Chapter 49

FORTY-NINE

" T hanks, I will." I nod at the paramedic after he finishes patching me up in the back of the ambulance, the back door open to show the school filled with police and parked ambulances Sky and the others flagged down.

Too fucking late.

They were too fucking late.

The older man sighs. "I mean it, kid, you need to go to the hospital."

Sitting up, I grunt in understanding and grab my ruined shirt, sliding it on over the wound before I climb from the back. I'll go later. Right now, I need my boy, and he needs me.

I find him sitting in the ambulance opposite me, a blanket over his shoulders. His blond hair is stained with blood, and he sits with his hands on his knees, palms up, staring at the crimson staining his skin. His wounds have already been treated, but he looks so lost and forlorn.

Alice and Lally hurry my way, and I kiss Alice's head, wrapping her in a hug. "Are you okay?" I ask.

"I'm okay." She sobs against my side, and I hold her, my eyes on Evan. He doesn't move, not even when an officer tries to talk to him.

They caught the bastard, and he's already been taken away in a police car in handcuffs, but it doesn't change what happened or who we lost.

Tugging Alice and Lally with me, leaving Bones and Sky to talk to the cops, I lay my hand on Evan's cheek. His head jerks up, his eyes finding mine, and his lower lip starts to tremble.

"I'm here, pretty boy," I murmur, tugging him into the shelter of my arms. "Shh, it's okay, I'm right here."

That's all I can offer. Nothing I say will make it better. Tonight was one big nightmare.

He cuddles into my side as I hold him and my sister.

There's a banging sound from the school and the squeak of a gurney being pushed.

I lift my head, Evan does as well, and our eyes track the gurney with the black bag on it as they move toward the third ambulance. Tommy is inside.

Lally bursts into tears, burying her face in Alice's neck, and my sister strokes her back. I glance down at Evan, tears sliding silently down his cheeks. He cries without a word, no doubt blaming himself.

I know it was because of me.

If I had been awake, if I had been faster and stronger, I could have saved us.

"We'll take you all to the station," a cop tells us softly.

I nod, holding them tighter, but Evan sniffles. "My friend . . . where will he go?"

"To the hospital," he answers, smiling sadly at Evan. "We will take good care of him."

Evan nods rapidly, looking back at the van. "Can you open the bag a little? He doesn't like the dark, and I don't want him to be scared."

The cop glances at me, and I lean down, turning Evan's face up. "They'll open it and keep all the lights on, okay? He won't be scared."

"But he'll be alone," he whispers so brokenly, I swear my heart shatters.

Swallowing my pain for him, I lean down and kiss his head. "He won't be for long, I promise. We'll go straight there, okay?"

He nods, and I wipe away his tears, hating them—each one is a blow to my heart, reminding me I failed him. "Come on, pretty boy, we'll go with them, then to the hospital, and then we'll go home after. You need to rest." Taking his hand, I help him to his feet, and we follow the cop to his car.

My eyes go back to the school, and I wonder if anything will ever be the same again.

The station is bustling, even at this hour, with more people than I've ever seen until some of the officers finally clear them out. Mr. Ford is in the back, so we are safe. It's over, but the emotional and mental pain still lingers.

I refuse to leave Evan and Alice, despite them wanting me to get checked over at the hospital. My family needs me, so I stay, helping them explain everything that happened tonight to the officers who, despite everything, are very nice. It's clear they feel guilty for suspecting Evan and not stopping this sooner.

Evan leans into me, his gaze far away as Alice sobs through her explanation again. His face is pale and tearstained, and he's cold. An untouched coffee sits before him, and he has a blanket draped over his shoulders, which I tuck around him before I bring him into my arms. He doesn't even blink.

I think he's in shock.

I'm worried, but the paramedics assured me he would be okay physically. It's his mental state that concerns me. Evan is my sunshine, he always has been, and I hate seeing him so . . . broken. I'd do anything to put a smile back on his face, but I know there's nothing I can do except be here for him.

Tommy was his best friend, his brother, and he's gone.

Not only that, but Evan is blaming himself.

Guilt will eat you alive if you let it.

"Okay, okay," Winchester says kindly. "Let's take a break. You have all been through a lot tonight. "

"What will happen to him?" I nod my head to the holding cells in the back.

They share a look before answering me. "He'll be moved in the morning and then charged. We have enough evidence for murder, stalking, and property damage. He won't be bothering you anymore. You can trust that." They stand, Winchester wincing as he looks us over. "Let me call some officers to take you home, okay?"

I nod and watch them leave before checking on Alice. She's curled into Lally, still crying, and Lally looks torn, her own tears falling even as she tries to stay strong for my sister.

"Thank you," I mouth to her before pulling Evan's head from my shoulder, holding it up. "Pretty boy," I coo. He doesn't react at first, so I stroke his face. "Come on, baby, talk to me."

Nothing.

Worry fills me, and I swallow hard, searching his icy eyes. "Hey, rich fucker," I snap, my voice mean.

He blinks, his eyes flitting to me. "Alek?" he whispers.

"There you are, pretty boy. You were scaring me," I admit, rubbing his cheek. "We are going home, okay? Just hold on."

He blinks and stares at me, and when his voice comes, it's low and sad. "I need to call Tommy's parents. What do I tell them?"

"The police will do that, baby," I assure him.

He shakes his head, tears squeezing from the corners of his eyes, and his voice is raw when he speaks. "No, it should be me, not a stranger."

"Okay, pretty boy. I'll be right there with you, alright?" I murmur, stealing a soft kiss. "Then you need to rest and eat something. You are far too pale. Let me look after you, Evan."

He nods, glancing at Alice. "Are you okay, Alley cat?"

She sniffles, wiping her face. "I don't even know."

God, my heart breaks for them both. I wish I could do something, but my fists won't fix this. Instead, I tug my sister closer and wrap them in my arms, ignoring the lingering pain as I hold the two most important people in my world. "It's okay. It's going to be okay. I'll be right here, and no one will ever hurt you again. Just cry, scream, whatever you need to do. I'm right here. I can take it. Blame me if you need to blame someone."

"Alek." Alice pulls away. "It's not your fault. Don't do that. You did the same thing when Mom and Dad died. You won't bear this weight alone. What happened tonight was horrible, but it isn't on your shoulders, okay? You did everything you could to protect us. It isn't your fault, big brother."

Why do her words make me want to cry?

"When did you get so smart, kid?" I tease, ruffling her hair.

She smiles, if only slightly, before glancing at Evan and then looking back at me. "Look after him, alright? I can take care of myself, I promise."

Blinking, I stare at my sister, realizing for the first time just how grown up she is. She isn't the same little girl I gave up my life to raise and protect. She's a woman who's strong and kind, and she's giving me permission to let her go.

I don't think I'll ever be able to fully, but as she sits back and takes Lally's hand, I know I can a little. Evan is right. My life isn't Alice's.

It's mine and Evan's.

He's my reason for living, and he needs me right now.

I'll stay and take his pain, anger, and guilt. I'll do whatever it takes to help him heal from tonight.