Four or Dead by G O A

Four or Dead

Chapter 77

Wyatt

"Set him up in the storage room." I tell the guys when we arrive back at the Motel

Emma stands to the side and watches the men drag Zane away. I "How do you want to handle this?" I ask, stepping up beside her

"Honestly, I don't know. My father hurt me because it made him feel better to have someone to hurt or blame, but this is different. I'm different." She says, her eyes locked on a point off in the distance

She's at a crossroads. One that everyone like us faces at some point. I know because I went through the same thing when I joined Zane's crew

"What if he wakes up and I can't do it?" She asks, turning to look at me

I don't answer her right away. Instead, our eyes lock and I reach out to brush a strand of hair from her face and tuck it softly behind her ear

"No one will think less of you if you can't. Thats why you have us, so you don't have to do anything if you don't want to." I say softly and her eyes drift shut and her shoulders drop a little, like my words have lifted a weight off her

I move to take my hand away, but she opens her eyes and looks up at

Chapter 77

me with unspoken words. She feels lost right now and is hoping I'll tell her what to do, but I can't

See, there is a point in the life of an abuse victim where you either fight to overcome what you endured and become a stronger and better person or you succumb to the darkness that grows inside you. Some turn that darkness into something ugly, like hurting and killing for no reason other than to feel something other than pain. Then there are those that use that darkness and harness it into a weapon. A lot of the guys here have taken theor screwed up lives and turned all that pent up anger and resentment and use it for one purpose, as a bullet. They focus it on each order their leader gives and enjoy every second

I came from, so I move my hand to

a little while. The guys will get everything set up." I say, leading her back to

drops on the bed and I take a seat on one of the chairs at the table set up near the window.

but there was a little more than that. One day I saw those girls that would hang around Asher bullying you and they ripped your sweater. I saw the scars

Chapter 77

was the monster of my nightmares. It's also made Zane's

but as you know, it wasn't an escape at all. One day, my mom pushed me down the stairs when I was trying to leave and I broke my arm and cracked a couple of ribs. So I asked Zane if I could stay with someone from the crew. He agreed, but I had to prove to him I was loyal to him. He handed me a gun and brought in one of his men. I was told to shoot the guy. I had no one and nowhere else to go, so I did it. When it was done, he smiled and told me a place for me had just freed up. From that day on I had to do things I never thought I would do just to survive and soon it became less and less hard." I keep my eyes low as I spill my truth to her, but when I'm done, I expect

Instead, I see...understanding

to sit up. I can't help but shift nervously for a second,

head just a small amount so I can look up at her. She hesitates for

relief. "I hate even more the things you went through to help and protect me. You saved my life. I know that Zane would have killed me if it weren't for you. There is no way I can repay you for something like that,

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She moves away slightly to watch my reaction, but the moment only lasts a split second before my hand cups the back of her neck and I pull her to me

hadn't seen her in so long that I wasn't thinking straight. Now, she is the one kissing me and not because I want it, but because she wants it,

to comfort her in this moment or because she feels she owes me, but it feels like a gift either way. I hope one day she will care about me for more than gratitude, but for now, it has to be enough. So when she slowly pulls away from me, I let her. I put more distance between us, so she knows I won't try anything more, but she

Emma

but to me he reminds me that if things had been different, I wouldn't have been alone. Maybe if Wyatt had come to me and we found strength in each other, then maybe we could have run

no

Chapter 77

he is; I feel like he's already mine. He was my shadow, and now

loud while I was

wider. I "Emma..." He starts to say, but

me; I know what I want and who I want. Maybe I'm crazy and a little greedy since I already have four guys, but I don't care. This is my chance to say