Page 56 of Cyber
Sobbing hard, my head snapped up and around at the sound of the low familiar voice. Brown eyes crinkled at the edges as he smiled sadly at me.
“Cyber?” I whispered his name like it was something forbidden. How could he be there? I had seen him die. I had watched it with my own eyes. It was impossible that he was standing behind me, holding me upright with his beautiful brown eyes gazing down at me with so much love.
Blackness ate up my vision, but I heard clearly before I passed out those familiar words. The words that had started all of this, all those years ago.
“Hello, Iris.”
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I knewshe was going to faint before she did. It was clear what was going to happen from the way her eyes widened and the blood drained from her face when I spoke. Not that I could blame her.
It wasn't exactly how I had wanted to tell her I was still alive. But what choice did I have? When she collapsed onto the grass, I moved without thinking. But not before I cursed Maggie out. She had known I was there, waiting for a glimpse of them. The two most important people in my life. And she had sent Iris out into the rain without warning her.
What could she have even said anyway? Oh yeah, I know you think Cyber’s dead, but he’s not. SURPRISE.
“Mommy?” Violet's blue eyes peered at me from beneath her lashes as I stepped through the front door. Her young face creased with worry, but, God, it was good to see her again. The last few months had been hell. The club was in turmoil with Fang going into hiding. He couldn't be seen if he was meant to be dead.
“It’s ok, sweetheart.” I wanted to gather her up in my arms as well. Tell her that it was going to be ok. I couldn't be sure what she had been told about the night they had left, but she wasn't looking at me like a ghost, so I was guessing she hadn't been told I was dead.
There was that at least.
“Your mommy just needs to lay down for a while. Why don't you go back to Maggie?” I shifted Iris in my arms. She wasn't heavy, but my arms were cramping all the same, and I wanted to get her somewhere private before she woke up and started freaking out again.
With a smile and a little wave, Violet skipped back the way she came. I let out a sigh of relief. I didn't want her to hear the conversation I was about to have with Iris. I already knew it was going to be bad.
Trudging up the stairs, I had just kicked shut the bedroom door when her eyes flew open. There was a second of undiluted terror in her eyes as she stared up at me, and then she started to thrash her arms and legs, pinwheeling furiously.
“Fuck, Iris, calm down.” I swore loudly as one of her booted feet hit me in the groin. I dropped her onto the edge of the mattress as I bent to cup myself with my hands. “Shit.” I hissed.
Rolling to her feet, Iris put the bed between us. “You're alive.”
Straightening, I flashed her my most charming smile. “Surprise?” I meant for it to come out jokingly. It ended up sounding lame. “Did you miss me?”
Her eyes flashed, the anger in them aimed directly at me. Maybe joking wasn't the best way to do this, I realised too late. With a howl like a cat, Iris launched at me. Her hands were like claws as they raked down my face, her nails cutting into my skin.
“I thought you were fucking dead, you fucking asshole.” Screeching like a banshee from hell, she attacked again, her anger giving her more strength.
“Baby… Iris.” Grabbing her wrists, I pulled them down to her sides, so she couldn't do any more damage. “You need to calm down.”
“Calm down?” Her voice got higher and higher as she fought against my grip. “I grieved for you! I fucking...”
I didn’t let her finish. I couldn't blame her rage, but I did need her to calm down before she scared Violet. “I know this is a shock, and I wish we could have told you, but believe me it was for your own good. Yours and Violet’s. It was the only way I could guarantee your safety.”
“You all knew about this? Everyone?”
“Iris.” I did the only thing I could think of. I kissed her.
It had been months since I had felt her soft lips on mine, and that one small touch was like filling my lungs with oxygen after drowning.
She tore her lips from mine, her head leaning back sharply, and then she drove her forehead into my face. My nose exploded in a shower of blood.
“Fuck you, Cyber, fuck you.”
I let go of her without meaning to and she stepped back. There was blood on her forehead, running into her eyes.
My blood.
