... and Forever (Next Generation: Chaos Bleeds 1)

She watched him.

He didn’t speak.

Anthony never spoke unless he wanted to. She wondered if he was ever tortured, if they would get him to crack, or if he would be a stubborn bastard who refused to budge. He’d probably die silently.

“He’s gone,” she said.

“I know.”

She sniffled. “What do you care? You probably saw this coming.”

“He did what he had to do.”

“He didn’t have to kill him.” She covered her face. “Why? Why did this have to happen?”

She was shocked when Anthony wrapped his arms around her. Out of all the people she knew, he was the last person she expected to get comfort from. “Leave me alone.”

“Not going to happen. You think this is easy for him? He didn’t protect you. He fucked up, and so did I. I should have been here. I should have made sure this didn’t happen.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I … I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“No!” Anthony pulled away, grabbing her shoulders. “Don’t fucking do that. You know what, it’s not my fault, your fault, or Simon’s. It’s fucking Ryan’s. That piece of shit had what was coming to him. Simon dealt him a mercy I never would. If it had been Daisy, I would have stripped him piece by piece, and kept him alive, begging for death.”

“This doesn’t make me feel any better. I don’t want to talk to you. I just want to go home.”

“Then we’ll go home.”

“Take me to Daisy’s.” She pushed past Anthony, climbing into the car. Anthony was a psychopath, no doubt about it. He hid it well, but she knew who he really was, what he was capable of. She didn’t want to be alone with him right now.

He was silent as they rode to Daisy’s. She needed the quiet now more than ever. Rubbing at her chest, she didn’t know how she was going to go on. They were married, a family.

She wiped at her wet cheeks, hating her weakness. She wanted it all to stop.

Anthony arrived at Daisy’s. She climbed out to find her friend already waiting for her. She was unaware of when Anthony had texted her, but she went straight into her friend’s arms. “I’ve got you,” Daisy said.

“I feel like I’m dying inside. I can’t stand it.”

“Come on. My parents are at the clubhouse. They’re still trying to deal with, you know.”

Tabitha covered her face, sobbing.

“Shit, I’m sorry. I … just ignore me. Whatever I say, I just make it worse.”

“It’s fine,” she said, sniffling. “It’s all good. I don’t care.” She waved her hand in front of her face and took several deep breaths.

“Don’t do that. Don’t pretend you’re okay with this.”

“I’ve got to be though, right? This is the way it is. The way it’s always going to be. He’s gone and he’s not coming back.”

Before she fell apart, Daisy held her close, but no matter what, she was never going to be the same again.

****

“You’ll take care of her?” Simon asked as Anthony climbed out of the car.

He watched him, waiting for an explosion. Anthony leaned against the hood of his car, arms folded.

“You think I don’t already? You think I haven’t been taking care of her all this time?”

“Look, I know you’re pissed.”

“You don’t know anything.”

“I … I had to,” Simon said.

“Yeah, you had to. Ryan needed to be dealt with. He needed to be punished, but what you did was fucking stupid.” Anthony shook his head.

“I get it, you’ve killed a man.”

“No, I’ve killed more than one,” Anthony said.

Simon paused as he looked at him.

“That has your attention, doesn’t it?” Anthony chuckled. “Tabs has probably told you about Daisy’s dad. He wasn’t much of a challenge. The guy would do just about anything for a drink. He wasn’t my first kill, nor was he my second.”

“You’re no different.”

Anthony stared at him. “In case you didn’t notice, I’m not like everyone else. If people need to die, it’s not my problem. I get shit done, but I know when the best time to do it is.”

“I don’t know how you can be so glib.”

He smiled. “I’m not the one running away from the woman I love.”

“I’m not running away. I need to leave.”

“Then go. Do whatever shit you need to do. She’ll be waiting.”

“You’ll protect her?” Simon asked, gripping the back of his neck, hating the decision he was making.

“Of course. It’s what I do.”

He nodded. “Right, yes, right.” Simon ran a hand down his face. There was nothing more to be said.

The truth was, he wanted Tabby. He wanted to take her with him, but right now, he couldn’t. He had no choice but to leave. Climbing on his bike, he took off, not looking back. He left Fort Wills behind. He’d already left Piston County.

He no longer had a home.

Dean waited for him at the checkpoint they’d agreed to. It was a rundown garage that had gone out of business years ago.