Page 98 of The Magic of Revenge
"Yeah, I'm great actually. Only thing is I have to run to the prison to pick up his ashes and sign some paperwork, then I'm officially free and clear of the old bastard," he explained, running a hand through his hair once Fish released him, which told me he was feeling more than he was letting on—but this right here, him trusting us and opening up? This was huge for him.
"When do we leave?" Fischer asked, and I watched Sloane stiffen at the question.
"Uhh, I was planning on taking off after a shower. It won't take long, maybe eight hours," he answered, shifting on his feet.
"Nonsense," Bram said. "I can jump you there and we'll be back within an hour."
Sloane shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm looking forward to the drive. Think of it as... I don't know, some kind of lame ass spiritual cleansing." He gripped the back of his neck, looking at us. "I'm going alone."
He held his hand up immediately because as he suspected, none of us agreed with that decision.
"I'm trying this... communication thing. Being honest about how I'm f—" His face paled and I honestly thought he might vomit, but he worked past it. "How I'm feeling. This is something I need to do and I'm asking that you all respect my decision. I need to have a clean slate."
"I don't like it, but I get it," Bram piped up first. "Sometimes a man just needs to wash himself clean of the stain of his father. Do what you need to do."
"You'll check in every hour on the hour, one minute past and Bram's coming for you," I threatened and Bram winked at Sloane.
Fischer hadn't moved while Sloane explained himself and when Sloane reached for him, he stepped away.Ouch.Before Sloane could speak, Fischer was already out of the kitchen and the stairs creaked under his weight as he made his way upstairs.
"Every hour then," Sloane replied, trying his hardest not to look hurt by Fischer's reaction. "I need to get ready to go, and you guys should get some rest before Hunter shows up."
"Be quiet when we head up, I can already hear Sprout's soft snores," Kai smiled sadly, no doubt thinking of everything our woman had been through. I wanted to bundle her up in bubble wrap and maybe hide her away in a cave or something.That would probably be frowned upon.
I hung out in the kitchen and waited for Sloane to come back down. When he did, he was dressed in dark jeans and a dark t-shirt, his leather jacket over his arm, and a backpack on his shoulder.
"All set?" I asked and he stopped walking, surprised to see me leaning against the wall.
"Yep."
"This had better be what you said, Sloane," I whispered and stepped closer.
"What?"
"You going to get your dad's ashes. This had better not be you running from her. From us." I kept my voice level, but my heart was racing.
"I am going to get his ashes," he hissed. "Though, don't expect me to have them when I get back. You know, on one hand, I can understand your reservations. On the other hand? Fuck you, Cam."
He flashed me his favorite finger and shouldered past me before I followed him outside.
"You can't blame me for making sure, Sloane," I called out as I reached for his arm. He spun around and I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him to me. "I'm fucking sorry about your dad. Not that he's dead. But that he was your dad to begin with. That you had to live with that monster. Don't leave us," I whispered, suddenly really afraid that that's what he was going to do.
"Shut up, idiot. I'm not running anywhere. You guys are stuck with me. Not only do I now have the coolest power, but I also was informed I got a dick upgrade."
I reeled back and gave him a what the fuck look.
"It'sknotfor everyone. It'sknoteasy to miss when you get a good look. It'sknotsomething I'd joke around about. My cock isknot—"
I punched him in the shoulder and laughed my ass off. "Get out of here, you asshole. Be safe. Call every hour," I reminded him and watched as he climbed into the SUV. He waved and then flipped me off, his smile perhaps the brightest I'd seen on his face since we were kids.
Like a good boy, I called every hour. The past couple of calls, all I got in response from Cam was a grunt of acknowledgment. Big man had finally passed out. My own eyes were starting to sting from exhaustion, but a blanket of calm had rushed over me knowing that I was heading for the ending of this chapter in my life.
Beautiful Wayby You Me At Six flooded through the speakers, and I tapped my thumb on the steering wheel as I thought back over the past twenty-four hours. What a fucking rush. My only regret was that I’d been distracted when Bryce first showed up and Red had suffered more abuse at his hands. I grinned savagely though as I thought about the way he’d screamed like a little bitch when I ripped his measly cock off. Had I known Red’s powers were incapacitated, I would have tackled his ass off that cliff when I flew over it to rescue my girl.
He would’ve gone splat and the outcome would’ve been the same, but damn there was some serious poetic justice about ripping off his rape stick and then choking him with it. I knew Bram was jealous as fuck too. He’d wanted to be the one to end that miserable prick.
And then sweet gods, the sex. I hadn’t expected that at all. Even during our game of Truth or Dare, I’d tried to keep my distance. I’d betrayed most of the people in that room and I still felt like the biggest pile of shit on earth about that. But fuck, the witch saw me. The man beneath the mask. And she hadn’t run, oh no, she seemed to love every glimpse she got of the real me. A better man would’ve told her to run. I think we all knew I was never going to be that man.
Things with Fischer had been seven shades of fucked up and I had this deeply rooted fear inside that he no longer needed me in the way he did before. Faris wasn’t a part of him any longer and I could already see the subtle changes in my boy’s behavior. He carried himself with more confidence, he laughed without hesitation, the light in his eyes was finally on.
