The Angel Trumpet

23.

I find a way to call Rayne and find out he convinced Stella to go to the hospital to get checked out.  I meet him there and see him in the waiting room holding his head then looking my way.  Nurses walk by holding clipboards going down every hallway checking their patients stats and one stops seeing the bruises forming on my arms and dry blood around my mouth. I joke about it saying it's for a college film for a project and she nods hesitantly continuing what she was doing. I sigh finally getting to Rayne but he sizes me angrily then says, "I called Xavier to make sure he was sober enough to deal with your shit when you got back." 

I squinted my eyes at him trying to see if he really just said that to me and then shook my head realizing he did. 

He stands to say "Donnie did that because his uncle wanted to send a message to you, because of whatever bullshit you have with him and his family and it just affected mine, so for that fuck you." 

I pace back and forth saying, "How the fuck did he even know you were working for me in the first place? Are you not understanding that I'm not the one who's fucking you over? The house was bugged. Someone is feeding him information, Evans." 

"That's for you to figure out not me." His eyes reformed back to the ones I saw when I first arrived in town with the same primal instincts ready to gut me not caring who I am, right now I'm the person who got his sister hurt and there's no forgiving that, she's family, the only family he has.

I go to say something but just nod leaving not turning back but catching a glimpse of him going into Stella's room feeling my chest tighten from frustration shouting "Fuck!" and hitting the side of the metal trash can outside the hospital door getting a few looks from nurses and bystanders passing through.

I start walking back to Don's and when I get there I break down his front door by hot wiring whoever's car was in the driveway and going straight through it.

A few of his friends jumped out of the way but him being passed out drunk from numbing his now ripped tongue he wasn't moving. 

I hop out the car while it's still running and grab the wiring on the fence that's out front, using it as a leash and wrapping it  around his neck. I struggled but managed to attach it to the base of the car putting the car in reverse and dragging him across the rock filled driveway hearing him thrash back and forth as his back gets scrapped.

As mad as I was I kept going until we were at his school's campus where he's now covered in blood and dirt.  

Jumping out I threw the keys in the backseat already having the car turned off going to the back where he laid unconscious. 

People gasp and took pictures of what I've done but I walk away like nothing sending my own message to Fernando since he wants to use people close to me I can do the same with his nephew, his flesh and blood.

I make my way to my place going inside while Xavier is pacing but stops seeing the state that I'm in.

He tries to touch my arms but I move away looking down with racing thoughts.

Pito and Leo should've been here by now, Fernando is going to see what I've done and come at me hard, the house was bugged by an unknown source and I fucking fucked me and Rayne's partnership.

Something in me snaps and I grab a pan and smash, slam and throw things everywhere then drop the pan crouching down holding my head then sweeping my hands over to the back of my neck taking a moment, running out of reasons why I should keep my shit together and to not let loose like I need to. 

Xavier stands there in bewilderment not knowing what to do.

"Get Misty on the phone and find out WHERE THE HELL PITO AND LEO ARE!" I say as I slowly look up to him and rise to my feet yelling. 

He staggers to the couch finding his phone lodged in between the cushions and calls like I said pacing back and forth. 

Cars rev in front of the house as a sign that they are there for me.

I head to the spare room strapping up and tossing a gun to Xavier as he finishes up the phone call. 

He gets ready to shoot when the door bursts open as I hide behind it slicing the person's neck as soon as they walk in. I toss their body out the door and two more come in from the back but Xavier shoots them down. "Let's go." I say snatching keys off one of them stealing their car and start pounding on the steering wheel. "How the fuck did they get here so fast? And Pito and Leo?They have them don't they?" I ask Xavier and he nods slowly holding his side as it's bleeding. "Misty said they hijacked the boat a few days ago and had them brought to where they held you." I glance over seeing him turn pale and sweat beading down his forehead. "We have to get that bullet out of you. The hospital is not close we need to stop somewhere fast." I say reaching towards him lifting his shirt to see the blood spilling out. 

"I know...Rayne is pissed...at you...but go to his place."

I shook my head while speeding trying to search for a vet or animal clinic with supplies that could help.

"He made it clear where he stands with me."

Xavier laughs weakly then shakes his head looking to me.

"He doesn't give free...passes in the situation he was put in but he let you walk."

After a minute of thinking and seeing Xavier bleeding out with no clinic or anything around I give in changing routes and heading to Rayne's place. When I get there I help Xavier out of the car and barge into Rayne's front door,  who is drinking at his kitchen counter turning his head as I plop Xavier down on the metal stool.

"Did you not understand the words fuck you and that I'm not working for you anymore."

Not answering rummaging through his cabinets and bedrooms to find anything to fix Xavier up, he sighs holding Xavier up more as he's about to slouch over. 

"First aid kit! Where is it!" I shout from his bathroom now.

"Underneath the sink!" He shouts back watching as Xavier is about to pass out.

I find it taking bandages out and the thread and needle then pouring alcohol on my hands.

"What are you do-" Rayne stops as I stick my hand into Xavier 's side. He yells out in pain but I find the bullet and toss it onto the counter and pour alcohol onto the wound. "Three men came and shot up the place. Xavier took two down and must've got hit in the process." I  say as I try to put the thread into the needle next but my hands are shaking so Rayne takes over and tells me to sit. 

"You were the only thing close by and if I would have kept driving he would be dead right now."

He doesn't say anything keeping his focus on stitching  Xavier's side back together.

As soon as he finishes up he tells me to help him bring Xavier to the couch so I do, once he's laid onto it, Rayne  goes outside lighting a blunt sitting in a pullout chair pretending I'm not even there.

"I'm sorry for Stella oka-"

He blows smoke towards me not wanting to hear what I have to say showing he cares less actually. 

"I didn't say you could speak my sister's name, and the only reason I'm not throwing your ass out onto the street is because of Xavier, so other than that you should be praying to whatever God you believe in that I don't come for your head next like those men tried to do." 

I smack his blunt out his hand making him rise to his feet ready to pull out his gun that's hidden in his waistband.

"You signed your life to me. You knew what this life would cost and you still bit onto it. What happened with your sister was on me, yes. But I didn't point Donnie in her direction, I didn't even know how the fuck he knew she was your sister in the first place."

Rayne stands there cold, unreadable and what seemed soulless.

"When Xavier gets better I want you gone and that whole loyalty, ride or die, would do anything for you, only applies when the loyalty is given not used as a convenience when you run into past demons." 

He walks back inside shutting the back door loud grabbing the bottle he was drinking from and heads to his room slamming that door too.