Luther. He’s coming to get you. Get your stuff together.”

Noah stared at him. “What?”

It almost wasn’t a question—it was more like an accusation.

Willow looked just as shocked. “He has a job here.”

“And I’m eighteen! You can’t tell me to leave.”

“I’m not telling you. I told Luther.”

Noah pointed at Kurt. “I’m not leaving you like this! Are you out of your mind? You think you can just send me away because you’re hurt? Or scared? This is bullshit. You’re my family.”

Kurt didn’t look at them. “You’re an Elliott. Go be an Elliott.”

Noah waffled between his anger and hurt. Willow was staring at Kurt in abject horror.

“How could you say that? He’s Hazel’s son.”

“He’s Michael Elliott’s son, and it’s time he started acting like it.”

Noah couldn’t stand hearing his parent’s name brought up like that. It ripped the fragile patch he had put over the wounds in his heart.

“Then come to White Sand Mesa with me,” he pleaded. “If you really want me to go, then I’ll go. But only if you come with me.”

It was a desperate move. Luther would never allow Kurt to be that close to his heir. He viewed the Becketts as inferior and Kurt a polluting influence. Going to White Sand Mesa was almost as dangerous as walking into Vega territory. Luther would just be smarter about his demise.

And Willow wouldn’t be allowed to take two steps into that home. She had no relation whatsoever, and Kurt was positive Roland would start another war just to get her back.

As long as Kurt was near Noah, he wouldn’t be safe.