As if on cue, a massive explosion shook the house, knocking Geoffrey back against the thin pillows. Dust and plaster rained down from the ceiling in a fine powder. He stared wordlessly at the doorway. For a full second, Geoffrey was sure that his heart stopped and then it was racing again, trying to climb into his throat. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Kody do a little shimmy like he was doing a victory dance as he maniacally cackled.
“They found the first one!”
“What?” Geoffrey gasped, trying to get Kody’s words to make sense. All he could think was that Sven was on his way. Had Sven been caught in that blast? Oh God, Sven…
“I’ve got little bombs scattered all over this house and in the yard.” He giggled, the sound hauntingly childlike, and rubbed his hands together. “The design was easy to find online, and the materials…” He snickered, so fucking smug. “Found in any sporting goods and hardware store. Online shopping filled in the rest. So fucking easy.”
“You’re going to kill us too!”
Kody shook his head, making a tsking noise with his tongue. “You had to know we were going to die, too.”
“What?” Geoffrey demanded. “I thought you loved me. Why the fuck are you going to kill me?”
“Because you’re my Romeo.” Kody turned to a battered old nightstand next to the bed and pulled open the drawer. With his right hand, he pulled out a handgun and with his left, he withdrew a little brown bottle that reminded him of medicine he’d gotten from the doctor when Finn had an ear infection. This was not ear medicine. He was looking at poison.
“Kody…Nathan…don’t do this.” Geoffrey licked his lips and pulled his legs up, pushing as far as he could against the headboard to put more slack in his bindings. He couldn’t reach the bottle or the gun, not without Kody moving a hell of a lot closer. He knew that someone was out there, trying to get to him. Just needed a few more minutes. But he had to get the gun away from Kody before someone tried to enter.
“It’s for the best. The world just keeps getting in our way. It should be just you and me. Forever.”
“Nathan, this doesn’t make any sense.”
“I’ll give you the poison,” he continued talking as if he hadn’t heard Geoffrey, his words starting to run together in his haste. “I could get only enough for one person, but it’s supposed to be quick. You won’t feel any pain, baby. I promise. I’ll use the gun on myself as soon as you take the poison.” He smiled and actually pressed the muzzle to his temple. “And then we’ll be together.”
“No, I’m not taking it,” Geoffrey said, shaking his head.
Somewhere in the house, there was a loud banging like someone kicked in a wooden door and heavy footsteps echoed on creaking floors. Someone was there for him. He was almost free. He took a breath to shout so he could be found.
“Dom, watch out!” Sven’s loud voice carried even through the walls.
Sven’s warning was followed immediately by another explosion. This one was much closer, shaking the entire house. The lights flickered, threatening to go out. Large chunks of plaster fell from the ceiling, crashing on the floor and bed.
“Sven!” he screamed as soon as he could pull air into his lungs. But there was no response. “Sven!” His heart broke a little bit more each second that ticked by and there was only silence.
“He’s gone now. It’s for the best,” Kody murmured soothingly. “It’ll just be us.”
“Yeah…just us,” Geoffrey repeated, but all he could see was Sven smiling at him. Sven holding his nephew, stretched out on Alida’s couch. Sven patiently explaining the perfect way to throw a Frisbee, grinning at each of Geoffrey’s flirtations. Sven, strong and brave, protecting him. Always protecting. The world couldn’t go on without Sven.
“Sit on the bed next to me,” Geoffrey said. He stretched his arms back so that they were running along the wall. “The whole world needs to see us together in our last, perfect moment.” Geoffrey turned his head and vacantly smiled at the phone that was still positioned over the bed.
“Yes! I knew you’d understand. Everyone has to see us together.”
Kody climbed into the bed next to Geoffrey, settling up against the headboard. The left hand with the poison was closest to Geoffrey, while the gun remained tightly clenched in his hand close to the edge of the bed. The second Kody settled back, the tension easing just a bit from his broad shoulders, Geoffrey lifted his right arm and wrapped it around Kody’s throat. He pressed as hard as he could, cutting off the flow of air, but he struggled to lock in the hold. There wasn’t enough slack in his restraints to bring up his left arm.