Blood Is Thicker Than Water (A New Adult Dark Thriller Series of Mystery and Suspense) ( free series of thriller, mystery, suspense and horror) (Next Of Kin Book 1) Read Free Page B

her down in the playpen, she wondered what would be next.  If Zoe managed to get by unscathed, she would fire the nanny for bringing this poor excuse of a human being to her doorstep.
    "Break open the wine bottle. It’s time to celebrate."
    "What?"
    "Now we can be together.”
    "Are you crazy?”
    "Dina, want to play a game?" Alex asked, emptying his bullets, all but one, like a spoiled brat he was determined one way or another.
    "When I count to three, close your eyes.  One...two...three." Alex instructed, aiming it at her temple, his finger dangerously close to the trigger.
    "Please, don't." Zoe sobbed.
    "I'm doing this for us."
    Alex wanted to see how far and how hard he could push.  With every misfire, she was more and more frantic.
    "Tell me you love me.  Tell me you love me.  This is your last chance."
    "I love you."
    "I don't believe you.  You’re a bad mother, and a lousy wife.” Alex replied, disdain in his voice, then opened fire.
    "No!" Zoe shrieked.
    The bullet pierced her skin, then her heart.   She collapsed in the middle of the floor.
    "Get up." Alex nudged her with his foot, continually. 
    There was no movement.
    "What did I do? What did I do?  Zo." Alex wept. 
    The sound of his beating heart and the children's constant bawling invaded his musings.  Alex wouldn't be able to live with himself if he killed the woman he loved.  He violently stroked his hair, riddled with guilt then fearfully tapped his forehead, had a notion of making a clean getaway.  Would he leave her for dead? 
    Alex gathered the receiver, hands trembling, dialed a number.  He had a hankering for a cigarette.
    "911 what's your emergency?" The female dispatch answered.
    “I want to report a felony." Alex said.
    “What’s the nature of your call sir?” The female dispatch inquired.
    “My wife’s been shot.  She’s not breathing.”
    “Do you have a positive ID on the attacker?  Sir?”
    Alex dropped the handset, slumped against the wall, head in hands whilst the dispatcher reiterated the last question.  Grabbing the screaming brood, one in each arm, he dried their tears and attempted to soothe them.  I really screwed up this time.  He thought.
    4.
    "Hands behind your head." The officer instructed.
    Witnessing their father in cuffs was something they wouldn’t forget.  They were at that stage where they were too young to know what was going on but old enough to remember. 
    "We got a heartbeat." The man said.
    Alex took a quick peek just as the EMTs moved her to the gurney.  Then back to the second-in-command officer who read him the Miranda rights.
    "You have the right to remain silent."
    "Zo!" Alex shouted.
    “Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law."
    " Zo!” Alex screamed.
    "You have the right to an attorney."
    "Zo!” He watched the EMTs wheel her out.
    "If you do not have an attorney, one will be appointed for you."
    "Zo!"
    "Hey! Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?" The officer asked, frustrated.
    "Yeah I got it."
    The officer ushered him to the back of the squad car.  Alex loathed himself for what he had done.  He never dreamed in a million years that he would shoot his wife or force his kids in the arms of a stranger.   How do you deal with the fact that the person you should've shielded your family from was you?
    Alex was charged with attempted murder.  The minimum sentence was fifteen years in prison….maximum: Life.
    All he could concentrate on was her.  Everything else seemed irrelevant.  The best that he could do was get help.  Alex had dug a hole he couldn’t get out of.  She deserves to be with someone great.  And that's never been me . He thought.
     
    They booked him and stuck him in a holding cell.   The arraignment was scheduled for ten o’clock tomorrow.  Alex was ready to face the verdict.  He was beside himself.  It was so unreal. It felt like a dream.  A dream he couldn't escape.   Alex had a lot of regrets, this being at