Page 76 of Diablo

I’m vulnerable and needy.

I need him.

The door clicks shut as Angel leaves, and it’s only then that I whisper, “You motherfucker. Come back to me.”

* * *

That’s how his mother and sister find me, curled up next to Skylar, my eyes staring at the monitor beeping steadily, telling me that he’s still alive. He’s not gone yet.

He better hang on for dear life.

“Oh,” I say, pushing myself out of bed and making my way toward them. I pat down my hair, knowing I’m not making the best impression and then decide, fuck it. There’s no making this mess any better than what it is. There’s no disguising it. I am who I am.

I hold out my hand and then retract it immediately, opting for an awkward wave instead.

“I’m Diablo,” I say and then gesture for them to come in. They look a little haggard from the trip and slightly wary. I would be too coming into a mansion with armed guards all around. They knew what Skylar did for work, but they probably didn’t realize the extent of it.

Skylar works for bad men.

I’m no less evil than my father. I wonder if they can tell by just looking at me.

Perhaps they don’t think I deserve Skylar, that I wasn’t worth it.

Fuck, that makes my eyes sting.

I blink, taking in the short, petite women, and I immediately see resemblances to Skylar in each of them. Both have the same color hair, the same eyes, and his mother has his strong jaw.

Shit, they’re as small as me. It almost…almost makes my lips turn up into a smile, though I can’t quite manage it. Seems almost foreign to me recently. It’s been pure misery not knowing what’s going to happen to Skylar, if he’s going to recover from this.

“Thank you for calling us. I know Skylar wouldn’t have wanted us here, but…thank you for doing it anyways.”

I nod, hating the fact that they both look like they’re going to cry. I don’t do well when people’s eyes leak.

Fuck, where’s Angel?

“How is he?” his mother asks, moving toward me, her eyes blinking with tears.

I turn my gaze away, unable to stand the sight, and say, “He’s stable but hasn’t woken up yet. You’re both welcome to stay here as long as you want.”

“Thank you,” his sister says and the two of them move toward the bed, each reaching out and grabbing on to his hands. I feel out of place, standing here and watching it all, so I slip out of the room.

Skylar’s just my bodyguard, nothing more. There’s no reason to impose.

I’ll let them have their time and when they’re gone, I’ll sneak back in and slip under the covers with him once more.

It may be the only way I can sleep ever again.

As I make my way down the hall toward my room, my father appears. He seems shocked slightly, seeing me wandering the halls. I feel the sudden need to explain.

“His mother and sister are here.”

He nods solemnly. “I was told.”

I tip my chin and then flick my gaze away, not quite sure what to do or what to say.

“Well, I’m going to go…do something to give them their privacy.”

My father nods once more and then stops me before I can disappear into my room.