Page 30 of Surrender (Steel Brothers Saga 6)

“I’m not so sure I didn’t. Remember, there was a time when I wanted to get my ass shot off.”

“Your depression was situational, due to what happened to you. I’m assuming you didn’t have a history of dark moods before that?”

He shook his head. “No. I was a pretty happy kid.”

“Exactly. Now that you’re working through what happened to you and the consequences of it, you no longer feel that way.”

“No, I sure don’t.”

I succumbed to a small smile. Knowing Talon was healing made me so happy, but knowing Jonah was suffering nearly negated all of it.

“Talon,” I said, my voice serious, “you don’t think he would harm himself, do you?”

“No. He never has. And whatever that phone call was about, you know I will always have his back.”

Whatever was going on with Jonah, the phone call had been the catalyst. Something about his blood. I ached to call him, to help him, but I wasn’t sure if that was the direction to go. Still, he needed to know I was here for him.

“I’m going to call him. He may not answer, but I want him to know we’re worried about him. Then, would you drive me home?”

“Sure.”

I retrieved my phone and made the call. As I suspected, I got his voice mail.

“Jonah, it’s me. I don’t know what’s going on, but Talon and I are worried about you. Please call me. I love you.”

Chapter Fourteen

Jonah

I skidded into a parking spot at the hospital where that shithead Colin Morse was. I should have fucking left him in that basement to rot. This was my thanks for being a good Samaritan?

No more.

From now on, I’d let the darkness that I kept at bay take center stage. I was tired of this shit. At times, I held on by only a single thread. A line so thin that it was imperceptible. But I held on. I didn’t let the darkness take me.

Until now.

I swiped my hand over the Glock I had hidden in my ankle holster. I possessed a concealed carry permit, but I hardly ever used it. I hadn’t even stopped to arm myself before I went after Tom Simpson yesterday. No, I’d been too focused on my ultimate goal.

Right now, though, I was ready to snap.

How much was I supposed to take?

My phone buzzed.

Goddamnit! Probably another text from my psycho stalker. I threw the phone on the passenger seat. Screw it.

I opened the door but then looked at the phone again. What if something was wrong?

A voice mail. I keyed in my code and listened.

“Jonah, it’s me. I don’t know what’s going on, but Talon and I are worried about you. Please call me. I love you.”

Melanie.

Melanie loved me.

I sighed as I unclasped my ankle holster and locked the gun in the glove compartment. What had I been thinking? I’d gone dark. I’d told her to leave me alone. The most wonderful woman in the world loved me, and I’d told her to leave me alone.