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“I could see it killed hiainst his forehead “He would’ve owned you fro if it weren’t for me All I can think of is what if he don’t hed heavily, eying me in sorrow

“He just got you, after fkin’ years of waiting He talked about you all the fkin’ time, the bitch with the wolf eyes Even searched for the fence for years He’d drag me with him We’d scope the forests all around Austin for hours He only stopped searching ent to ith the Mexicans He’d about given up hope His old man wouldn’t tell him where the drop site was, no matter how ed so much, I don’t think his old man could even remember Then his oldyou “

My heart ached sofor ain, to coirl he had briefly ht? Dear Lord, I ain I did not feel I could cope with this pain in my heart

“Mae?” Ky prompted quietly

I took a deep breath “You had your reasons for keeping us apart You are a good friend I can see he loves you very much”

Ky’s blue eyes widened as he whispered, “Fuck, bitch! Rip ive this shit You would’ve been with him all this time if it weren’t for me Fuck! Lois probably wouldn’t have died either!”

I did not give a response I could not I was numb, silently terrified that Styx was dead Someone else I cared about dead

The long creak of a floorboard groaned behind us and I glanced over my shoulder to see Rider enter the room His tired face broadcast confusion as we all sat motionless and in total silence Then as the realization for our silence dawned, Rider’s face lost all color It was all he could do to flop down on a barstool Despite his differences with Styx, Rider seeenuinely devastated by the apparent news

As our eyes ed from shock to sympathy, and he mouthed, “I’m sorry” This only served to rip ood men Both held a special place in my heart

The clock ticked slowly, very slowly

After fifty endless ed from that of vain hope to one of resolved certainty

Ky reluctantly released htly Ky stood, the Hangmen, Beauty, Letti, and I watched him with bated breath Tiff and Jules hovered in the cover of the doorway, eavesdropping on their lover

“Brothers,” he began with a quiet, strained voice “I—” Ky’s voice cut off as a distant growl of an engine sounded outside Ky’s eyes sought mine before he sprinted for the exit There was such a cla to their feet The brothers were like a herd of buffaloes as they stampeded for the door