Brett
I PULL up, throwing the car into park, and darting toward the line of uniformed officers huddled at the side of Jesse’s apartment. All eyes rise to mine, and the looks of sympathy on their faces do nothing to put out the fire that is currently blazing in my veins.
“Talk to me,” I snap at Eli.
“Nothing has happened since we got off the phone. No more shots, but also no sign of Jesse. Sarah isn’t talking anymore, but we can still see her pacing through the window next to the door.”
“Okay, you’re going to have to let me talk to her.”
“No way. If we give you to her now, we have nothing to use as leverage later when she gets tired of playing games. You know the way this works. We just need to wait her out for a little while.
“I’m well aware of the way this fucking works. I’m also well aware that my woman could be in there bleeding to death.”
“Sharp, Sarah’s fine. She-” one of the peanut gallery butts in.
“I don’t give a fuck about Sarah, asshole. Jesse’s in there!” I roar.
Eli steps up into my line of sight, blocking out the rest of guys. “Just calm down Sharp. We’re clearing some of the tenants out of connecting apartments, and informing everyone else to stay inside. Once we get that done, I’ll go reevaluate how Sarah’s doing. See if I can get her talking again, maybe get some info about Jesse.”
I release a loud breath, this is not the time to lose my shit.
“Yeah, okay. Did anyone get in touch with Jones?”
“Not yet.”
“Find him. She’s terrified of him. He might be able to freeze her up long enough to buy me some time to get in there.”
“You’re not going in there, Brett. You’re too emotionally involved.”
“Go fuck yourself Eli. If it was Casey in there, you’d be tripping over your own dick, busting down that door. You’re going to have to shoot me to keep me out.”
I know I shouldn’t have mentioned Casey. It was low, but fuck him. He thinks we don’t all know he’s still pinning over her. Hell, he was dumb enough to think no one knew they were fuck buddies. At least that’s the way Casey, Sarah’s best friend, classified their relationship. The look on his face right now proves that he was slightly more attached.
“You’re a dick. This isn’t your call, so stay away from that door or I really will shoot you.” He walks back to the huddle of uniforms surrounding a squad car.
“Brett!” Kara yells running in my direction. She doesn’t slow down as she gets closer, and crashes into my chest. I pull her close, and silently hold her for a few seconds.
“What’s going on? No one is telling me and they keep trying to get rid of me. I’m not leaving. Tell them I can stay.”
“Sweetheart, you really should leave, there isn’t anything you can do. I’ll make sure nothing happens to Jesse.” I’m such a fucking liar. I can’t control this anymore than I could control Sarah’s accident.
“No! I’ll stay out of the way. I’m not leaving until I know she’s alright. You didn’t see the look on Sarah’s face. It was really scary.”
“Okay, just go sit in my car. Turn the heater on and stay out of the way.
“I’ll sit on the trunk and stay out of the way. I want to be able to hear if anything happens.”
“It’s going to be okay, Kara. I’m not leaving here without her. I just got her. I’m not about to let go.” I give her one last squeeze before gently pushing her toward my car.
Jesse
“SAY GOODBYE.”
“I can’t.”
“You don’t have a choice. None of this was ever up to you. It’s time.”
Brett
THE SOUND of a gunshot pierces through the otherwise silent afternoon air. No one is sure where it was aimed, but I know for certain where it originated. Ignoring the rush of officers headed to stop me, I take off at a dead sprint to Jesse’s front door. Sarah can kill me if she wants, I don’t care anymore. But I’m getting Jesse the fuck out of there first. I storm the front door drawing my gun.
“Sarah, open the God damn door! Sarah…” I don’t get another word out before a vase filled with daisies comes flying out the window slamming into my shoulder.
“You don’t love her! You love me,” a guttural scream rips from her throat.
“No I don’t! Right now, I really fucking hate you! Give her to me. You can do whatever you want with yourself, but I swear to God Sarah, if you harm one fucking hair on Jesse’s head there will be hell to pay.
“Why would you send her flowers?” she begins to cry.
Obviously the pissed off route is getting me nowhere, so I decide to change tactics.
“Please just tell me she’s okay. Sarah, if you ever loved me, I need you to let Jesse go.”