“I’m not going to pretend that it’s okay, because it’s not. The things you’ve done to me and the people around you are … they’re awful, Nic, and it’s going to take us all a really long time to learn to forgive you.”
He nods. “I understand,” he says. “But just know that no matter what I’ve done or how I acted, I've always loved you. I always will, and despite what you might think, everything I’ve done has been to protect you.”
“You have a weird way of showing it.”
“I know,” he says. “Just do me one favor.”
“Anything.”
“Get yourself out of the Wolves. You should be living back in Bellevue Springs with your rich boyfriend and perfect life. Put all of this behind you and find real happiness. I want you to have the world, and it’s taken me a really long time to figure out that I couldn't give it to you.”
I nod, already down with the idea of leaving the Wolves behind. The second I can, I’ll be out of there and leaving it to Christian to take over.
We hear the sirens in the distance, and Nic cringes. “Shit. This is really happening,” he says, looking like the kid I first met when he was only seventeen years old.
“Yeah, it is,” I murmur, pulling back to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry that it had to come down to this, and I’m sorry that I stood here with a gun, intending to kill you. If I could have it any other way …”
Nic nods, not needing me to finish off that thought, and instead of prolonging the moment, he looks up at Sebastian, Kai, and Eli. “Here, help me up,” he says, holding a hand out to Kai.
I quickly scramble off him, knowing he must be in extraordinary amounts of pain after being shot less than twelve hours ago.
Kairo takes his hand and after he pulls him up, Nic instantly wraps his arms around him. “Widows are yours now,” he murmurs. “Take care of them better than I did. Get rid of all the bullshit, and make it a brotherhood like it was always supposed to be. Watch your back, though. They won’t all agree with that.”
“You sure, bro?” Kairo asks, his brows rising. “It’s not too late. I can get you out of here.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. I have to do this. Just try and avoid gang wars. They tend to fuck things up.”
Kai laughs, and as Nic moves onto Eli, I can’t help but watch every last second. “I don’t know how long I’m going to be put away for, but from now on, you’re my eyes and ears out here. You need to keep Kairo grounded. Make sure he doesn’t fuck it up like I did.”
“You got it, bro,” he says, folding him into his arms and clapping Nic on the back. “I’ll move your mom into my building. She’ll be taken care of too.”
They hold each other for a second longer before Nic turns to Sebastian. “I don’t know where I’d be without you, bro,” he tells him. “I need you to look out for O, make sure she’s keeping out of trouble, and keep this rich fucker in line.”
“You know it,” Sebastian says, glancing back at me with a bittersweet smile.
The boys hug it out, and as the sirens get louder and louder, Nic finally turns to Colton, and holds out his hand. Colton takes it, and they meet each other's stare. Nic’s hold tightens on Colton’s hand, but it’s nothing he can’t handle. “If you ever hurt her,” Nic says, his voice low and terrifying. “I will hunt you down like the fucking animal that you are.”
“If I ever hurt her, I’ll welcome it.”
The boys remain locked in a heated stare, and then finally Nic nods, and their hands drop back to their side. “So, what now?” Nic asks, looking down at me.
“Now we wait,” I tell him as the siren begins to deafen me. “You tell the cops exactly what you’ve done, and you pay for your crimes, giving justice to the people who need it most. Maybe even meet with a therapist while you’re in there. God knows you need it.”
“That easy, huh?”
I nod. “Yeah, it really is.”
Sebastian scoffs from behind us, walking into Nic’s side. “Just don’t bend over in the shower,” he tells him. “And I highly suggest not acting like a bitch in there. You know there’s bound to be some Wolves.”
Nic grunts, not fazed at all. “And plenty of Widows. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be good.”
The cops turn the corner, and suddenly the deserted street is lighting up with blue and red flashing lights. The cops get out and walk toward our small group as Eli discreetly kicks the discarded gun under the Audi, trying to make this transition as peaceful as possible.