Rescue Mission (Stark's Daughter 8)

Chapter 13

My hands begin to shake as I aim at the intruders head, I take a deep breath and stare down the barrel.

One move and I could hit Zeke by mistake.

Pulling the trigger, I blink. Opening my eyes, Zeke gasps and I sprint to his side, kicking the intruder out of the way.

I place my palms on Zeke's cheeks, my thumbs brushing his skin.

"Are you okay? Zeke are you alright?" I question.

His lips stay parted, his eyes locked with mine. His hands curl around my arms and grip me tightly. Suddenly, he collapses into my arms. Sitting down, I pull him into my lap, draping his legs over mine and placing one of my hands around his neck, holding him against my chest.

"Its okay, Zeke. I'm here." I mutter.

Looking down, blood spurts out of his side and coats his skin. He clutches his wound and I place my hand under his. His eyes roll into the back of his head and I hold back my tears.

"I'm calling an ambulance." I announce.

Slipping my hand into my pocket, I pull out my phone. Zeke hits it away and throws it across the room.

"If I die, there is no evidence to prove you didn't kill me yourself." Zeke whispers. I can't argue with him. Not like this.

He raises his hand, his blood covered fingers brush my cheek and run down my jaw. I lean my forehead against his, feeling his pain filled breath on my cheek as he groans in agony.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Zeke. Will you ever forgive me?" I whisper.

"It's not your fault."

Quickly, I unbuckle the monitor on my wrist and slip it onto Zeke's left wrist. I turn up the volume and it beeps to his heart rate. Slow and steady.

I keep my right hand on his bleeding wound and brush my left fingers across Zeke's cheek. He holds his right hand on top of mine on his cheek and his left hand holding mine on his stab wound.

"This is all my fault. I made the stupid mistake of sending us in to get that ridiculous bullet. I got Cap killed and now you. I'm so sorry Zeke." I mumble, tears streaming down my blood covered cheeks.

Zeke's eyes flicker shut. The beeping of the heart monitor on his wrist slows.

"I love you, Skye."

I kiss him on his lips, I feel his last breath and squeeze my eyes shut, begging for this to all be a dream. The watch stops beating.

"I love you too, Zeke. I love you more then you know. There's no words to describe how much I love you." I sob.

Gently, I rub my nose against his a few times. I brush my fingers against his warm cheeks and wipe the tears away with the back of my hand. I pull Zeke's head up so it rests on my shoulder, his forehead leaning against my neck as his hand still clutches mine on his cheek.

"Say hello to Captain for me." I whisper into Zeke's ear.

"Mum?" a small voice calls out.

Raising my head, Lucas and Hope stand in the doorway, their eyes dilate in shock and the colour drains from their faces. I force myself to look away, watching Zeke in my arms. His eyes closed and hiding the last few seconds of agonised pain he felt. His face seems so peaceful, his cheeks still blushed with life and tears still swimming under his closed eyes.

"What? How?" Hope quizzes.

Lucas kneels down in front of me, tears already trickling down his cheeks. He reaches a hand out and runs two fingers to his wrist. Lucas is checking for a pulse.

"There isn't one, Lucas." I mutter.

"Who did this?" Lucas asks, his voice smaller then usual and I know he regrets the words.

"Him over there. It was over for him in one bullet. I should have made him suffer. I should have made him beg to live." I say.

"First Captain and now dad? Why are you still here, mum?!" Hope screams.

I gently slip my hands under Zeke's heavy head and lay it on the floor. The pool of blood spreads out by his side and I cross his hands onto his lap. Standing up, I face Hope, the tears flowing once again down my cheeks.

"I didn't know this would happen. How was I suppose to know?" I argue.

"You're the famous genius, you should know!"

"Don't you dare call me that, you know that was your dad's nickname for me." I hiss.

"Yeah well you won't hear it again, will you?" She spits.

Balling my blooded hands into fists, I take a step towards Hope, the anger bubbling in my veins. Lucas jumps between us, raising a hand towards each of us.

"Stop! This isn't what Dad would have wanted!" Lucas screams.

We both flinch. I've never heard Lucas scream. My eyes refuse to look anywhere but at Zeke's lifeless body on the tiled floor.

"I promise that I will kill each and every one of these people until I cannot kill another." I hiss through clenched teeth.

Hope marches out of the house, slamming the front door with force. Lucas looks up at me, tears making their way down his pale face.

"I've got to go." He whispers.

Lucas glances at me one more time before walking out of the house, closing the door behind him. I hear him pull out his bike and cycle off.

I step over to Zeke, slipping my hand under his neck and pulling him into my lap again. His head droops, leaning on my chest and under my neck. I hold his head with my left hand and slip my fingers between his with my right, the blood mixing on our palms.

There's a light knock at the door. Glancing up, my eyes meet his. They dilate on disbelief and shock.

"What happened?" Ward asks.

I don't look at him. I watch Zeke in my arms, my thumb brushing his cheek.

"Me. I happened."

Ward steps into the living room, kneeling down in front of me. His eyes dart from me to Zeke.

"Skye, let me take him." Ward offers.

"No. He's staying with me." I argue, holding Zeke tighter against me.

"He can't stay here." Ward whispers.

"Please don't take him away from me." I beg, the tears flowing down my cheeks.

Ward leans forward, placing his palm on my cheek. My eyes slip up to his.

"An hour. That's how long you have, Skye. Then, we have to get him help." Ward suggests.

I ignore him, brushing my cheek against his and feeling the blood mix. I trace my fingers over his warm lips. Leaning down, I create a trail of kisses from his forehead to his collar bone.