Chapter 31

31

A ll heads spin to the door we walked through moments ago, searching for the deep voice. My father stands there with a woman who could only be my mother, who looks as though she's gone a few rounds in a boxing ring. Dark purple bruises paint her cheeks and both her eyes. My father has his arm around her waist, supporting her as she clings to him for dear life, her knuckles white.

"Oh my..." I rush from Landon, Hunter, and Levi's protection, going straight to my mother.

Either she doesn't know who I am, or the obvious beating she's endured has clouded her vision because she flinches when I reach for her. Her face is damp from tears, and I pull my hands back.

"It's okay, Miriam. This is our daughter, Aelina," Arthur says.

Water fills her eyes, and she stretches out her shaking hand. I take it, her smooth skin pressing against mine. I study her, taking in all her features. It's like looking in a mirror despite the bruising and swelling.

"How did you get in here?" Thomas roars, charging toward us.

Heavy footsteps quickly step up beside my mother. My family.

There's a rush of shoes on the wooden floor, and Hunter, Landon, and Levi are standing in front of my father, mother, and me. I tightly grip my mother's hand, though she still clings to Arthur.

"Enough!" Hunter shouts.

Ezra is behind Thomas with his gun unholstered, firmly in his hand. Landon's gun is also out, though it's not raised.

My gaze darts around the room, and I notice people have moved farther back from our small group.

Thomas stabs a finger at Hunter. "You're a traitor. You're not my son if you choose to stand with this traitorous family."

"That family is more of a family than you ever were, and she..." he gestures to me, "is going to be my wife. I don't care what you say. You're out. I've recently reached out to a number of other families and filled them in on all of your little secrets. For example, sending Miles Redmont to kill his own sister. He killed Nash Redmont and has made an attempt on my fiancée's life recently."

Hunter faces all the people in the room. I have no idea who they are, but they must be people of importance, or I don't think Thomas would have them here as witnesses.

Thomas drops his head, and when it comes back up, those black eyes cloud over, and all I can see there is pure hate. The kind that grows and festers in someone for so long that it overtakes their soul.

"Do not disrespect Father like that." Ezra steps forward, holding the gun upright and pointing directly at Hunter. My stomach plummets to the floor. I need him alive and safe. There's movement on my left, and my gaze shifts. Landon's gun is pointed at Ezra.

The lasso around my chest pulls tighter.

"I blame you for all the years I missed with my family." My father's words draw my attention, and before I focus on him, a gunshot echoes in the room. My ears ring, muffled by the loud sound in such a confined space. I drop to the floor, as does everyone else. My entire body trembles with fear, and I have an urgent desire to run. I slip off my shoes, ready to do just that.

I notice someone on their knees when I get the confidence to look up. My father stands upright, his weapon pointed in the direction of Thomas Wolfe's crouching body. Hunter, Landon, and Levi still surround my mother and me.

I go to stand, and Landon catches my movement, clicking his tongue. My focus flicks to him, and he shakes his head. I pause, then go back to the floor.

"Ezra, let us help," Hunter says gently, stepping forward.

Ezra rises, as does Thomas. "No. We don't need you," he hisses.

"It wasn't my intention for blood to be spilled."

"I don't care." There are tears in his eyes. He really respects his father.

Thomas' head comes up, his white shirt stained with rich red blood. "Kill them all," Thomas says between gasped breaths, his hand clutching his chest.

I stand, unable to sit and do nothing anymore. Ezra's face meets mine, and his gun comes up. Another loud bang fills the room, only this time, I'm toppling sideways. My arm stretches out in an attempt to break my fall, but it's not enough as my body slams into the floor, my head smacking against the wooden planks, a sharp pain stabbing me in the temple.

Then there's blackness.