My hands were balled tight into fists, just in case this was some kind of scheme to throw me off my game.
My answer came a second later and it wasn't from the mouth of Phantom. It was in the form of a bullet that tore through Phantom’s skull. I heard a pfff sound and then there was a spray of blood and brain before Phantom went down.
The crowd burst into screams.
I stood for a second… I shouldn’t have stood for a second.
I needed to move.
He’s here. He’s coming for you next, Wes.
~
I kept my shoulders wide and ran like hell. I knocked people out of my way. Nobody dared to question me. I was the fighter. I was the caged lion let loose now. The people who sat there betting on me were now close enough to touch me. I could touch them. They had seen what my fists could do. And they had no idea what my true anger was capable of. Hell, I didn’t know what my true anger contained.
My mind had one focus and that was to get to Rose.
She was nowhere to be found. The place was breaking up pretty fast. Someone in a hoodie came and grabbed Phantom’s arm and started to drag him away, leaving a smear of blood on the floor.
I ran to a corridor and stopped there for a second. I had to keep my eyes open and keep my ass alive. This fight was a terrible idea. Part of me wanted to find Danny and punch him in the mouth again.
Was it Luke here? The Assassin? Was he the one who dragged away Phantom’s body? Was he the one who shot Phantom?
I gritted my teeth and made a run for it.
I stayed close to the wall, running in the opposite direction of everyone else. Typical Wes, right? As people were fleeing from the flames I was diving into the fire. Maybe that’s what kept me so invincible for so long. I wasn’t afraid to get a little burned.
This time it was far different. I was diving into the fire for a woman. For a goddamn woman. Of all things. Somewhere inside my head I tried to justify leaving Rose there. Let Luke get her. Let him…
I couldn't imagine what he’d do to her.
I turned for another door to a hallway when a hand grabbed my shoulder. I threw an elbow and spun around to find Danny hunched over.
“Wes! Goddammit. Come with me.”
“No.”
“The cops… there’s a detective here…”
“Fuck. Is that where Rose is?”
“Forget her!” Danny yelled. “She’s going to give you up. I know it.”
“I need to save her,” I said.
Danny reached for me again and I grabbed his wrist, twisting it.
“Wes,” Danny said with wide eyes. “Don’t do anything crazy.”
“Stay the fuck away from me. I shouldn’t have come here. I’ll break your fucking wrist and then your neck.”
I tugged at Danny’s wrist and that brought him to his knees. Sweat poured from his forehead as he nodded. “Fine, Wes. Fine. You go get made. I don’t give a shit. I was trying to help you.”
Danny never helped me. He would never help me. He was up to something…
I didn’t have time to think about it. I had to get to Rose and save her.
This didn't make sense to me. Why would the police come and not break up the fight? They came just for Rose? Hell, how did they know Rose was even here?
I charged down the hallway knowing there would be more questions and answers.
I didn’t care - just as long as Rose wasn’t hurt.
I thought I was running as fast as I possibly could - until I heard a gunshot.
29.
(Rose)
I sat behind a desk. It wasn’t my desk, obviously. It wasn’t the detective’s desk either. It was some random old desk in the random old building. He shut the door and locked it. The room was a little dark. He took out a cigarette and started to smoke. He grabbed a chair and put it on the opposite side of the desk but didn’t sit in it. Instead, he put his leg up. The tip of his cigarette glowed with each deep breath he took.
“Rose, Rose, Rose,” he said. “What were you looking for doing that? Huh? Did you think she had money? Or was it just pure jealousy?”
“I didn’t hurt her,” I said. “Why… why are we here? Are you taking me in?”
“Do you want to go to jail? Are you confessing something?”
“No. I just don’t understand why we’re here,” I said. “If you want to question me…”
The detective stood up, the cigarette in his mouth. He opened his suit jacket and showed me his gun. “Do you want to question my actions?” he asked with the cigarette bouncing between his lips.
“No,” I said. “Sorry.”
“Good. Now let’s get back to my questions.” He took the cigarette out of his mouth. “I’m your only chance. You’re only hope, sweetheart.” He dropped the cigarette and stepped on it, twisting his foot like he was killing a bug. “Got that?”
“Yes. Detective…?”
“You don’t need my name. Tell me about Wes. Where have you two been staying?”
“Wes? What does he have to do with this?”
“So you killed Macie?”
“No!”
“Then who did?”
I opened my mouth but held back. Could I just give up Luke that fast? That easily?
“I wasn’t there,” I said, which was the truth. “I was out for a walk.”
“A walk? Interesting. So you have no idea who was in the hotel room when she was killed?”