Page 80 of Ruin

Once in the car, he looks at the back seat and pulls his bag over, taking a t-shirt out, and rips it in half.

“On my way back, and no I don’t want to fucking talk.” He ends the call, and takes his t-shirt off, and wraps the torn t-shirt around himself to stop the bleeding, but it’s not working as it’s already soaking through, but he doesn’t care as he puts on his zipped up hoodie, and starts driving.

He said I have a million questions, and I do, but I have no idea where to even start. What should be my first question?

TWENTY-ONE

DECLAN

I should have stoppedto try and take the bullet out. Or I should have done a better job of stopping the bleeding, stitching myself up, maybe.

But fuck, does this hurt.

I didn't stop for two reasons. One, I didn't want the risk of getting caught by the cops. How the hell was I going to explain being shot, or the guy tied up in the trunk? And two, I have nothing in the car to help me get this bullet out.

Note to self, Declan, note to fucking self. Have a first aid kit in your car which has things to patch you up if you're shot, cut, or even dead.

There was no way I was going to ask Trixie to help me. She's probably already freaking out enough and is trying to keep herself calm until we get back. That's probably when she'll run from me. I mean, she wasn't going to say no to me out there in the middle of fucking nowhere, was she? Where was she going to go?

I know in our family business, you find a girl, and once you know the girl's it, you tell them about the family business. I mean, you can't really hide it. And to be honest, I wouldn't want to. Dad has never lied to mom, and they have been together forever, it’s taught me one thing. Trust and have faith in your partner.

But a woman I've just started sleeping with has to find out I kill people like this. I've only fucking had sex with her once, well four times in one night, and then I'm killing people in front of her.

Dad's going to kill me when he finds out. Like, what am I meant to tell her? I can't say, oh yeah, I like to kill people. No, I'm going to have to tell her about the business stuff of the family. Another thing Cain’s probably going to be angry about with me, right now I think my name is in red bold writing in his book of people he’s pissed off with.

The sharp burning pain hits me again, pulling me out of my own self-pity. Fucking hell this wound hurts.

The drive back home feels like it is going on for hours, the pain was unbearable for most of it. I tried to talk to Trixie, but she didn’t reply to anything, a shake or a nod of the head was all I got. Then when I tried to take her hand in mine, it tensed up, and she pulled it away from me. So, nothing was helping the drive home go any faster. But I’m home now, I need to clean up, and kill my brother.

Parking the car in the garage straight away, I get out, and go to the passenger side of the car, and hold the door open for Trixie. I’m actually more angry with my brothers than I am with anything or anyone else right now. Cain teaches us to the point we know what to do no matter the situation, and the man is good. He doesn't let you off the leash until he’s happy we know what we’re doing, and Miles fucked up. Walking into the kitchen, I throw the car keys on the counter.

“D-” ignoring Hayden, I go straight to Miles and punch the asshole in the face.

“You need to learn how to fucking hack properly. Did you fall asleep in Cain’s hacking system lesson? I think you did. You took me into the middle of nowhere, outnumbered.” I turn to Cain, and point at him. “You need to teach him a bit better. I do my job. Mason does his job. Hayden does his job. And this fucker takes me to the middle of nowhere. In the middle of fucking nowhere.” I go to punch Miles again, but Hayden gets in my way to stop me.

I’m pissed off. I’m angry my own brother fucked up when they were almost two hours away from me and left me to fight for myself. Miles is lucky Hayden's here to stop me.

“Fucking hell, D that hurt.” Mile stands up straight, wiping the blood off his lip. “Since when can you punch so goddamn hard?”

If only they knew how I learned how to punch so hard. The Pit can mess up your head, but it teaches you well, teaches you hardcore. I take my shirt off and throw it to the side because I need to sort this bullet wound out.

“Ah, look at D. Got lucky-” I swing around quickly and punch Mason in the face.

“You think I'm in the fucking mood for this?”

“I was trying to lighten the mood-”

“Fuck you, Mason.” I pull out a barstool by the kitchen Island and tell Trixie to sit down. Yeah, my back is probably fucked up with her nails, but it doesn't mean my brothers can be assholes about it. Well, not right now anyway.

I walk around the other side while Lileah puts the first aid kit in front of me and then sits next to Trixie.

“Fucking assholes, you know,” I say to no one in particular as I open the first aid box.

“Are you okay, D?” Hayden stands in front of me and starts looking at my wound.

“Fine. I’m fucking peachy.” I look up at Cain.

“Hayden, leave him.”

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