Lexi knew something wasn't right. She had already removed all her makeup after going to the bathroom so many times to wash her face. Marian had come by to ask if she was feeling okay or needed any help, but she wouldn't dare disturb her aunt, who seemed to be having a pleasant and peaceful evening with Jacqueline for the first time in ages.
Her stomach churned, her hands were cold, and she was anxious for Sean to return soon. She kept checking the window because Sean wasn't answering her calls.
— I might have some weed upstairs, — Billy suggested.
— No, Bill. Thanks, — she murmured, knowing that Billy was offering the most he could give someone.
Her friend walked away, and she knew Billy would find his own way to escape. With Billy gone, she did her best to engage in the conversation at the table, but then they heard screams.
— Elliot, stay with us!
— CLEAR THE TABLE! — Sean appeared, covered in blood and carrying an injured Elliot.
Lexi stifled a scream but brought her hands to her mouth, horrified.
— My God! — she said loudly. — What...?
— Sean! For God's sake! — Marian shouted. — What happened?!
— It's okay! The blood isn't mine! — Sean shouted, then motioned towards Jacqueline. — Help, Jac! Please, help us.
Elliot screamed and writhed in pain on the dining table. Lexi couldn't bear to look in his direction; the man was agonising and seemed delirious. Shannon had run over to hold his hand.
Towels. Knife. Pliers. Everything had to be fetched quickly so Jacqueline could do something. Lexi, on the other hand, watched the situation with frozen legs and no reaction at all.
— Sean. Give him something to bite on. This is going to hurt like hell! — Jacqueline said.
Elliot screamed. He pointed towards the door, where a boy with braided hair was watching the whole scene with a curious expression.
— Danny. — that made Lexi move. — Come here, dear. Don't look.
She grabbed Danny by the hand and hurried upstairs with the boy. Elliot's screams could still be heard as they ran up the steps.
Lexi took the boy to the room she shared with Sean.
— Stay here. Don't come out until someone comes to get you, — Lexi said, crouching to be at his eye level. — Lock the door, and if something goes wrong, escape through the balcony. Okay?
He didn't respond but nodded. His eyes were wide and scared.
And then, the sound of a gunshot.
-x-
Sean stood there, covered in blood, staring at the lifeless body of the waitress who had pointed a gun at him. Behind her, Alex had a trembling hand and seemed not to process well what he had just done.
— Who's doing this to us, Ed? — Sean asked, though he didn't really expect an answer.
No one said anything. Sean heard the sound of Lexi's shoes and saw her appear in the room again. Her eyes widened when she saw the waitress on the floor and blood staining the living room carpet.
The last person to appear was Billy, but he seemed utterly indifferent. He looked at Sean, at Elliot on the table, and at the waitress's body, but didn't even flinch. He just walked towards the stairs and wished everyone good night.
YOU ARE READING
E M P I R E
Romance"You could be a king. You could have an empire" Lexi and Sean had known each other since childhood and had lived a story for years that involved love, family, business, kisses and guns. When life's turns put both couple together, they try to figur...
