Damaged (Boys of Winter #2) - Sheridan Anne Page 0,151

back, and I watch it happen, almost in slow motion. His ass crashes down into the couch and it rocks back, nearly threatening to tip right over as I turn and look back at Grayson, shaking out my hand. “How was that?”

“Fucking beautiful,” he tells me.

“Alright,” Sebastian Whitman groans and rests back in his chair, less than impressed with the halftime show. “Now that we’ve wasted half an hour learning absolutely nothing new, can we please get back to the topic at hand. There are thirty-four men, women, and children currently waiting to be buried, and I demand to know who is responsible.”

“My thoughts exactly,” I tell him. “And my gut tells me that one of the men in this room has a death sentence. I guess the fun will be figuring it out.”

I look back at Carver, watching as he refills his drink and then refills Tobias’ and shoves it down in front of him. The guys take their glasses and Tobias quickly throws his down his throat before going for another. Carver slowly leans back in his seat, resting his head on the couch, completely exhausted.

I wonder what my luck is like tonight. Maybe he’ll let me sneak through his bedroom door for old times’ sake and sleep with his arms curled around me. I hate that he’s had such a shitty night, but then, we all have. Maybe King needs me more tonight. After trying to save as many lives as possible while waiting to hear about his sister, he could really use some comfort.

“Alright, so what’s the plan?” Sebastian continues. “I have a few ideas, but—”

Carver launches out of his seat, crashing to the ground in front of Tobias. He throws his full glass clear across the room, letting it smash into the fireplace. Rum soaks the wall as his hand reaches for the glass moving towards Tobias’ lips. “NOOOO,” he roars, knocking it out of his hand just in time.

But it’s already too late. That’s Tobias’ second glass.

Tobias grunts, his furious glare shooting toward Carver as rum soaks through his already destroyed clothes. Everyone watches on wide-eyed, not a damn person having a fucking clue what’s going on. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Tobias demands, flying to his feet.

Carver stares up at him, genuine fear shining in his eyes. “Cyanide.”

Panic sets in and my heart instantly races. I don’t know much about cyanide, but I know that it can be deadly.

Tobias stills and looks down at Carver on his knees before him, his eyes wide and the terror clear on his face. He falls to his knees, his hands coming to his throat, almost as though he’s choking. Carver holds onto him, desperately searching his face. “SOMEONE CALL A FUCKING AMBULANCE.”

“No, no, no,” I begin to chant, my hand gripping Cruz’s beside me as silence falls through the room.

Tobias looks at his son as Michael Harding whips out his phone, urgently dialing 911. “Hunter,” Tobias breathes as King watches on in horror, not able to believe what’s happening right before his eyes.

His father begins to fall, and Carver gently lowers him down, but the second his head hits the expensive tiles, he begins frothing at the mouth as a violent seizure rocks through him.

“DAD,” King cries, rushing forward, knocking past me and shoving Carver back until he’s sprawled out behind him. King slides in, cradling his father’s head with hot tears stinging his eyes, killing me as I see such a strong man break. “No, Dad. Don’t you fucking go. We’re not finished yet. DAD.” King shakes him in desperation. “Open your fucking eyes. You’re going to be alright. The ambulance is on its way. Just hold on a little while longer.”

King holds his father as we all watch on in fear, my heart shattering in my chest as my body trembles under Cruz’s desperate hold. I want to run to King, I want to hold him and tell him that it’s going to be alright, but it won’t. There’s no escaping this.

Tobias King will die tonight.

“No, Dad. Please, no,” King sobs, dropping his head down to his father’s as his violent seizure eases and his body becomes limp in his son’s arms. Tobias finally gives in, allowing the cyanide to shut down his organs, and I watch in heartbreak as this great man is brought to his knees and we lose another soldier to the war that’s better known as Dynasty.

CHAPTER 36

King’s arm curls around my body, pulling me in tight