Page 30 of Rescuing Josiah
Time to move on to man number three. Josiah’s weapon appeared in his hand as he stared down at the next on his kill list. The man cowered, begged, tried to get away, but there was nowhere for him to go.
Opening fire felt so good.
Bullets pinged into their target until it was riddled with holes, and blood soaked the earth.
Wasn't enough.
Never enough.
It all had to go.
All had to die.
It was the only way.
The only way.
One more of his team’s killers still breathed, and that wasn't acceptable. Tossing his weapon onto the ground to join his knife, he advanced on the man. This one he intended to rip to pieces with his own two hands. With rage lending him strength he’d never normally have, he knew he could do it.
Placing his hands on the man’s leg, he yanked and was rewarded with the sound of tearing flesh and the most delightful howl of pain as the leg ripped from the man’s body. His other leg came next, and then both of his arms.
Pleas fell from the man’s lips, but nothing was going to deter him. Didn't they know he was more monster than man now? It was part of the reason he pushed everyone out of his life, he was too full of a fury that could never be quenched. He was a danger to the people he loved, and it was all these men’s fault.
Placing his hands on either side of the man’s head, Josiah looked him dead in the eye as he yanked it from the man’s neck.
This was what he had to do.
He had to slaughter everyone and everything that had taken so much from him. That was the only way he was ever going to find any measure of peace, no matter how small it might be.
So when a voice called his name, a voice that was too sweet, too innocent to have anything to do with the death and destruction that had stolen the lives of his teammates, he turned on it.
Lost in a red haze of fury, he didn't think.
Just reached out and grabbed whoever had made the soft sound and wrapped his hands around its neck.
May 15th
12:28 A.M.
The whimpers were so riddled with pain that they woke her from a deep sleep.
Blinking open sleepy eyes, Chelsea’s gaze zeroed immediately in on the figure on the floor.
Despite there being a couch in the master suite, as well as a king-size bed, she was sure they could have avoided each other in, Josiah had decided he would sleep on the floor. The only way she had agreed without an argument was if he let her gather every spare blanket and pillow in the house and make him a little nest of sorts. His own cozy little place to sleep that was as comfortable as she could make it without him being in a bed.
When she’d fallen asleep, he’d still been awake. He wasn't making a noise, and he wasn't on his phone or anything, but she could tell he was still alert. Maybe watching over her until she succumbed to sleep.
Which she’d done all of an hour ago, she realized as she glanced at the glowing clock on the nightstand. How long Josiah had been asleep she had no idea, less than an hour, but long enough for him to start dreaming.
Throwing back the covers, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. Josiah wasn't just dreaming he was having nightmares. The closer she got, she could see he wasn't just moaning and groaning in his sleep, he was thrashing about as well.
Dreaming about losing his team?
That was her best guess, and she hated that he had to relive that traumatic experience repeatedly every time he closed his eyes. Did he have nightmares often? While she hoped he didn't, she suspected that he did.
There was no doubt he was having bad dreams, and the faint pain lingering in her wrist reminded her what waking Josiah while he was in the middle of a nightmare would mean. It would be a recipe for disaster, he wouldn't know where he was, and he’d lash out only to feel bad about it when he was fully awake. But what else was she supposed to do? Leaving him to suffer was not an option as far as she was concerned. What was the worst he could do anyway? Hurt her wrist again? She could take that if it meant ending his nightmares.
Cautiously, she reached out and brushed her fingertips across his temple. “Josiah?”
