never regretted anything as badly as I regret what I’ve done to Dell. After I left, I mourned her, grieved for the girl I fell in love with because I knew I’d crossed a line and that you all would never forgive me. But know this, I’m not going to run away. I’m going to burn if need be to save her. I’m going to fight, work and even wound myself to my grave if that’s what it takes to right my wrongs and make sure Della is never harmed by any-fucking-body on this earth.”
Dom leaves and the entire room grows silent. Each of my brothers wears similar expressions. Wide eyes and slack jaws, even Kelso who stands at the bottom of the stairs is speechless.
“Is it just me or is that guy damn hard to hate?” Lana interjects into the silence.
My lips twitch and Slater grunts. I walk over to Lana and kiss her head.
She tips her head toward me. “I should head back to the hospital soon. Rex is worse today than he was last night. He’s thrashing around like a crazy person and Dr. Evans thinks he may have to put Rex back on the methadone if he doesn’t calm down soon, as those straps on the beds aren’t built to hold someone down, more so to hold them still during needle injections and surgeries.”
“Shit, he’s still that bad?”
She nods and then a loud rumble comes up the street and all heads turn to the front of the house.
I know that car.
“Corey?” Lana says out loud.
Slater and Pacer are the first ones out the door followed by Kelso, Lana and me. Corey’s parked on a weird angle behind Dom, who’s on the phone, probably to a tow-truck company.
Corey jumps out of his car and looks around wildly, and when his eyes finally fall on Lana, he slams his door closed and runs over to the group of us.
“Hold the hell up,” I say while throwing out my hands in front of me signaling Corey to stop. “What the fuck are you doing in Portland or anywhere near our house? Lana has our protection and help, you sure as fuck don’t. So I suggest you get back in your car and get outta here before shit gets ugly. And next time use a go-between or a fucking phone.” No fucking way a Poison crew member is just going to walk up to our front door and we’re going to invite him inside.
Lana is standing to my right. “Corey, you should be with Rex.”
In my shock at Corey just appearing at my house, I miss looking him over and noticing his disheveled appearance and the fear in his eyes.
“Rex left, he got out of his restraints and we can’t find him,” Corey rushes out the words without taking a breath in between.
Lana gasps and then fists her hands and glares at Corey. “Where the hell were you, Corey? You were supposed to watch him.”
“Getting some lunch,” Corey fires back at her furiously. “I was starving.”
I hear Slater talking to my left and look over. He’s on his phone talking, “Piper. Where are you? You safe?” Slater pauses and then exhales in relief. “No, it’s okay, we’re all safe. Baby, please calm down, breathe. That’s my girl. Now promise me you’ll stay put at work, okay?” Silence follows and then Slater says, “I love you, too, see you soon.”
I’m drawn back to Lana and Corey arguing. “Why the hell didn’t you ring me, Corey? That would have been a lot quicker than driving all the way out here.”
Corey reaches behind his back and we all take a step back and tense. He pulls out a cell phone with a purple case around it. Lana’s phone. “Because you left your phone in Rex’s hospital room.”
Lana’s expression turns apologetic. ”Oh. I’m sorry. Thanks for bringing it to me.”
Dom walks over and offers, “I can help you search for him, Corey.”
As if only noticing Dom for the first time, Corey replies with a curious expression, but decides now isn’t the time to ask what he’s doing at our house. “Thanks, Brett. Why don’t you try T.K.’s and the garage? I’ve been to the garage already, but he might have turned up after I left.”
Dom nods as Lana begins to panic. “No, no, no,” while peering down at her phone.
I place my hand on her arm to try and calm her down. “Lana, what is it?”