The Carter Family Screw Up [Carter Brothers - Book 2]

Twenty Two - "She's just your latest fuck."

"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry".

The words sounded far away.

"Please wake up."

They were closer now. And familiar.

My eyes flickered open and took a moment to focus on the blur in front of me. Eventually I recognised the tear filled green eyes looking down at me.

"Thank god!" He whispered.

"What happened? Where am I?" I said as I sat up. I was on a sofa in a room I didn't recognise.

"We're in my basement." He said. "Im sorry, Sweetpea. It's all my fault." He put his head down.

"What is? What's going on?" I asked. He sniffed and wiped the corner of his eyes on thr back of his hand before turning to face me again.

"You knowwhen Rory got shot and it was a guy called John? Well, he was at the fight last night. Remember the manager wanted to talk to me afterwards? It was actually John that wanted to talk. He said that when he saw me fight and saw how good I was, and he wanted to use me to make some money. He said that as I was undefeated, everyone would bet on me winning so he wanted me to throw my next fight. I refused, obviously, and that pissed him off, and he said he would make me pay. Only I didn't believe him and told him to fuck off." He out his head back in his hands. "God! How could I have been so fucking stupid?!"

"Okay, first of all you're not stupid, alright. But secondly, what does that have to do with us being here, now?"

"While you were showering, he bust through the door with a gun and held it to my head. He said that he had met a guy at the fight who offered to help him and…"

"Jake." I said, remembering. His face was the last thing I saw before everything went black.

"Yeah. He knocked you out and carried you down here, and John led me down at gun point. They locked us in and said they would be back soon." He explained.

"I'm going to fucking kill Jake I swear to God!" I yelled.

"I'm so sorry - this is all my fault."

"No it isn't, Dan." I said trying to console him.

"Don't you see? It is my fault. I told you I was a screw up. If I wasn't fighting and forcing you to be my nurse, and forced my way into your life, then you wouldn't be in this position."

"Okay that's enough. You are not a screw up Daniel. And you didn't force me into anything - I helped you because I wanted too. I've been here with you because I wanted to be. Dan, you make me feel something that no person has ever made me feel before. I don't give a fuck what Jake or anyone else has to say - I want you in my life, and I want to be in yours." He looked up at me; the pain on his face evident, and wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tightly.

"I never thought I would meet someone like you. I don't know how the hell I deserve someone who is far too good for me, but I know that I'm so glad you're in my life and I don't want to let you go." He said into my hair.

It would have been a beautiful moment if it weren't for the sound of a door unlocking interrupting us, causing us both to get up backaway.

The next sound we heard was a body bouncing it's way down the stairs; landing at the bottom in a heap.

Jake.

"Fuck!" He yelled in pain; blood dripping from his lip. "We had a deal John!"

"You think you were anything more than a means to an end for me?" Said the voice, laughing, at the top of the stairs. I couldn't see his face from where we standing; only his feet a few steps down the stairs.