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Chapter 57 Oakley
“Did they catch who did it?” Dylan asks.
“I can’t believe someone shot him,” Sawyer whispers.
I hear them talking, but I can’t see them or process what they’re saying.
The only thing I can think about is the fact that my dad—the man who raised me—is in surgery.
Fighting for his life.
All because some motherfucking asshole shot him while he was walking out to his car.
“Maybe it was a drive-by?” Sawyer says.
Dylan rubs my shoulder. “Maybe. Whoever it is, I’m sure they’ll catch them. Crystal’s talking to the police now. She was on the phone with Wayne when it happened.”
Sawyer touches my arm. “Is there anything I can get you? Food, coffee…anything?”
Yeah. An eight-ball of coke and a bottle of Jack to wash it down with.
Gripping my neck, I close my eyes.
The last thing my dad told me was that he was proud of me.
Our last conversation was right before I left my apartment to meet Landon at the studio.
I told him I was going to try my hand at writing music.
I half expected him to tell me it was a pipe dream and I was wasting my time.
But he didn’t.
Instead he told me he was happy I was trying something new.
Proud that I was staying sober.
And now?
He’s dying on an operating table.
I need her.
After my mom walked out, I swore I’d never let myself need another person again.
Because needing someone only led to disappointments and letdowns.
But right now? I. Fucking. Need. Her.
Not to tell me it will all be okay—because one of the things I love most about Bianca is that she doesn’t sugarcoat shit.
I need her to keep me grounded and ride out this storm with me.
To just be here.
Reaching all the places inside me that only she can.
Because with her I can’t go numb and I can’t turn it off.
I can’t cover it up with jokes or drugs.
With her, I feel everything full throttle.
And without her…
I fall apart.
I don’t even realize Crystal’s come back until I hear Dylan say, “Where’s C.J.? Do you need me to watch her for the night?”
Crystal shakes her head. “No, that’s okay. Clarissa Jasmine is staying with one of my girlfriends for the time being.” She blows her nose with a tissue. “God, I can’t believe this is happening. How the hell am I go
“Wayne will pull through,” Dylan assures her. “He’s strong.”
“He was walking out to his car when he was shot, right?”
It’s the first time I’ve spoken since I’ve been here.
“Yeah,” Crystal says with a nod. “Wayne had just left his office and was walking out to the parking garage to get in his car. We were making arrangements for him to pick up Clarissa Jasmine when I heard some man say something followed by two shots.” She blows her nose again. “I was so terrified I dropped the phone twice before I could call 911.”
Frowning, Sawyer hands her another tissue.
I’m about to park my ass in the waiting room to get away from this shit when a strange thought hits me.
“You said you heard the guy say something before the shots?”
Crystal takes a sip of her coffee. “Yeah, but it made no sense. Wayne doesn’t even like comic books.” She shrugs. “I think it was just some homeless deranged person wanting to steal money from him.”
“Comic books?” I question, not understanding. “What the fuck do comic books have to do with anything?”
Rolling her eyes, she fishes her phone out of her purse. “Because right before he shot Wayne the man said—Loki says hi.”