Beneath the Boardwalk (Alex Turner) COMPLETE

30 {blossoming blood}

"Huh?"

"I can't believe you," Alex growled, his upper lip curling. "Do you know what the past twenty four hours have been like for me? You put me through hell."

"What are you talking about?"

"The superintendent called me in. I found out that Matthew was furious with me--my entire classroom was gutted. I had a lot of valuable things there, and they took everything. I had no idea why Matthew would have been so upset, until the superintendent told me it was because of something you told him." 

"It's all apart of my plan!"

"Plan?" Alex's grip on my hand tightened. "So you planned to get Matthew furious?  I heard he practically called every connection he had in the state to find me. What kind of stupid plan is that?"

I yanked my arm back but he didn't let go. Some bad part of me didn't want him to. "Christ, get off!"

"And then I hear you decided to follow him in your car? You're reckless. What were you thinking? You could have died. How did you get away?"

Nick coughed and stood up again. "We're not done here."

Alex twisted around and punched the man's jaw before I even blinked. Nick crumpled to the floor. "Yeah, we are."

"Matt ran off."

Alex turned back to me, his shoulders squared. "Why would he run away from you?"

"Maybe if you gave me a second to explain my plan you'd stop being pissed at me," I mocked, rolling my eyes. I was breathing hard even though I hadn't done a stitch of exercise. 

"Oh, I'm more than just pissed."

"Quit being a baby!" I yanked my arm back and rubbed my elbow. "I get that this all started once we got in that terrible argument but I have a plan and I'm fixing all of this. Sure I could've died, but I'm doing this for you! Smarten up and show me some respect."

Alex tilted his head down, something in his eyes a warning. 

"And don't act as if you're pissed just because of what Matthew's done to you, or that you're upset because of the argument." My mouth was dry and I mustered up as much bravery as possible in my transparent skin. "You're mad because you didn't get want you want. Me."

"She's right," Nick mumbled from the floor. 

I kicked him in the side, hard. "That's for hiding drugs in my own home."

"Really?" Alex gritted his teeth. "You think I'm mad because we never ended up screwing each other?"

I crossed my arms. "It's understandable. You invested all your time in me and never ended up getting off from it."

He ran a hand through his attractive, unruly locks. His suit was dishevelled, his white button down without the first few buttons. Alex laughed dryly. "I could say partially, earlier, darling. You were a tease. But I definitely don't want you anymore."

It was a punch to the gut. "Well, I don't want you!"

"Then we're in agreement!"

"Good!"

"Wonderful!"

"Great."

"Spectacular."

My teeth ground against each other until I was afraid I'd gotten cavities. "Amazing."

"'Mazing, indeed," Matthew said. 

I spun around to the ladder, heart throbbing in my chest. I couldn't breathe. This wasn't happening. 

Matt whistled and it echoed throughout the basement. "That pretty stash over there, that is. Good job, Turner." His voice was sardonic. "Two years was a little long on the project, but... at least you managed to find it."

I was going to cry. I was going to scream. I thought things were turning up after I found Miles, but instead things were going to absolute shit--N, Alex, and now Matthew. If I was given an opportunity to make things better after narrowly escaping Matt, then I messed it up terribly. Everything kept getting worse and worse and now I was going to die from it. Why would he let me go a second time?

Alex was dead silent. He wasn't as surprised to see his boss as I was. There was a new gun in Matt's hand this time, and he definitely wasn't letting go of it. "Hey, and you found that guy in the northwest after all! Ned? Nerf?"

"Nicholas," I said. 

Matt shrugged. "What's in it to me to know his name?"

"He's the one who had been hiding the cocaine."

"Oh," Matt said, stiffening up. "Why di'n't you say earlier?"

I was confused for a moment but then Matt swerved his hand and pulled the trigger. The sound blasted my ears and I actually did scream. 

There was a... patch of blood blossoming on Nick's jeans. 

"Aw, hit the leg. Meant for the chest. Oh well." Matt shrugged. "He won't be a problem anymore."

Nick--he found an opportunity and turned dark because of it. Alex's boss seemed to have been born that way. It was unnatural how quick he decided to pull the trigger. I took a step back. 

I was stupid. Alex warned me, and it was a clear warning. He said he didn't want to get me involved in this. Did I ever really consider it twice? Dammit, I should have listened. I should've listened. I should've listened. I should've--

"Quinn, I think we were interrupted earlier," Matthew cooed. His voice was friendly, even though I knew he didn't have a drop of empathy in his blood. 

He way toying with me. Why not shoot as fast as he did Nick?

My crowbar was upstairs. I was empty handed. I was cornered. 

At least I'd die in my own home. 

"You don't need to do this," I whispered, voice croaking.