\[Denali’s POV\]
I sit with Naomi, staring down at her frail frame. Since bringing her to the infirmary, she hadn’t said a thing. She just stared straight ahead, unseeing.
“Any change?” Rosco asks, slowly entering the room.
Turning, I take him in. He’s taken a shower and rewrapped his abrasions, but he still looks so weak.
“Don’t give me that look.” He huffs, being ever the stoic. “This is nothing.”
Nothing. It was almost laughable to hear that after what I witnessed. The deaths of those warriors weren’t nothing, but since then, no one else seemed to get worse. Because of that, Maria was finally able to get a good sleep.
“I wish you would stop being stubborn.” I murmur. “You’re still healing, and I’m sure forcing yourself isn’t going to help.”
“How can I rest when so much is going on?” He counters.
Opening my mouth, I prepare to argue, but I stop, realizing that if I were in his position, I too wouldn’t just sit back and do nothing.
“Have you gotten a team together to go to Crystal Fang?”
As the words leave my lips, my heart squeezes painfully. I was certain that Naomi’s sudden attack and current condition meant that the worst had happened, and although Rosco wasn’t showing any emotions in regard to it, I knew he had to be hurting.
“I have.” He confirms. “They’ll be leaving soon.”
Nodding, I try to ignore the anxiety that is beginning to build in me. What waited for those who were going, and what came of William? If Hamilton was killed, did that mean that William did as well, or was his fate much worse?
All these questions fill my mind, making a shiver race down my spine, but I do my best not to let them deter me.
“Don’t worry,” Rosco says, wrapping his arms around me. “I’ll make sure to take down that bastard Jaxon.”
“Not you.” I snap. “Those who are going.”
“I can’t just stay here while my men go to fight.” He counters.
“Then I can’t either.” I argue. “We’re a team, and if you’re going to go in your condition, I can go in mine.”
Opening his mouth, Rosco prepares to argue but stops as the sound of a car horn honking reaches us. Straightening up, Rosco heads to the infirmary window and looks out of it.
“Maybe neither of us will have to.” He says as I get up to see what it is he is looking at.
Remaining silent, I watch as Jose and Charlie climb out of the van that is now parked in front of the building. While Warren emerges from it as well, the other two go to the back. Pulling open the door, they pull out my father and wait as Elise clambers out to join them.
“They’re back.” I say, a sigh of relief escaping me. “That’s great.”
“There’s someone missing.” Rosco says, continuing to watch the vehicle. “Where’s Marty?”
I don’t know why, but in that moment, I feel a chill rush through me as I consider his question.
Where was Marty? Was he hanging out in the van or... No, I couldn’t possibly think of the alternative. Didn’t Rosco already lose one person who was important to him? Would he be able to handle losing another?
Muttering something under his breath, Rosco turns and begins to move, heading straight for the infirmary exit while I begin to follow.
“Where are you going?” I ask as we head down the stairs.
“To look for Marty.” He responds.
When we reach the bottom of the stairs, the door to the building opens, and Jose and Charlie enter, hauling my father.
“Alpha!” Charlie gasps, spotting us. “You’re okay!”
“More or less,” Rosco confirms. “Much better than that bastard you’re holding.”
Since they entered, I turned my gaze to my father and found that his face was bruised and bloodied. His gaze, which lifts to meet mine, is filled with amusement, and it sends a wave of disgust through me.
“Don’t look so disappointed.” He chuckles. “We can now be a big, happy family.”
“Shut up.” Elise growls, coming to join us. “Or do you want me to continue giving you free plastic surgery?”
So it was Elise who did that to our father. It was almost funny, almost, if only it wasn’t a result of her hatred and pain due to what she went through. Even if I too suffered, my suffering was nothing like hers.
“Where is Marty?” Rosco asks as Warren enters the building. “I didn’t see him with you.”
For a moment, no one speaks, and just by the gazes they begin to exchange and the darkening of Elise’s expression, I know what the answer is going to be.
“No,” I gasp, lifting my hand to my lips. “Tell me it isn’t…”
“He died in a blaze of glory.” Jose assures us.
“Literally,” Elise adds, though her voice wobbles with the pain that she is feeling. “It’s all because of me.”
“Because of you.” Rosco repeats, his anger evident. “What the fuck did you do?”
As he speaks, he storms toward Elise, just as Warren stands in the way and shakes his head.
“Marty made the choice.” He says slowly, taking everyone present by surprise. “He is the only one to blame.”
“No,” Elise argues. “If I didn’t come up with such a stupid solution to killing that thing, then...”
She doesn’t finish her words as her voice cracks, and she wraps her arms around herself, clearly trying to self-soothe but failing miserably.
Feeling my heart break for my sister, I move forward and pull her against me. Immediately, she tenses and seems to freeze, but after a long pause, she finally begins to dissolve and cling to me.
As she sobs against my chest, I know that this isn’t only about Marty. It is about all the guilt she has carried for so long that is finally reaching the surface.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, her voice shaking. “I’m so sorry.”
“There isn’t time for this.” Rosco announces, not giving a shit about Elise’s breakdown. “There’s another mission to complete.”
“Another.” Charlie hisses. “What the hell have you gotten into now?”
“Not me,” Rosco huffs, his annoyance growing. “That cousin of mine.”
At his words, Elise releases me and begins to look around. As she does so, her expression shifts from devastated to angry, and then her aura explodes from her body.
“Did that bastard run away the minute I left?” She growls. “He says he is honestly pursuing me, and then...”
“It wasn’t willingly.” I assure her. “His father played a nasty trick.”
“Did he?” She growls, her eyes darkening. “And what might that trick be?”
“That’s for the four of you to find out.” Rosco explains. “I need you to go to Crystal Fang and retrieve William for me.”
Growing quiet, he seems to struggle with something, and I’m sure it involves his father.
“And,” he says slowly. “I need you to retrieve my father’s body.”