Page 85 of Semblance

I felt him slump further to the ground, but I used all my strength to hold him up. He looked at me with glazed eyes while his mouth was bloody, battered, and out of place. I had the urge to go back to the condo and put more bullets into the fucking dead bastard’s skull.

Finally the elevator arrived and I half carried, half dragged Abraham into it.

“Do you want me to call anyone?” I asked. “Shadow maybe?”

Abraham shook his head. He tried to talk but I was quick to shush him.

“You don’t need to say anything. I’ll take care of you. I promise.”

He looked at me affectionately, as if my words had brought him peace. He closed his eyes and tears streamed down their corners.

“Come on, no need to get sentimental on me,” I said. “It’s my turn to look after you from now on. Both Shadow and I will. Does that sound good?”

He nodded.

And then the elevator doors opened and there was an explosion of light and sound that assaulted my senses.

When I had regained myself, Abraham was lying dead on the floor, a bullet wound straight through his heart.

#

Chapter Twenty-Two

My father had died in a hospital bed in a tremendous amount of pain. I almost wished for his death to come sooner, just so he no longer suffered.

For the most part, I had held myself together, comforting him and talking to him, bringing up delightful stories from the past. In between bouts of pain, his eyes seemed to sparkle when I reminded him of pleasant memories from my childhood; like when he took me on a pony ride and I screamed throughout the entire thing or when he made me my Halloween costume—a princess—which made me look like a walking toilet roll.

I had stayed strong for him during his last moments on earth, never once shedding a tear. I needed him to know that as much as I loved him, I would be okay when he left me. It was only after he died that I lost my shit, screaming like a banshee until my throat was raw.

Death was never an easy thing to accept, but in the case of my father, at least he was at peace when he died.

The bullet that killed Abraham on the other hand was cruel and blindsided us completely. My stomach rushed to my throat and I stood there with my mouth open, stunned by the brutal slaying.

“Is my brother dead?” asked the man who had murdered Abraham. I looked up with red eyes and stared at the killer, who was dressed in the same outfit as the Crow, but all in white.

I tried to speak but my voice had left me. I dropped to my knees and cradled Abraham’s dead body in my hands.

“Answer me you dumb bitch, is my brother dead?” the White Crow asked as he pointed a gun straight at my head. I ignored him as I held Abraham’s lifeless body. He deserved better than a bullet through his heart. Abraham had saved my life.

“Last time I ask, before I put one in your head. Is my brother dead?”

“Eat shit,” I cursed, in between sobs. “Your brother deserves the death we gave him.”

“Bullshit. How can an old man and a dumb bitch survive a fight with the Black Crow?”

“Because he was a cocksucker, that’s why,” I spat.

The look in the murderer’s eyes was full of malice. There was no doubt that he was going to pull the trigger.

For the second time tonight, I was on my knees at the mercy of another man. I closed my eyes and waited once more for death, but it never came.

“Drop your weapon and put your hands in the air!”

I turned to see several police officers standing at the entrance of the condo, guns locked onto the killer.

“Another time bitch,” he spat before dashing for the emergency exit. A volley of bullets flew at him, but he managed to dodge them as if they were snowballs thrown by children. He was faster than his brother.

A few cops pursued him while a couple stayed behind, examining the scene.

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