Page 124 of Ruin

DECLAN

I slamthe sledgehammer into the car once again, anything to take out the frustration I have inside me. I can’t fucking believe there is nothing I can do to make her wake up, I can’t go and hurt Robert, because there’s no way I’m missing Trixie waking up. So, there is only one thing to do, break my car apart.

As the hammer hits the metal, I feel the vibration move through my body, and it’s the only satisfaction I’m going to get for now.

“Do you know how long it took me to find the hood?” I look over at Miles and Mason entering the garage, about fucking time they get here.

“Where is he?” I ask. I don’t care about anything else.

Mason hands me his phone, I look at the live feed of him sitting naked in the corner of the room, his legs spread open in front of him. He doesn’t look like he cares that he’s locked in a room. He’s an asshole who thinks he is untouchable, it’s going to be a shock when I tell him how he’ll spend the rest of his life. He looks up at the camera and waves which makes me chuckle to myself. “He’s fucking crazy. He honestly thinks Trixie is his. He kept shouting ‘Declan can’t have my wife.’” I hand the phone back to Mason, and he stands next to Cain and Hayden who haven’t left me for a second, but they’ve not stopped me from trashing my car either.

“Mom said come inside, and have something to eat,” Miles tells me. I slam the hammer into the side of the car once again. “Do you really want her coming out here?” Miles jokes, and I shake my head, throwing the hammer on the floor.

Grabbing my t-shirt, I follow my brothers into the house. Mom looks over at me, and her eyes move over the scars covering my chest. In that split second I remember she’s never seen them before. I’ve made sure to cover myself up when I’m around her, so she doesn’t need to know what happened to me. Before she can say anything, I walk into the bedroom Trixie is in, Lincoln stands at the end of the bed.

“What are you doing here?” I ask him, as I kneel at the side of the bed and take her hand in mine.

“Watching her.” I turn my head to Lincoln and shake my head. “I should have fought harder.”

“With a bullet wound? No one was going to stop him from getting her. Be happy you’re alive, I know others wish they were.” I kiss the top of Trixie's hand, and stand up when I hear mom calling Lincoln to come eat, which means she’s also shouting for me too. I stand in front of him. “Fucked up shit happens, guilt will overtake you, don’t let it.”

“Declan, I’m sorry about Big Man. The moment Cain heard about the fight, he dropped everything to get to The Pit in time to stop it.” Lincoln places his hand on my shoulder. “You need anything, I’ll always be there for you.”

“I know, Lincoln.” We both exit the bedroom, and I look over at mom in the kitchen getting a few things plated up, I sit next to Lileah. “You okay?” I look at her cut lip, then she leans her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry,” I whisper to her.

“Not your fault, Declan,” Lileah replies.

She leans forward and grabs a slice of pizza, and I look over at the bedroom. I know it’s only been a few hours, but I thought she would have shown some signs of waking up, but nothing.

“I want the mom dead by the weekend,” I say without looking at my family. The woman stood back and did nothing, lied to the hospital, and the police. She made Trixie go silent, she’s not walking away free.

“I’ll get it done.” I hear Cain, and I know he won’t send any of us to do the job, we all need to have alibi’s that we were home when that murder takes place. That’s when I look at Lincoln, who gives me a small nod and all I can do is return a small smile.

“Declan,” Mom hands me a plate with a slice of pizza on it, already knowing what I’m going to say.

“You have to eat something, you’re no good to anyone if you’re weak.” I take the plate from her and try to listen to the conversation happening around me.

Autumn’s telling us about Poppy skating, and how busy the flower shop is. Dad’s asking Cain about the clinic, but the only thing I can think about is Trixie. My phone beeps in my pocket. It’s a message from Riley.

Riley

You killed my brother.

Declan

I didn’t kill anyone. You did.

Hayden takes the phone from me, then shows Cain who smiles at my reply. My phone rings, and Hayden puts it on the table, I answer it and put it on speaker.

“Do you really want to start a wa-”

“Mr. Riley, before you continue with this, remember you started the war. I’m only finishing it. I didn’t kill anyone, I don’t even know where your brother lives. I gave you an out, you didn’t take it, and you hurt my girl. So, how about you stop wasting your time with me, and spend it with your family, you never know what will happen tomorrow.” I wait for him to reply because the fucker is an arrogant asshole and is thinking of something to say back to me.

“You cut up my brother and sent me pieces of him. You had nothing to do with that?” Riley's voice becomes more high pitched, but I can’t stop smiling.

“Again, I’ve been busy doing other things. What body part was it?” I ask because I honestly want to know if they followed my one request.

“Both his ears-”

---