Page 88 of Wildest Forever

I hear the heavy rumble of a sigh escape him as he walks across to my desk and swipes the envelope from the surface.

Silence fills the hostile room, and my heart is banging against my ribcage.

He slips the paperwork out and just by the way his shoulders sag and his deep intake of breath rattles inside of him, I know I was right.

“Shit,” he rubs his hand over his beard and the sound of the bristle meeting his skin is loud over the anger that burns inside of me.

“Yeah...” I roll my lips, hands back fisted inside my pockets.

“I'll deal with this,” he grumbles, and I shake my head.

“No, I'll deal with it,” I step forward, but Riggs glares me down.

“Trust me,” he grunts, “let me deal with it,” and I know not to push him when he is in that mood.

I give a shit attempt of a nod, there is no point even trying to argue with him.

“What the fuck are we going to do?” I find myself whispering as the rage teeters at the edge of my reasoning.

“Going to end this war once and for all.”

I swallow down the bile that threatens to creep up my throat and ignore the angry tears that prick behind my eyes.

“Pacey?” the softer side of Riggs shows himself as he tosses the envelope on the desk and pulls me into him. “It'll be okay,” he comforts me like a dad would his son and I find myself molding into him.

My chest tightens as the hot tears roll down my cheeks. I hated showing the vulnerable side of me, but hearing those words leave his lips brings everything hurling back towards me.

The shooting.

Harlow.

My dad.

All the stuff that haunts me in the evening is rearing it's ugly head in the daytime and I am terrified of the outcome.

“What if someone dies, what if they get to mom?” the anxiety riddles me, and I can't stop the onslaught of questions even if I wanted to.

“Nothing is going to happen,” Riggs pushes me away, his hands gripping tightly to the top of my arms. “Do you understand me?” he looks down at me, tilting his head to the side, “nothing will happen to anyone,” and his words are cemented into me like a promise.

I have no idea if he is telling me the truth or pacifying me so I don't worry, but either way, it helps... if only for a moment.

“I will fucking burn the town to the ground if I need to, no one, and I meanno onewill take what is ours. I don't care if they're family, friend or foe, whoever it is, they'll pay.”

I nod, over and over.

Rage turns to tears, tears turn back to rage and I feel myself begin to tremble in front of my brother.

I knew something like this was going to happen, knew we were going to find out, but it still doesn't make it any easier to swallow.

“It'll be okay brother,” he says softly, the rasp in his voice has me looking at him.

I nod, sniffling and palming the lone tear that escapes and runs down my cheek.

“It just brings it all back,” I admit, swallowing down the lump.

“I know, and I swear it Pacey, no one will get close to our family.”

“You swear?”

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