Page 132 of Brassy Bigwig

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

CHLOE

Agony.

Complete and utter agony is the only way to describe how I feel when I regain consciousness.

But I can’t remember why.

What happened? Where am I?

Slowly, I’m able to open my eyes. The bright lights are blinding and I close them again.

D.

I open my eyes once more and try to sit up, but I can’t. Searing pain coming from my left shoulder stops me immediately, and I cry out.

“Chloe.” I hear someone say.

As my vision comes into focus, I see a room full of people scattered around me.

I search from left to right, taking in each of their faces.

Shelby. My mother. Daddy, Soraya, and Enzo. They all look so incredibly sad.

Where is D?

“D…” I mumble.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Memories appear in my mind like someone turning a flashlight on and off in quick succession.

Reed. Chair. Knife.

My heart starts pumping faster as I remember a little bit more.

D. Floor. Blood.

“D,” I say a little louder as I recall how Reed dragged him across the floor of the bedroom. A trail of blood in his wake. D told me he loved me before he…

“No,” I sob. “D, no!”

“Chloe,” Shelby comes to my bedside and wraps my shaking body in her arms.

My shoulder burns with pain as she holds me tight, but I don’t care.

“He’s dead… I saw…” I can’t get the words out. “I saw…”

“Shh… It’s okay, Chloe,” Shelby tries to comfort me, but nothing will ever be able to take away the pain of watching D die in front of me while I was powerless to help him.

“No, it’s not okay. It’s not okay. He’s gone!” I sob.

“He’s not, Chloe.” Shelby gently lets me go and holds my head in place so she has my attention. “He’s not dead.”

“What?” I look around the room, and there isn’t one dry eye. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I would never lie to you. It’s me, Chloe.”

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