Page 35 of All Your Bloody Lies

Holy Belial himself, I slept the entire drive?!

Taking a deep breath, I cross my arms beneath my chest.

“That drive was awful. You’re taking the wheel on the way back,” he teases. “But hey, I’m glad you got some sleep.”

I sigh, nodding in agreement. “It’s been a rough month.”

“You know, you can call me even when you don’t need anything. Even just a text,” he offers sincerely.

“I know. Thanks, Ty,” I reply, stealing a glance at him. He wears a cheesy smile that makes me smirk. “What?”

“You must’ve just fed, you look healthy,” he remarks.

“I... hate you for saying that,” I roll my eyes and glance into the side mirror, I half-expect to spot a car following us. Maybe Kairhyse did give up, went home, and I’ve finally slipped past that Vampire twat.

“Can I ask why you’re coming all the way out here?” he clears his throat before continuing. “You haven’t come in person, if I remember, in as long as I’ve known you.”

I nod, but I really don’t want to discuss this. Especially not with Tyson, even if he and I have quite the history. None of it is bright and sunny.

He lost his entire family to gun violence. His wife, three sons, and daughter. There was no reason for him to have survived the drive-by shooting, but he says it’s karma for all the bad he had done prior to building a family.

When he had come to me that day and asked me to kill the men who murdered his family, I did so without hesitation. I’m no hero, or savior, or any bullshit like that. Revenge, that is my drug of choice. At that time, I owed him for what his son and friends had done for me... finding me in that grave. It was only because of them that I’m even here.

Tyson has been in and out of jail since, and on numerous occasions, I’ve been there to get him out. It’s why he owes me more than just this terrible drive.

“Xeraphine, why are you coming out here?” He brings my attention back, repeating his question.

“Her renewal is up.”

“Why don’t you just, you know, let it run out? Use the money for something better. Like, I don’t know,” he scoffs, “move to an apartment not in the slums. Buy a car… drive yourself around…”

“Sounds like a normal life, one I wasn’t afforded.” I aimlessly pick at my leggings, “In the will, it says until she’s dead, all funds are funneled to keeping her comfortable. If I allowed for her to get released, she’d go to a public hospital. The funds would still go to her. At least here, she is securely stationary. I don’t have to worry about her moving and disappearing off my radar.”

Stretching forward, I press my fingers against the dash, a groan coming from my throat. “I’m achy from sitting for so long, shit.”

He isn't going to drop the subject, “Why not just kill her?”

I bang my head against the headrest, “I feel like he would fucking haunt me if I killed her.”

“Why did he love her so much? She’s a crazy bitch…”he mumbles through the last of his statement. It’s as though he just realized where I get that trait.

No, I did not get who I am from Tali. I got it from the five men that took my entire life away from me. The ones that kidnapped me, tortured me, raped me, and then left me for dead.

“She’s pretty, that’s really her only good quality.”

We share a laugh, and he reaches over and gently pats my leg. He doesn’t linger, knowing how I dislike affection and comfort. Tyson and I had tried once to have a relationship, a year or so after he lost his wife. It was then I understood my life was not meant to be shared with anyone. That, and I felt zero attraction to him other than his looks.

Yes, he is a fine-ass black man. Darker than sin, bright hazel eyes, and dedicates more than half his life in the gym. He is a male escort and passing drug dealer, he had to look his best.

Except, beyond that, he is Mundane, and I am far too rough for him, even for a man of his stature. Unfortunately, I need someone that can break me, not the other way around.

He is also way too nice, just like Sydni. Those two should be together, but as much as I like Tyson, I can’t have her mixed up with his life. She deserves rich, boring, and ordinary. A man that has a corporate job that will provide for her. Like a gamer, yeah, one of those nerds. Not Tyson. Even if he is sweet, with a heart of gold.

“And, we are here,” he utters softly.

It’s the middle of the night, but as most hospitals are, they run twenty-four seven. All of the lights are on, and in the backdrop, there are darkened mountains. The cascading hillsides and forest are beautiful during the day. The building itself is well maintained, but it still feels creepy.

Seven stories high, and longer than my line of sight, it just doesn’t feel like a place I want to be. Though, some would likely say I deserve to be here.

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