Saving Calen

27.

Aylah's POV

Everything moves in slow motion.

I step back and remove the knife as Dorian's body falls to the floor. I look up and see a very shocked albeit happy Calen. I scan the room and see a concerning amount of guns pointing at me.

I stand frozen as I watch that eery calm take over his features. He grabs the mans arm that stands behind him and yanks him over his shoulder, slamming his back to the ground. He takes the gun and shoots him in the chest. I quickly snap out of my daze and throw my clothes back on.

Once I'm dressed, I turn and see the guards on top of the other boys. I look to Calen, and start to run to him to help him with his leg. He shakes his head and waves me to the others.

I nod and sprint full speed at the guard on top of Archer. I throw my body at him and we topple to the ground. He ends up on top of me, but a black boot swiftly knocks him to the ground and he's shot in the stomach. Archer turns around and I cut the ties just in time for him to throw a punch at someone.

I head to Caden who yells at me to go to Cole.

These fucking brothers.

I roll my eyes and grab the gun off of the bleeding man's body.

"Hey!" I yell. The guard on Cole turns to me and I waste no time, shooting him in the head. I cut Coles hands free and finally go to Caden. Somehow, some way Cadens guard lays unconscious on the ground.

I run behind him and free his hands. That same calm is on his face. It's as if I'm not even there as he skirts around me and heads to his father.

Except Calen gets there first.

His dad scrambles to find a way out, but Calen points the gun at him.

"Sit the fuck down." For once, Sean does as he's told.

My bones chill as the rage that I've seen Calen shove down so many times surfaces full tilt.

"You need to get that leg bandaged." Sean says. Calen tosses his head back and laughs.

"Right. Thanks, dad."

He drops the gun. They both know who's faster if he tries anything.

"Here's what's going to happen. You're going to pack a bag and leave. Tonight. Disappear and hope to whatever god you believe in that I don't find you, because if I do my face will be the last one you ever see." Calen seethes.

Sean blinks. "I'm still your father, boy. You can't just make me leave."

Calen's eyes snap to his. "My father? Really?" He runs his hand down his face and I watch my stoic, loyal to a fault man completely break.

"Were you my father when you beat me within an inch of my life? When you drilled it into my head that my life was expendable?"

He gets closer and kneels, with some effort, so he can look his father in the eye.

"Some fucking dad. Oh, how about all the torture we've gone through? I know that I can go through anything and not beg for my life. Not because I'm strong, but because I know no one fucking cares if I make it home or not."

Tears threaten so spill, but he continues on.

"Remember the time you made Caden and I 'spar'?" He walks to Caden who stares with the same amount of intensity at his father. "We beat each other so badly we both could barely move after."

He storms over to Cole.

"Cole hasn't even kissed a girl yet. He hasn't fucking lived. All he knows is this life. The saddest part is that this life will get him killed, but there's more where he came from, right?"

A single tear drops down his face and I can no longer control myself. I run to him and wrap my arms around his neck. I bring him down to my level.

"You're okay, baby."

"Some tough guy you are, needing your whore to come comfort yo-"

A single shot rings out and the almighty Sean Riot slumps forward. We all stand in shock and turn to Cole, who lowers his gun.

"I-I just couldn't anymore." He stammers. Caden gently walks up to him and grabs the gun from his hands.

"It's okay, man. If you hadn't, I would've." Caden nods at Cole and I get the sense that that's the most amount of affection he's capable of giving.

"Talk about a dysfunctional family." Archer says.

The room grows pin drop silent. Then the most glorious sound fills it.

Calen laughs. A deep, rumbling belly laugh that's so contagious it has everyone else hunched over and laughing as well.

There we stand, in a room full of dead bodies, laughing like hyenas.

And there's no place I'd rather be.