Page 168 of Monster

Ryleigh wrapped her arms around me.

There were King’s Men in Nevada besides Dominic, weren’t there? Why did it feel like she wouldn’t be saying the name of those men?

“I’m getting some new information that a bystander had witnessed officials pull the body out of the river. The victim’s face was mutilated beyond recognition, but he was allegedly wearing a motorcycle club garment that belonged to the president of the King’s Men.” She looked to the camera, her wide eyes set in disbeliefs. Then she uttered the words that had my heart shattering in a million little pieces. “Dominic Madden is dead.”

Everything went fuzzy. Arms wrapped around me when I felt my legs giving out. I looked back at Kai’s blank face. I realized, a little distantly, that Kai was the one holding me up.

Dominic Madden is dead.

Impossible.

Dominic was invincible.

He was a monster.

My monster.

And monsters didn’t die. It just wasn’t possible.

A terrible noise filled my ears, and I realized after a moment that it was me. I was making that terrible noise.

“Emmy,” Roman said.

I shook my head. “She’s lying.”

“It’s possible it’s not him,” Roman said. “But we need to leave right now, okay? She shouldn’t have fucking said it until they have a confirmation on the”—he took a deep breath—“the body. It doesn’t matter. The news has hit, and things are going to be bad for a while. I need to get you and Ryleigh somewhere safe.”

I shook my head. “I’m not leaving until we know for sure.”

Tears streamed down my face, and my heart hurt. So bad. So fucking bad. My heart was breaking from the inside out, and I didn’t know how to make the pain disappear. I didn’t know how to give in to it. Not when I—

I let out a choked sob.

Roman shook his head and looked at Kai. “Keep your head on straight, kid. I need you to be strong. Got me?”

I didn’t know why he was being so harsh with Kai, but I couldn’t worry about that.

Roman wrapped his arms around a red-eyed Ryleigh while Kai grabbed hold of me, and they both led us out to Roman’s truck.

Everything happened in a blur.

I didn’t even remember climbing in. Ryleigh sat close to me, burying her face in my neck. More tears dripped down my cheek, and I wiped them away.

Dominic Madden is dead.

No.

No, he wasn’t. He wouldn’t leave me. He was too neurotic, too possessive, to leave me alone. Not after he branded me and made me fall in love with him.

“He’s not gone,” I said. Roman looked at me in the rearview mirror and stepped on the gas, speeding us through Sacramento.

“Where are we going?” Kai asked.

“To Big Bear Lake.”

Big Bear Lake?

That was about seven hours away.

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