Page 160 of Wanted By a King

“I know you won’t.”

Then, her gentle hand presses to my cheek, and it’s like she flips a switch and all the crippling emotions I don’t want to feel come rushing back.

“I need you,” I whisper this time, and she offers me a slight smile that doesn’t reach her eyes, as they turn glassy.

“I know. And I need you, too.”

I kiss her then, no longer able to fight off the thoughts that I could have lost her forever tonight. It’s a deep kiss, like a shout from the rooftops kind of kiss where everything around us fades to nothing, and all there is, is the two of us, grasping at each other because we can’t get enough.

“Grayson.” Rocco barks from beside me, and the small moment of peace rushes away like the drawback of a wave.

Pulling back from Zoe, I eye my Prez, and he gestures his head toward the growing number of police and fire vehicles.

“The authorities are here. I need to deal with them. Can you see to Slasher? The paramedics will want to take Slayer’s body, but they won’t be able to do that until Slasher lets his twin go.”

Glancing around the street, I see the spot where Slasher is huddled on the path, cradling his dead twin to his chest as he rocks him, the sight fucking heartbreaking even though he’s bathed in the shadows.

“We can do that,” Zoe answers for me, linking her fingers with mine and tugging me so my feet start fucking moving.

In my peripheral, I can see emergency crews rushing around, but the only thing I can focus on is my club brother on the ground up ahead.

My feet are heavy, like bricks of concrete as we approach him, and it feels very much like Zoe is dragging me, because I don’t want to fucking do this. I don’t want to see my brother in such a vulnerable state. I don’t want to see my other brother dead, all life gone from him. I don’t want any of this. Yet, I continue forward until I’m standing over the most devastating sight I’ve ever seen.

Two of the toughest motherfuckers I’ve ever met now appear small. Fragile. Shattering fragments that were once whole and strong.

I don’t want to face this, but I must. For Slasher. I must.

“Brother,” I rasp, tears filling my eyes as I lower to my haunches, coming eye level to Slasher as he rocks Slayer, his lifeless head pressed to Slasher’s chest. “Brother, it’s time to leave him.”

“No,” he hisses, his dark savage eyes darting up through damp lashes to glare at me.

“He’s ridden away now brother. On the wind. He’s left his body.”

“No.” Slasher snarls again, and out of instinct, I reach my arm out and press back on Zoe’s shins, urging her to step further away.

“I’m so sorry, man,” I choke out, “I wish I could bring him back.”

“I can’t leave him.”

Slasher’s words aren’t menacing this time, they are raw emotion. A plea for help.

“He’ll always be with you.” Zoe’s voice comes from behind me, and I watch as my club brother glances over my head. “My mom and sister aren’t here walking the earth anymore, but they are here,” she says, and I hear her patting something, and when I glance over my shoulder, I see her hand tapping over her heart. “And here.” She points to her head. “But Grayson is right. His body was nothing more than the vessel to carry his soul through this life. The vessel is done now, but Slayer’s soul will last an eternity.”

Fuck.

I cough as a sob fucking breaks free, and lock eyes with Slasher as wet rivers flow from his.

“I didn’t get to him in time,” Slasher whispers, so I clap him on the shoulder, knowing it doesn’t matter what I say.

“Slasher.” Rocco’s voice joins us as he approaches quietly. “It’s time.”

A guttural roar rips from Slasher then, as incoherent words fall from his lips. He presses his head to his dead twin’s, crying, the sound reminding me of what I imagine a heartbroken child that has just been torn from its mother would sound like.

My own sob breaks free again, and the only thing that keeps me grounded is the gentle arms weaving around me from behind, as Zoe holds me, and we all take this moment to fall apart in the shadows.

“I’m sorry, Grayson.” Zoe’s sweet, heartfelt voice is whispered in my ear, and I reach around behind me tugging her, and dragging her into my chest.

I want to rage and let the animal in me free and burn the whole fucking place down.

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