Mr. Berkshire (Book 1 in the For Better Or Worst Trilogy)

Chapter 18

     In seconds, we're in an embrace, arms wrapped around one another, lips pressed together, mind, body and soul entangled. There's no need for food, blood, or air. This moment alone is enough to keep my heart pumping, air in my lungs, blood flowing through my veins. Our lips form a gentle melody with their movements. Attentive, delicate hands form the piano solo. Heavy breaths develop the slight drumming of drums. His teeth graze my bottom lip, reminding me of his danger. I smile against his lips, taking his butterfly hand in mine. Good or bad, mysterious or revealing, dangerous or safe; I care about Roman Berkshire. I lower myself back until my back meets his mattress. For the briefest of moments, both of us hesitate. And in this moment, I see his brown eyes for the first time. They aren't this harsh brown that you look at once and consider boringly average. Instead, they are an unsettling deep with several feelings and colors hidden beneath the warm brown surface. They are inquisitive, tragic, expressive, penetrating, gentle, kind, fearless, utterly destructive, and wonderfully luminous with a touch of sparkling gold flecks. I never seen him more clearer than I do right now.

     One look between us says it all. He leans forward to press his lips against mine once more. A loud pop rings from below causing us both to freeze. A second passes before the next pop. This time Roman jumps to his feet.

     "Stay here." He orders, rushing to his bedroom door.

     "What was that?" My heart is racing, but i'm not sure if it's from the excitement of the kiss we just shared or because of the fear I feel rushing through my veins.

     "Stay here." He repeats before disappearing behind the door. Gulping, I stand and inch closer towards the door with my shaking hand reaching for the door knob. Another pop. My hand retreats to my side, leaving me frozen and stunned. The sound is foreign, but my gut tells me this is the sound of a gunshot. Faint screams reach the room, just beyond the door. The safest decision would be to stay in here. But the reckless part of me, my heart, worries about all the people downstairs. What if there's something I can do to help? This is not the time to be a coward.

     Inhaling deeply, I carefully open the door, cautiously making my way towards the staircase where I can hear the screams all too clearly. Between the twisting in my stomach and my racing heartbeat, my survival skills urge me to turn around and find safety. Yet, my feet continue to walk down the steps towards the main room. Several people are rushing out the door, pushing past one another, including Scarlette and the girl I found her with. They're running from the chaos in the next room while I inch towards it.

     "Where are you going? You're going the wrong way." The brunette says, taking me by the arm and dragging me towards the door.

     "I gotta find Roman." I tear my arm from her grasp, walking backwards.

     "Roman will be fine. Trust me." She urges, looking between the door and me. The battle in her dark eyes obvious.

     "I can't. I'll be fine. I promise." Before she can argue any further, I lose myself in the crowd.

     People often wonder what they would do in a situation such as this one. There are the ones who say they would make a beeline for the exit and would. There's others who claim they would be the hero, but actually run in fear. Few say they would be the hero and actually are. I can't say i've thought about a situation like this one, but my flight or fight skills have never been ones to brag about. As long as I can remember, my skills have been limited to freezing or flight. At least that's the Sawyer Calloway I know. However, apparently that girl no longer exists because this Sawyer Calloway is pushing past the screaming crowd, attempting to find the source of the chaos. I have to find Roman.

     Finally, I reach the room to find that there are several more people still inside. Some are screaming in fear. Others are yelling in frustration. There's blood. So much blood. Men are shooting back and forth. Though, I can't catch a clear glimpse of any of them because the moment my eyes find Roman, who is searching wildly beneath tables, he becomes my only focus.

     "Roman!" I shout, shouldering past the crowd. Somehow, over the screams and endless rounds of shots, he hears my voice and scans the entire room until his eyes locate mine. Immediately, he abandons his search for whatever he expected to find under the tables and races towards me. As soon as he's close enough, he takes me by the arms.

     "What are you doing?! You were supposed to stay upstairs!" He shouts, urging me towards the exit.

     "I wasn't going to let you get hurt. What were you thinking coming down here, anyways?" I ask, not even considering my own choices that led me to the line of fire.

     "I was looking for my sister." On closer inspection, his eyes are not the same eyes that hovered above me only minutes ago. They're cold, distant, guarded. Right beneath the surface, a hint of worry lingers. For what? For his sister? For me?

     "She left. She's safe. We have to get out of here." That confirmation is enough for him to allow me to lead him towards the main room. However, we only make it a couple of steps before another pop. In the blink of an eye, i'm thrown to the floor with Roman soon following.

     Everything goes silent, but the ringing in my ears. People are scattering. They're running from me. I turn on my side to ask Roman what just happened, but I find the most horrifying image i've seen in my entire life. Roman lays flat on his back, hand on his stomach, and blood pooling beneath his fingers. He pushed me out of the way to take the stray bullet. I crawl over to him, instantly pressing my hand to his wound while my other hand brushes his cheek.

     "It's gonna be okay. Everything will be okay." I reassure him, hoping my voice doesn't give away how scared I really am. "Help! Somebody help!" I scream. His skin is paling from the loss of blood. Yet, through all of this, he still finds a way to brush the back of my hand, on his stomach, with his thumb.

     "It's okay." He whispers before his eyes flutter shut. 

Do you think Roman will be okay?

Do you think Sawyer and Roman will make it through this?

What do you think the reason for the attack was?

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