Unbearable (Unexpected Sequel)|✔️

70- Hello, Old Friend

"And as I've said earlier, my shooters never miss," Don continued. "I gave Ben a chance to redeem himself and what did he do? Miss! You can't tell me that's a coincidence."

All my resolve crumbled as I stared at Ben in disbelief. "You... you shot him?"

"Bella, please–" Ben begged, his voice cracking.

Don grimaced. "I should've known better than to send a touch-starved boy on a mission. He'd only screw it up."

I wanted to say something, anything at all, but my mind was reeling. Ben did shoot Dean. I knew this was a possibility but I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to consider it, let alone even believe it.

Ben scrambled over to me and clasped his hands in my lap. "Bella, you have to believe me. I–I didn't have a choice! I tried to miss–"

"I knew it," Don growled from behind us. My eyes snapped away from Ben's gray pleading ones to Don's dark ones. "Boys, take him away. We don't need him anymore."

The two men who had escorted Ben out earlier stepped forward and took him by the arms. Ben seemed unfazed, as if he knew this was coming. The thought of that made my stomach drop even lower.

"Wait!" I yelled frantically. No one spared me a second glance. They weren't going to let him go. "Ben, it's okay. I understand," I yelled. The least I could do was offer closure, right?

I gulped. Closure. Was I really just accepting he was going to die like that?

His eyes flashed up to me, relief shining through. He gave me a smile, one that looked grateful. It was all I could see as he disappeared from sight.

"What are you going to do to him?" My voice sounded harsh, even though tears were streaming down my face in rivers. I hated myself for crying. Now?! I didn't cry weeks after I broke up with Dean and now the tears wanted to show up?

Don had the audacity to nonchalantly shrug. "Oh, you know. I'll probably just kill him. Torture him, maybe."

"Leave him alone," I barked.

Something flashed in Don's eyes. He kneeled in front of me and grabbed my hair, but didn't pull this time. "You really like him, don't you?" He cocked his head. "I'd say love, but we both know you chose Dean over him."

I gritted my teeth. How did I always manage to get into these fucked up situations?

"Fine," he sighed, loosening his grip. "I'll let him go on one condition."

"What is it?" I blurted before I could stop myself.

He smirked disgustingly so. "Eager, are we? Let's have a little exchange. I'll let Benny go if you call Dean here."

"No."

"No? Then Ben doesn't get saved."

I wiggled in my chair, trying to see if my wrists could maneuver out of the ropes. No such luck. They remained tight and bound. The coarseness of the rope was burning through my skin to the point where I had to give up before the skin went raw.

I helplessly looked up at Don, who pretended to be interested in his own hands. Stupid bastard! I took a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut.

"Take me instead."

There was silence. Then I felt Don's cold fingers lift my chin up and force me to look at him. As I opened my eyes, I saw his suspicious eyes peering at me.

"What do you have that I could possibly want? You're just a little girl."

"You said it yourself, Dean and I are a team. If you..." I faltered. "If you kill me, it would absolutely crush Dean."