SIX

❛ That fucking blonde American cunt ❜

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TANGERINE IS FURIOUS to say the least. After watching his wife strut back down the carriage isle in search for a phone, and the train rolled to a stop, the blonde American took it upon himself to send Tangerine flying backwards out of the door and onto the station's platform.

He didn't have enough time to scurry up and back through the door before they had sealed closed again. So, he got on the only way he thought appropriate, through the back driver windows. He cut his knuckles in the process as he smashed his fist against the glass before managing to slip into the train with his hair falling in front of his eyes and drops of blood littering his face.

As he marches down the train isle, he only really has two major things on his mind; Vanessa and Lemon. They've both been on this train with the crazy blonde American and as he glares up the carriages, he can't spot his wife or his brother, causing his blood to boil further.

"That fucking blonde American cunt," He grumbles to himself, running a hand through his hair to remove it from his eyes.

He steps past a man, then whirls around again, tapping the relaxed man gently on the shoulder, "You haven't happened to have seen a pretty lady come through here, have you, mate? Dark long hair, black dress and heels. She's about this tall," He motions to his chin.

The man shrugs simply before swirling around in his sets to jab a finger towards the front of the train, "She went that way."

Tangerine licks his lips and after muttering a small thank you, he continues up the train, having wished for a more precise answer.

He storms through a set of doors, his head whipping back and forth as he scans every row of seats until his feet comes in contact with a bottle and he skids to a stop, watching as the plastic container rolls under a chair. He glances at the floor, noticing a line of blood staining the carpet below him. Worrying seeping into his mind, he follows the trail, turning his head back towards the doors and to the bathroom, which is wired shut.

His brows furrow, and he makes his way over to the door, ripping the wiring away with a low grumble before sliding the bathroom door open harshly, his face immediately dropping at the sight.

He steps forward, slowly wrapping a shaky hand around his wife's bare arm and pulling her into a sitting position against the wall. His lips pull up in a line as he notices the blood dripping from her temple.

"Fuck, no, fuck," He whispers quietly, brushing a hand through her hair to reveal the rest of her relaxed face, "Nessa? Jesus fucking. . . fuck."

He turns his head slightly away from her, and that's when he sees him. Lemon rests at the side of Vanessa, his eyes closed and blood soaking his cheek and seeping through his white shirt and dress jacket.

Tangerine drops back against the opposite wall, raising a shaky hand to cover his mouth in horror and he squeezes his eyes shut, not baring to look at the pair of them for any longer.

Slowly, he raises his hands to the necklace around his neck, and lifts it over his head and transfers it to Lemon's neck. Then, his eyes drop to the wedding ring wrapped around his finger, and his lip quivers as he looks back at Vanessa's face, watching as her eyes move under her eyelids.

He straightens up instantly, jumping towards her and grasping her cheeks gently to hold her face directly in front of his.

"Ness?" He calls quietly, tapping her cheek frantically, "Ness? Wake up. Fuck. Vanessa, come on. Wake up for me, love."

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flashback.
YEARS EARLIER.

Vanessa delivered a shove into Tangerine's chest, and he stumbled back a few steps, slightly surprised by her strength as his back hit their kitchen counter.

She jabbed a harsh finger in his direction while her lip quivered in an attempt to stop herself from crying, "I thought you were fucking dead! You said the missions was three days long, not three fucking weeks!"

He shook his head gently, raising his palms out in front of him as he stepped closer slowly, "Ness, I'm fucking sorry, okay? My phone fucking broke, and Lemon—"

She scoffed loudly, "Of course it did. It's either 'my phone broke', or 'I forgot' or 'Lemon this, Lemon that'. Tan, I'm your fucking wife. I need to know if you're alive or not," She ran her hands through her hair, "Lemon arrived home four days before you, and refused to tell me anything about if you were okay, so don't even think about using Lemon as an excuse."

"Will you bloody listen to me?" He grumbled, "I got caught up with our target, okay? I told Lemon to come home and tell you I were okay, but he's a fucking eejit and forgot what I told him to do! Believe me, if I knew you were at home worrying yourself to pieces, I would've been home a lot sooner."

Vanessa squeezed her eyes shut. After Lemon had arrived home and refused to let go of any information about her husbands whereabouts, she had taken it upon herself to find him, but even though she's been tracking people down since she was a teenager, he was completely off the grid.

"I thought you were dead," She sighed, meeting his guilty gaze, "I expected someone to come fucking knocking on the door and tell me you were M.I.A or some shit like that."

He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her neck, pulling her into his chest and pecking a kiss on her head, "You need to stop expecting the worst."

"That's bloody rich coming for you," She mumbled into his chest, breathing in his familiar cologne.

"All made up then?" A voice called from the doorway, and the couple release each other to see Lemon smiling at them.

Tangerine rolled his jaw, raising his arm to point roughly at his brother, "I fucking told you to tell her I was alright, you numpty."

Lemon's brows cinched together, "Nah, you didn't. I would've remembered."

"You can't even fucking remember what we had for tea last night," Tangerine snapped, "You nearly just cost me my bloody marriage."

Vanessa snorted, rolling her eyes at his exaggeration.

Lemon motioned towards her, "See? She's dandy."

"Well, she wasn't two days ago when she thought I were dead," Tangerine snarled harshly, "Did you even bother thinking about that, eh?"

"I was saving her the pain if you were actually dead," Lemon shrugged, "Being M.I.A is much better than just bloody dead."

Vanessa shook her head at the brothers before turning around to head towards the bedroom, "Please stop arguing, lads. I plan on having some sleep tonight."

Tangerine threw her a thumbs up, "Sorry, love. We'll behave, won't we, Lemon?" He jabbed his elbow into his brother's stomach.

Lemon hummed enthusiastically, waving at her as she slipped into the bedroom with a small smile, "Night night, Ness."

"Jesus christ, she's not a fucking kid, Lemon," Tangerine grumbled loudly, "Night night? What kinda childish bullshit is that?"

"What did I just fucking say?" Vanessa called, laughing lowly.

"Sorry!" He shouted back, "Goodnight, love."

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WORD COUNT: 1245

not proof read