Page 137 of Fighting For Light
“Smile for me, baby, and make it good.”
I look up at him, and I’ve never seen this face before. It’s not fear, it’s not anger, it’s resignation to the fact that we are going to have to do bad things to be done with himfor good.
62
Kai
“Ladies and gentlemen, itis my esteemed honor to announce during this celebration that I will be running for governor for the great state of Massachusetts,” Fred says.
I keep a smile plastered on my face and my arm wrapped around my wife. He won’t do anything to us in front of all these people, but I’m silently punching myself repeatedly in the face for not seeing this move. Mom said it herself; she knew he wanted her because it looked good for the start of a campaign. It looks even better when he has his entire family and one of his son’s new wife standing behind him to run forgovernor.There’s no question that this will get him the votes he wants.
The anger flowing through me boils my blood, and I want to put a bullet in his head right now. He played this smart, though. We can’t come for him, and he can’t come for us. At least it keeps Cordi and Theo protected.
“After this, we will get Theo and disappear for a while. How does the beach house sound?” I whisper to her.
She looks up with a small smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah, that sounds nice,” she says, her voice breaking.
I squeeze her hip and pray for this to end faster. My father rambles on and on while my patience is wearing thinner. He’s using us like we are his pawns, and we fell right into his trap. It feels like I’m twelve again, and if I don’t behave, we will all pay for it. If we all decided to walk away, our father would undoubtedly make us feel his wrath. We’ve been pushing back, but it’s possible we have pushed too far, only it’s not just my brothers and I caught in the crosshairs. He tried with Cordi and Mom and failed. I’m sure he and the Costas learned from it, and I don’t know that we would be enough to protect them.
I look out across the group of news reporters and the security he brought with him. They are a bunch of meatheads, but as I eye each of them, there are a few who don’t look like they are there for their brawn. I glance over at Liam and clear my throat to get his attention.
He glances at me, which draws Emerson’s attention.
I subtly turn my head to the two in suits who don’t look like third-party security and glance back at them. They each nod their heads with serious looks on their faces, shoulders back, chests out. I can feel it in the air. Something is about to change.
Liam leans forward, turning his head so cameras don’t pick up on what he’s saying. “I wonder how many ladies I can pick up in this suit. I hope Mom invited some options.”
I glare at Liam, and he shrugs like this is an everyday thing.
When I open my mouth to tell him to shut up, a gunshot rings out. I don’t think twice and throw myself onto Cordelia. She lands with a grunt, and a whimper as chaos ensues. While I shield my body with hers, I peek my head up, checking my surroundings.
Liam is on top of Mom, shielding her body, and Emerson has his gun out, looking for the shooter.
“Kai,” Cordi whimpers with fear, coating every letter. I look back at Cordelia and scan her face. I lift myself off her slightly,dragging my shaking hands over her body, checking her for bullet wounds.Please, God. Please, no. Please don’t take her from me.
There are spots of blood on her face, and I grab her cheeks. “Are you okay, baby? Gem, are you okay?”
She nods erratically as she looks fearfully around us.
I let the calm, cool focus fall over me. “Three!” I yell.
“Kai!” he yells back. It’s not his normal voice. It’sscared.
My head snaps up, and I get off of Cordelia, helping her up and taking a few steps down the stairs.
Liam lifts off Mom, and she looks at us with wide eyes as she cradles her side, blood covering her hand.
Cordelia screams at the sight, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever heard come out of her mouth. It’s soul-shaking.
I look around for Fred, but he’s nowhere to be found. The bastard disappeared.
“One!” I call for Emerson, and he runs back up the stairs.
“I can’t find them. I don’t know which direction it came from,” Emerson says, handing me the gun. He lifts Mom into his arms and runs down the stairs with Liam. I know Emerson’s screaming at the top of his lungs inside, but his body is acting on instinct.
“Hospital, now! Three, keep pressure on the wound,” I tell them as they pile into Mom’s Bugatti. “We’ll follow you. I have to get my son first.”
Emerson and I lock eyes for a moment, and then he jumps into the driver’s seat and speeds off.
