PARKER BOWMEN

Fredrick Roberson's body hung lifeless from the wall of Emmie's living room.

Riddled with bullet holes and blood streaming from every hole in his body, I did my best not to shutter.
Instead I sighed at the lost of a lead, and texted Jason instead.

PARKER: Witness 2 gone. Got a plan?

I shut my phone off as I watched the blue and red lights radiate around me.

This day is just great. Ducking great. 

My head began to pound as I thought about the last couple hours over again in my head.

I walked into the guest room - my temporary room-with my fist clenched at my sides.

I'd already walked around most of the dark house, just a couple more rooms, like the living room and kitchen. I was going to but then I fucking saw something move in here.

I swear I could've heard someone calling my name, but I waved it off.

Emmie was in the car, save and sound. Nothing to be worried about.

I scanned the destroyed room.

The once beautiful sheets were now torn off the bed and into shreds. Paintings fell from their places on the walls, holes punctured into them. Drawers from the dresser were smashed onto the ground, my clothing was scattered around the room.

I drew my lower lip between my teeth. The room looked as if they were looking for something.

But what?

"AHHHHHH!" A high pitch screams sounded around the house and I ran towards it without any other thought.

I saw a light shine as I ran faster towards the beginning of the house.

That's weird. It wasn't on when I got here.

God, please don't-.

As I got closer to the light, the clearer I could see the figure lower towards the ground. Another blood curling scream erupted from its lips and I finally realized who the person was.

Emily.

I rushed over to her and grabbed, tucking her protectively in my arms as she continued to scream.

"Emmie? Emmie, what's wrong?" My voice shook as I pushed her hair away from her face.

Tears streamed down her face as she pointed towards something in front of us.

I slowly looked up.

Fuck.

Blood dripped from the walls as the man's legs hung down towards the floor. His hands both nailed onto the wall, I almost had to look away.

That when I read the words drawn in blood a cross the wall.

"He that dies pays all debts."

The phone in my pocket buzzed and I pulled it out.

JASON: Didn't need him. His testimony is already recorded. Plus, it was going to happen anyways.

"Well, he's not wrong," I thought to myself as I replied.

PARKER: They know. Times running out.

JASON: You act as if I don't know.

JASON: Too close to stop now.

I rolled my eyes. It's always about him.

PARKER: They're going to go after him next.

JASON: Sounds like a personal problem.

I shut off my phone.

What an asshole.

I glanced over at the comatose body next to me.

"Well shit, Tomas, I didn't think you'd cause this much trouble." I leered the man in the bed; his breath steady and light.

Dead almost.

Almost.

I groaned and screwed up my face.

I wasn't about to pray over some comatose body, wishing that he'd thought about his early decisions that left this mess.

All I know is that the bed has been made and now someone has to lie in it and I'll be damned if it's Emmie. So I'll take the blame and hate, for now.

A small knock sounded around the dead-like room as I ran a hand through my already messy hair.

"Come in," I called out.

The sound of boots hit the floor as Emmie's older brother Colton walked in.

"Hey, I was wondering what we're going to do with Emily since it's not safe for her at home."

Straight to business. No, hey how are you since you watched a man's corpse hang for the wall.

"Shouldn't you be talking to Emily about this? Not me." My eyes stayed on Tomas.

Silence filled the room, almost as if Colton was speechless. But that's the thing, Colton never shuts the fuck up.

"Emily's," he paused, "not really ready to talk right now."

I sighed, this is never going to be easy.

After the police came, Emmie's terrifying screams transformed into silence.

She didn't say anything on the car ride here, to her family or to the police. Her face stayed cold.

"She's stone now." Cameron told me as we watched as the doctor's slid a needle into Emmie's arm, in which she didn't scare, even though she's terrified of needles.

As I came back to the present, a sick feeling appeared in my stomach.

"Yeah," I bit my lip and pushed my foot deeper into the floor.

"Okay. Well... do you have a place where she could stay? No one can take her in but our parents and I don't think she would want to go there." He walked up and stood beside me.

"Yeah." I nodded my head.

Emmie hated living with her parents since they thought that cheating was a way to a happy marriage.

"I don't have any space for her as much as I'd like." He lied through this teeth but I did question it.

I knew the truth.

The underground fighting life wasn't one Emmie should be involved with, and I couldn't agree more.

"Okay, what about her friends?"

"I think you mean your sister," he rolled his eyes and growled, "she's too busy with Tristan to care."

I nodded, not wanting to realm about my sister's infamous boyfriend. I didn't care if Colton had a problem with him. It wasn't my problem to solve.

Alright. New plan.

"How about... me?" I asked.

"You?"

"Yeah, I got an apartment near the city. How about that?" I turned towards him.

"Yeah, Yeah." He said as he looked upwards towards the blinding white ceiling, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Just until this all dies down. Then she can go back home." He seemed to be speaking to himself and not me.

"Alright then." I gazed back down to the sleeping man on the bed. "She's staying with me."

*****

Hey guys!

A lot of spoilers in one place. It's starting to make me nervous.

I changed the way I named chapters again but I swear, this will be the last time.

Tomas ^^^

Anyways, I hope you liked Chapter 18 of The Love That Is Parker Bowmen.

Remember don't forget to vote, comment and add to your library, if you want more!