Dark Universe (The Universe Series)

by Devon Herrera

  “I know.”

  I bolt out of the tack room and run as fast as my legs will carry me to Lola’s apartment. I already know she’s not home, and Nina is on her honey moon, so I have no idea where she could be. When I get into her apartment, I look for anything that could tell me where she is. I step into the bedroom and sitting on her perfectly made bed is the picture of her and Nathan from last night.

  She wouldn’t. Who am I kidding? Of course she would. I don’t have to look very long to figure out where she went. I pull my phone out of my pocket to call her and it starts ringing in my hand.

  “Lola, baby…”

  “STOP! Please stop!” My little sister’s voice screams on the other line.

  “Drake, hurry, he’s hurting her and I can’t get him to stop!”

  I’m already running out the door the second I hear her screaming. I jump into my pickup and pull my pistol from the glove compartment. This bastard is fucking dead. There’s no way I’m letting him walk away from this one.

  The only thoughts running through my head are of Lola. If anything happens to her, I don’t know how I’ll survive. That woman is my fucking air. She’s my gravity. Who the fuck am I without her? I need her to look at me like I’m her hero. If I don’t have that, I’m nothing. I realize now my mistake when I told my sister that real love makes you feel like everything. It does, but without that person, life feels like nothing. Just empty space full of meaningless minutes.

  I run every stop light in town and don’t give a shit what kind of chaos I’m leaving behind me. An idea pops into my head, and I pull out my phone and dial a number I haven’t called in years.

  “Drasin. How are you, Son?”

  “Been better. I need you at Nathan Scott’s new residence stat.”

  “Fuck.”

  “Yup.”

  “In route now. Where are you?”

  “See you soon.”

  I hang up the phone and pull up to the curb in front of the small house. I grab my pistol from the front seat, put one in the chamber, and run to the door. I boot down the door and the scene that I walk into, throws me into a murderous rage.

  My sister is cowering in a corner with her hands over her head, and Nathan has Lola by the throat up against the wall. Lola is kicking and clawing with all her strength, and just as I start to rush them, she calks back her fist and slams it into his nose, sending blood flying everywhere.

  Nathan releases her, and clutches his face with both hands. I aim my pistol at his face, and pause. I fucking hesitate. I’ve never paused once in my entire life. I act. But this time seems different. I don’t want to kill an unarmed man, no matter what he’s done. I just can’t make myself pull the trigger. I begin to lower the gun and my sister screams, “NNNNOOOOO!” from the other side of the room and launches herself at me.

  The gun goes flying and discharges as it hits the ground. Piercing pain slices through my side and my knees buckle. Lola screams and my sister starts sobbing. I drop to my knees, and that’s when Nathan stops fussing over his nose and realizes what’s going on. It can’t be more than two minutes since I first walked in the door.

  Nathan rushes me and tackles me to the ground. My side screams in pain as he hits me. I grit my teeth and slam my fist into the side of his face, dazing him for only a moment. I try to dislodge him from my stomach, but the pain is just too much.

  “I won’t go back to prison! I can’t!” Nathan spits in my face as he wraps his hands around my neck.

  Lola runs across the room and tries to pull him off of me, but he’s too heavy, and jacked up on adrenaline. He reaches back with one hand and throws her off of him, slamming her face first into kitchen table.

  His face is fuzzy, and it feels like I’m being ripped in half, but I see Lola’s face from the corner of my eye. The sight of her blood and bruised skin gives me the anger I needed. I raise my head off the ground and slam my forehead into his as hard as I can. My whole world spins and black spots fill my vision, but he falls to the side. I try to stand, but he stumbles up faster than I do. When he rises fully, in his hand is my pistol.

  I throw myself in front of Lola and wait for the shot. The spots in my vision are getting bigger, but I fight to stay alert. “Don’t do it, Nathan. You’ll regret it!”

  “I can’t go back! I didn’t mean to hit her! She just made me so angry.” He screams and tears are rolling down his face. The pistol is shaking in his hand, and my sister stands and tries to walk towards him slowly.

  “Baby, put the gun down.”

  “NO! Stay back, Lori!”

  “You can’t shoot my brother, or your sister, Nate. It’s okay. Just put the gun down.”

  “I can’t! I’m sorry! I’m sorry.”

  Everything is almost totally black now, but through the darkness I see his finger press back just enough. I shout for my sister to move just as the sound of gunfire rings out, and my whole world goes black.

  CHAPTER 19

  “Love is not a product of reasonings and statistics. It just comes--none knows whence--and cannot explain itself.”

  - Eve's Diary

  I try to open my eyes, but it takes a few times before I’m able to peel back my lids. I notice two things immediately. The first is that Lola is holding my hand. I know this without seeing her because I can feel her in the room. The second is that I’m in the hospital. I can’t sit up, so I squeeze the hand enclosed in mine, and she practically jumps to her feet.

  “Drake! Baby, can you hear me!?” She leans over and kisses my forehead. I blink a couple of times, then try to move, and wince when my side protests. “Don’t move, honey. You don’t want to pull your stitches out.”

  When the fog recedes from my eyes and I get my first real look at her, only one thing comes to mind. “I love you,” I say. “I love you so much. I’m a total jackass, and I’m sorry I didn’t say it before. I should have just…”

  She presses her finger to my lips and hushes me. A tear rolls down her cheek and she smiles. “Of course you love me. I could never be this in love with you if you didn’t.” I pull her hand up to my lips and press a kiss to her skin.

  “Drasin! You’re awake!” My mom comes running into the room and instantly I remember everything, and it sends me into a panic.

  “FUCK! Lauren! Mom! He shot Lauren! Is she okay?”

  “Shhhh, baby, it’s okay. He didn’t shoot Lauren. Your sister is okay.” Lola croons, stroking my hair back from my face.

  “I heard the gunshot though?” I say. I guess I could have been hallucinating from the gunshot wound, but it was pretty clear.

  Lola and my mom exchange glances, and Lola turns her head away from me. “Son, that wasn’t Nathan. Edward showed up right as he started to pull the trigger and he shot him. Nathan’s gone.”

  I close my eyes as the relief hits me. I don’t know if I can fake being upset that Nathan was killed. I don’t relish taking life, but it was either him or us. I’d choose us any fucking day of the week. How does Lola feel about this? He was a bastard, but he was still her brother.

  “Lola. Sunshine. Look at me.”

  Lola turns her head and smiles weakly. I can see the tears in her eyes, and it feels like someone shot me a second time. I promise right then and there to do my damn best to never make her cry ever again.

  “I’m so sorry. I should have never brought the gun. I wasn’t going to shoot him. I mean, I was going to, but I couldn’t do it. I’m sorry.”

  “That wasn’t my brother. I don’t know what happened to him to make him like that, but I don’t even know who that person was. I’ll miss my brother forever, but I’ve been missing him for four years now. I don’t know how else to say it. I should be sadder than I am, but I can’t force it. What kind of a person does that make me, Drake? How can I not be sad that my brother is dead?”

  I remember thinking those exact same thoughts a lifetime ago. It’s right then that I realize that I’ve never been a bad person. I’m nothing like my father, and I never have been. I’
m just human.

  “It makes you a person, sunshine. You’re just human like the rest of us.”

  “I thought that exact same thing when Drasin’s father died. The thing is, sweetie, life is just a bunch of people trying to survive. My husband and your brother were sick, and they were living the only way they knew how. Everything that’s happened; it’s just life. Everyone has something happen in their life at one point or another that makes them question everything they know. All you can do is just keep on living.”

  Lola closes her eyes and nods. “You’re right. I’ll just remember Nathan the way he was.”

  “How’s Lauren doing?”

  My mother’s shoulders sag and I can tell she’s fighting to stay on her feet. “She’s in shock. The doctor recommended we get her into some counseling. He says her behavior is typical for an abused woman. He thinks that with some time, and a lot of help, she’ll be doing just fine.”

  I nod and let the relief wash over me again. Perhaps we may be able to rebuild our family again; once everyone has healed physically and emotionally. I look over at Lola and drink her in for the first time since I’ve opened my eyes.

  Her eyes are swollen and black, her nose has a cut across the bridge, and there are red fingerprints with newly forming bruises tracing them around her throat. She’s absolutely beautiful. My mom must notice the gleam in my eye, because she quietly exits the room.

  “I’m so sorry for everything I put you through, Lola. I didn’t think I could possibly deserve a woman like you. I still don’t, but I’m too fucking selfish to give a shit. I love you.”

  She smiles and sits on the edge of the bed carefully. “I never want to go through that again. I thought I had lost you, twice. It made me feel so weak. I’ve always thought I was so strong; that because I didn’t need anyone I was somehow tougher. God I was so full of shit. I’ve never felt stronger than I do when I’m with you.”

  “Are you going soft on me, Chase?” I ask, smiling.

  “Just in one place.”

  “Then come here and kiss me.”

  She smiles and leans down, brushing her lips gently against mine. Fuck that! I reach up and grab the back of her head in my palm and pull her mouth tighter against mine. I part her lips with my tongue and she sighs softly. My hand trails down her back and I press her closer, deepening the kiss. She tastes like heaven and hell all at once. Glorious torture.

  I try to rise up off the mattress to close that small distance between us and a sharp, burning pain rips through me. “Ouch! Fuck that hurts!”

  Lola giggles, pulls the blanket up and pats my chest. “Toughen up, cowboy, that’s going to take a while to heal, so no hanky panky until the doctor says so.”

  No sex?! “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “No, she’s not.” Wheeler says, leaning against the door frame.

  “I guess you’re the one I should be thanking for saving my sister?”

  “No, Sir. You can thank yourself for that one. Just like when you saved your mother.”

  I’ve known Sergeant Wheeler since that night with my father. He’s always been around. When he was the one who showed up to take Lucas into custody, the day we rescued Connor, I wasn’t surprised.

  “Thanks anyway.”

  He nods and looks to Lola. “Miss Chase, your parents would like to come in.”

  She looks down at me and then back to Wheeler. “Tell them they can come on in.”

  “How are they taking it?” I whisper.

  “Better than I would have thought. I don’t think it ever occurred to them how bad it was, I think he would have killed Nathan himself if he could.”

  Her mom knocks on the door and we both turn to see her parents walk in.

  “How are you feeling, Drake?” Caroline asks.

  “I’m doing fine, Ma’am.”

  “How many times do I have to tell you to call me Caroline?”

  “Once or twice more should do it.”

  Her dad chuckles and moves to stand on the opposite side of the bed as Lola. “You saved my daughter. Words aren’t good enough for that, but thank you.”

  I’m pretty fucking shocked that he seems perfectly sincere. I look to Caroline, sure that there will at least be some blame on her face, but there is none.

  “It was nothing. I’m really sorry about your son.”

  “No you’re not. Nor should you be, he hurt someone you cared about, twice. Who knows what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.”

  Caroline steps forward and grabs my hand gently. “We wanted to let you know that no one blames you for Nathan’s death. He was a sick man, and his actions are what lead to him getting shot, not anything that you did or didn’t do.”

  “We’ve met Delilah and we know you have a pretty great, mom and stepdad, but we were wondering if you would let us be your parents too. If my boy had been well, I would like to think he would be something like you.”

  I’ve been strong up until this point. I’ve been a man. I’ve managed to keep from turning into an emotional jackass, but his proposal has totally tipped me over the edge. I quickly bring my thumb up to rub away the offending tear, and hope that no one notices.

  “Holyshitbuckets!!!” Nina shouts from the doorway. Great. Just what I needed. “Who made Drake Thomas cry? I would like to shake his hand.” It seems some things haven’t changed. “I mean, seriously. I never thought I’d see the day. How are ya feeling, stud?

  “I’m good. Aren’t you supposed to be in Mexico? Did Connor finally figure out what a lunatic you are and ditch your crazy ass?” She laughs and I smile.

  “He’s always known, and he’s right here. Lunatic girl here practically dragged me from the resort when she got the phone call that Drake was in the hospital.” He says and then leans in and mock whispers, “I think she might actually like you.”

  Lola kisses my forehead and smiles down at me, and a sense of rightness hits me like I’ve never felt. Four months ago I had a broken family, thought that I was a killer with no redeeming qualities, and didn’t know how to love. Today I have the love of my life here with me, reminding me that people are just people and I’m doing the best that I can with what I was given. Today, I walk out of here with more family than one man could ever ask for. God help me.

  Epilogue

  “I don't guess people's hearts got anything to do with a calendar.”

  -Hondo Lane

  Drake

  “Connor, calm the fuck down, man! You’re going to have a heart attack.” A few minutes ago, Nina’s water broke in the middle of a very intense round of Go Fish. Lola is in the room grabbing the hospital bag, and Connor has been running around the place like a chicken with its head cut off, doing absolutely shit to help out.

  “We need diapers and Nina needs her heating pad! Don’t forget the heating pad; she gets really cold in this trimester. Wait, will she be cold after the baby is born? She won’t be pregnant anymore, so she won’t be in the freezing third trimester right? Should we bring the heating pad?”

  “Jesus H. Christ! Connor, you’re the calmest person in the whole fucking world on a regular basis. What is your deal? Chill the fuck out. This baby was going to come sooner or later.”

  “Right…Okay, you’re right. Totally calm. I’m chilling the fuck out as we speak.”

  “FUCK! That hurts! Heeee heee heee, whoooooo. Heee heee heee, whoooo. This breathing shit is bull shit. FUUUUUCCCKKKKK!” Nina grabs her stomach and doubles over as another contraction hits her.

  “LOLA, WE HAVE TO GO NOW! DON’T FORGET THE HEATING PAD!!!!” Connor shouts, much louder than necessary and sweeps Nina into his arms and practically runs to the car.

  Lola comes jogging out of the bedroom with the biggest suitcase I’ve ever seen. “Did they put the flat screen in this sucker?”

  “Let me get that, baby.” I grab the luggage from her and kiss her on the cheek. God she’s so fucking sexy. She’s wearing her usual plastered on jeans, cowboy boots and a black t-shirt. In fact, now
that I think about it, we sort of match. Fuck we’ve turned into one of those matchy couples.

  The horn honks outside and we run out, throw the suitcase in the back and hop inside. We barely get the doors closed before Connor takes off. Eight minutes later, Lola and I are sitting in the waiting room. Lola is pacing, nervous about the birth. I’m nervous for a completely different reason.

  I have a plan, and it’s been seven months in the making. We were just waiting for this little bundle of joy to decide to join us. A few months ago, Nina walked into our apartment when Lola was out riding and she threw something in my face. It was one of those shirt things that babies wear, that snap at the crotch. On the front in big pink letters was a question. “Will you marry me?”

  “Uh, Nina. You’re already married, remember. And trust me on this one; Lola hits harder than you.”

  “It’s not for you dip shit. I saw this today at the mall and it hit me that you haven’t made an honest woman out of my best friend yet. I know that you two are all, black sheep and don’t want to move too fast or whatever, but what the fuck? You love her don’t you?” This broad is totally nuts.

  “You know that I do.”

  “Then I ask again. What the fuck?”

  That’s about when I showed her the ring I picked out the month before, and the plan was formed. As soon as Nina pushes that baby girl out, we are going to walk in there and Lola being Lola is going to snatch her up faster than a raspberry filled doughnut. That little bundle of joy is going to help me ask the love of my life the most important question in my life, all within the first few seconds of her life.

  Fuck. I sure hope she says yes.

  Lola

  That poor bastard. I’m a total bitch for making him sweat it out like this, but really. What kind of an idiot hides an engagement ring in a sock drawer? It’s like he doesn’t know me at all. It’s been so hard keeping it a secret these past couple of months. I don’t know how he’s been doing it, but he has. I was literally shoving bridal magazines and jewelry catalogs in his face every two seconds, but he never caved.