Always (Next Generation The Skulls 1)

“I’ll deal with it as soon as we get these to safety. Call Ripper, tell him to make sure the Billionaires are ready. Tell him I’ve been hit.”

Simon did as he asked. Ripper cursed. “When we get there, escort them out, I’ll take care of them, Simon. Make sure your dad is taken to a hospital.”

His hands were shaking. They left the town, and there was a small diner off the beaten track. It was completely empty and from the looks of it, it hadn’t been open in quite some time.

Devil slowed down and Simon climbed out of the truck.

He didn’t approach the men, but helped the woman and kids out, who were all crying and shaking. There was a protocol, but right now, he had to get his dad to a hospital.

“Son,” one of the men said.

He couldn’t think of the Billionaire’s name right now.

“The guys are seconds away. My dad has been shot. We need to get him to the hospital.”

“There’s one twenty minutes out. We’ll make calls,” the man said.

He didn’t even say thank you. Rushing to the driver’s side, he saw his dad had moved along. After climbing behind the wheel, he pulled onto the road and pressed his foot to the gas.

“Don’t panic,” Devil said.

“I’m not going home and telling Mom you didn’t make it.” He focused on the road. The cell phone rang and Devil reached out a blood-soaked hand.

“Ripper, what’s up?”

“I’ve dealt with the handoff. James is organizing what we need.”

“Good.” Devil coughed.

“You with me, old man?” Ripper asked.

“Fuck you. What is with people calling me an old man? I’m as healthy as can be. I can take all of you, and you all fucking know it.”

There was a chuckle but Simon heard the concern.

“Put your foot down, Simon. The Billionaires are handling everything.”

Simon broke speeding laws, seeing the sign for the hospital. He’d never felt so much relief as he came to a stop. After slamming the door closed, he moved to his father’s side, helping him out.

“When did you get so tall?” Devil asked.

“I’m your son. It’s in my genes.”

Devil laughed.

They stumbled into the hospital. “Please, my father has been shot. Help.”

There were already doctors waiting. “Devil? Chaos Bleeds?” one of them asked.

“Yes.”

“We got the call. We’ve been waiting for your arrival. We can take it from here.”

“No, I can’t leave him.”

One of the doctors put a hand on his arm. “We’ve got it from here. There’s nothing you can do right now. We will be out to tell you more.”

Simon watched as his father was escorted on a bed away from him.

His hands shook and he felt sick. He wanted to call his mom but she would be too worried. Devil wouldn’t want him to do that.

Taking a seat, he stared at the doors.

He held his cell phone in his hands. Tabitha’s name was there. Clicking on her name, he put the cell to his ear.

“Hello, stranger,” she said.

Just hearing her voice lightened his heart and made everything come into focus for him.

“Hey,” he said.

“Simon, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me. I hear it. Talk to me.”

He looked down at his hand and saw the blood. Heart racing, he felt sick to his stomach.

“Simon?”

“I shouldn’t have called you.”

“Don’t do this. Don’t shut me out. We promised each other that no matter what, we’d be there for each other. You need to lean on me, do so.”

He got to his feet and headed toward the bathroom. “My dad’s been shot.”

“Holy shit,” she said. “What’s going on?”

Simon told her about what had happened, how the gun had gone off, and he didn’t think to check to see who got hit. “He still drove, Tabby. I mean, he must be completely crazy.”

“Do you want me to tell my mom?”

“No, she’ll call mine and I don’t want her worrying.” He put the phone on speaker as he put it near the sink. He slammed his hand against the soap dispenser, turning on the tap and washing his hands. The soap went pink, and the water turned the same color. He felt sick. This was his dad’s blood.

“Simon, you there?”

“I’m there. Just washing my hands.”

“God, I’m so sorry. He’s going to be okay though, right?”

“I don’t know. The doctors took him away. What do I do if he dies?”

“Don’t talk like that.”

He removed the speaker and put the phone to his ear as he made his way back outside to the waiting room. No one was looking for him. He took a seat.

“I’m still here, Simon. I wish I was with you right now. I’d hug you so damn tight and never let go.”

“I want you here.”

“We’ll be coming for Thanksgiving. Dad tried to give me the talk.”

“You’re trying to distract me.”

“You’re there on your own, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Where are the others?”

“Doing what needs to be done.”

“I hate this,” she said.