BASHing Trinity novel Chapter 25

BASH

My eyes bulge, and my pulse races the moment I recognize him. I can feel the sound of my heartbeat thrashes in my ears in terror.

I’m still glued in my place, and I am unable to move a muscle even if I want to. My jaw locked up even if I want to scream for help. Everything just freezes.

He slips his right hand inside his coat. The only thing that comes in my mind is maybe he's pulling out his gun. Is he going to kill me now? My parent's words flash right into my face.

He’s a psychopath!

“Bash, I’m not gonna hurt you.” His deep voice makes me blink and bring me back to reality.

I’m in front of a fucking murderer for fuck sake, yet I can't do anything. He's blocking the only exit I know unless I jump from the rooftop. And there's no way I will survive, or maybe I end up with a couple of broken bones.

When panic strikes me, I raise my hand and drop the half-empty bottle to the floor.

“Don’t come closer to me, Mr. Tennings, or I will call the cops!” I warn him. I know it doesn't affect him because my voice is trembling.

“I need to tell you something, Bash,” he says in a calm but firm tone as if he's running out of time to convince me to believe him.

“I’m not gonna listen to your lies, Mr. Tennings. I’ve heard enough lies for tonight!” I shout at him. This time my voice is a little bit louder.

He looks hurt, but it’s gone in a second. He knows how to mask his feelings. He’s a real psychopath. He saunters in my direction cautiously.

I’m still standing in my place, and I can’t step back because I’m already at the edge.

“Bash, listen to me, and I don’t have much time. The people are on their way over here looking for me.” He takes a deep breath and he stops when he’s a yard closer to me. “Bash, I’m not—“

I gasp when a hissing sound passes through the air.

There's a moment of deafening silence, and my heart stops.

My eyes grow wide when Mr. Tennings’ hand grasps quickly on his left chest. Blood starts to ooze from his hand, then he falls slowly to the floor with his face fills with horror.

“Tennings!” I quickly kneel in front of him, shrugging off my suit jacket, and forms it into a ball and presses it against his bleeding chest.

“Don’t dare die, you fucking old mutt!” I yell at him. I don't know why I can't let him die when the fact is he's a bad man.

His face grows paler, and I know he’s not going to make it. I fish out my phone, but I feel a hand places on top of my hand that I pressed against his chest.

I look down at him, and he shakes his head. “I need to call 911.”

He shakes his head again. I can’t do anything but swallow hard. I want to shout out loud out of frustration. Never in my life, I watched people die, especially like how it happened to him.

“T-take.” He swallows blood that slips from his mouth. “T-take it.” He swallows again and coughs. Blood spits out from his mouth.

“For fuck sake, Tennings!”

His hand slowly tap the floor. My brows furrow in confusion. What the fuck is he telling me?

“T-take my journal.”

My eyes widen. I quickly search for a pocket of his coat. I find a phone and a notebook that is folded into two.

I watch his head drops to the side, then he stops breathing, but blood continues oozing from his mouth. His blue eyes turn glassy, indicating his death. I just stare at him in horror, and I forget my own life that whoever shot him, I might be the next target.

The door slams open that has me startle. My head snaps to see Edmund and my new bodyguard name Derek come rushing towards me when they see me in front of the dead man.

“We need to get you out of here, Bash! ” Edmund says, grabbing my arm. They're now on full alert.

“Now, Bash!”

I jerk my arm off from him. “I could have long dead if they targeted me, asshole!” I snarl at him. I realize I might be right. I sniff and wipe my tears that unknowingly fell. I don't know that I cried for that old man who put my mom's life in danger.

Derek is busy scanning the area as he presses his phone to his ear. He is probably calling for my family or an ambulance.

“I need you to get up, Bash. He’s dead, and I need you safe, please?” he says with full concern.

I swipe Tennings’ face to close his eyes then grab my bloodstained jacket with me. I look down at him again on more time and walk away.

I ignore the hug from my family, though, it’s killing me deep inside. They raised me and gave me the life that anyone could’ve asked for.

Mom and Lizzy are sobbing and hugging me tighter, but I feel nothing but betrayal. I love them so much more than my life, but I’m so hurt that they have to hide something about me.

My whole life is a fucking lie!

“Bash!” Trinity launches herself on me. “Bash, I was so worried about you. How? What happened?” She scans my bloody shirt, and I’m still gripping the bloodstained jacket with me.

She hugs me again before she scans the crowded Night Stalker parking lot full of vehicles, police cars, my family cars, nosy people, and an ambulance.

They did check me up before my family arrived just to see that I’m perfectly okay to go.

“Let’s go, Trinity. Can you drive us back?” I ask.

She nods repeatedly. “Of course. Where is Edmund?”

I shake my head. “Drive us to your apartment, Tri,” I answer slowly.

She looks confused, but I can't explain it to her right now. I am still shocked by what happened to Mr. Tennings, and the fact that my life is full of lies.

She doesn’t know anything yet, I guess. “You are safer with them, Bash,” she says with concern.

“Trinity, I’m so fucking tired. I need a rest, and if you can’t fucking drive me home, then I’ll just take a hotel room.”

She startles, and I blink in shock. I just dumped all my anger and frustration on her.

“I’m sorry, Tri.” I pull her closer and squeeze her into a hug.

“It’s okay, Bash. I’m so sorry you have to witness that horrifying death.”

I release her after kissing the top of her head. “Let’s go, baby, please?”