Page 20 of Dark Consequences
“Positive.”
“Any survivors?” Michael asks.
Enzo shakes his head. “I don’t think so, but I can’t be certain. Maybe one got away or something. I’m sorry, Michael.”
Michael shakes his head. “Don’t worry about it. Dominic’s checking the cameras, and he’ll report back any findings.”
“You two just concentrate on getting better,” Raphael adds.
“I’m so sorry,” I spit out, the words finally breaking free from my mind. “He attacked you because of me. Because I have Mei.”
“None of this is your fault, Lily,” Raphael insists.
“But it is. Because I left with you. I took Mei, his daughter, and now he’s lashing out.”
“Lily, we knew this could happen,” Michael says. “We honestly expected it to.”
“Kind of hoped it would,” Enzo adds with a sly smile. The drugs are taking effect on him too. “Just preferably without Evie in the car.”
Evie pats his thigh as if her touch will console him. He grabs her hand before she can pull it away.
“He won’t stop,” I warn them, a little annoyed that they’re not taking this seriously enough. “Someone’s going to get hurt worse than this, and that will be my fault.”
This time Raphael says fuck it and grabs my hands between his. I try to pull them back, but he holds firm. “I’ll say it again, Lily, and I need you to listen. Not a single bit of this is your fault. Xiao is responsible for his own actions, his own decisions. Do you understand?”
Not really…but yes, too. At least, I will. Maybe. We’ll see.
“Mommy?”
Mei’s voice draws my attention, and I twist to see my daughter standing in the hallway's mouth. She has Mr. Cuddles wrapped in her arms as she stares with big eyes at the crowd gathered in the room.
“Come here, princess.” I gesture with my hand and hold my arms open when she runs to me.
Cradling her to my chest, I meet Raphael’s striking eyes over her head. “Can you really stop him?”
“With your help…we can.”
Call me crazy, but…I’m beginning to believe him.
11
Lily
Aheavy darkness surrounds me, pressing down on me from all sides. There’s no moon in the sky to light my way through the woods, no stars to guide me home. I may be running in circles and not even realize it.
I stumble, and my long nightdress catches on the branches. They tear through the fabric to scratch my skin. The forest is quiet, except for my breath coming in desperate heaves. Even the predators lurking have gone silent. As if whatever else is in these woods terrifies them more.
Collapsing against the giant tree trunk, I feel around and find a small alcove carved into the side of the wood. It’s small, and it’ll be tight, but I’m desperate. Because I need to hide. I have to hide.
With my back pressed against the mossy wood, I pull my knees to my chest and bury my face against them. My heart pounds against my chest. The sound of my blood rushing fills my ears. It’s so loud, there’s no way he won’t hear it among the silence. And when he does, he will find me.
When he told me to run, I did. But I was stupid to think I stood any chance. Silly of me to believe I could get away. I never can. I never do.
A hand darts out from the dark, wraps around my bare ankle, and tugs hard. I scream as he pulls me from my hiding place. Dragged along on my stomach, I claw at the ground, grabbing at anything and everything I can to stop, but it’s useless. The forest has turned against me. Or maybe it was never on my side at all. Maybe it whispered to him where I hid and showed him the path.
Firm hands grab my hips and effortlessly flip me on my back. His large body falls over me, his strong legs holding mine still as he settles on top of me. The warmth of his body is like a furnace, a fire that licks at my skin, branding me with his touch and scent. He leans forward, his face hidden by a mask of shadows, but his eyes glow like twin beacons in the dark.
“Oh my dear, sweet flower,” he says in a guttural tone that reverberates deep in my bones. “You almost got away.”