"Stop that."
I jumped slightly as my eyes shot over to the familiar hulking form standing in the doorway of my bathroom. I always forget how tall Derek is until I'm standing right next to him. Or in this case in front of him.
"Stop what?" my brows...
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Well this feels disturbingly familiar…
My trembling hands gripped the steering wheel as I raced to the diner. I didn't even care about the speed limit, or the traffic lights— which is ironic considering I just came from the scene of a pile up just outside of town.
Flashback
A tree had fallen on a passing car, crushing everyone inside except for one.
A baby girl.
The other three being a man, a woman, and a little boy. A family, apparently coming from out of town to visit distant relatives. I felt my heart clench when I held that little girl to my chest after taking her from her miraculously untouched car seat.
I left her in Eli’s care, noticing the way his eyes watered at the sight of her innocent bright blue eyes staring up at him. It was the same reaction I had when I met Alice— though obviously in very different circumstances.
That phone call to the extended family of the child will probably be the reason he doesn't sleep tonight.
I'll be sure to give him the day off tomorrow…
I had just gotten into my car when my phone rang. I almost didn't pick up,needing a moment to myself after witnessing such a heartbreaking scene, but then I saw who was calling.
Jeremy?
I picked up the phone,leaning back in my seat.
“Hell-"
“He's here. Derek's dad— he, he had Alaric ,but then Alice—"
Jeremy's panicked voice rang through the phone,making me sit up straight— trying to understand the words coming out of his mouth.
"Jeremy, calm down and tell me what's going on. Breathe son.” I tried to coax him down, telling him when to breathe in and out.
It worked for Alice in the past when I couldn't be there to comfort her.
"Derek's dad showed up at the diner… H-he held Alaric hostage, trying to find him. But Alice…”
I could feel the blood drained from my face.
"What about Alice, Jeremy?” I asked carefully, my tone firm to keep him focused.
"I-I don't know how to describe it. Derek was shot—”
" He what?” I yelled, gaining looks from some of my men from outside my window. "Why didn't you lead with that?” I let out a deep breath, pinching the bridge of my nose.
Poor kids' thoughts are probably so scrambled after all he's just experienced…
"Richard was going to shoot Alice, but Derek -that dumbass- wrestled the bastard for the gun and got shot in the process.”
