Rianne rose like a phoenix out of the ashes, arms outstretched, talons lethally long, then spun around to face me. “Good move. But you can’t kill me.” She darted over to the door and locked it. “In case we’re interrupted.”
I would’ve liked to argue that she couldn’t keep vampires out, but the brunette’s words rang in my ears.The building was built to withstand enemy vampires. If your sister realizes it, we might not save anyone.
I was going with the assumption that Rianne did realize it, and Jordyn and I were screwed. Conrad wouldn’t be able to get in.
There had to be an emergency exit in the kitchen. The sliding glass door behind me was a way out, and I could easily leave, but not without Jordyn, who was struggling with her restraints.
I was about to help Jordyn when Rianne stalked into the aisle directly ahead of me.
Think, girl. Act now. Catch her off guard. She has claws and fangs. You can’t compete with that.
“All exits are locked,” Rianne bragged. “I heard the cook saying the building could withstand enemy fire.”
As she marched in my direction, I flung the dagger, and as it soared through the air, Rianne came to an abrupt halt, grinning as if she had a secret. When the knife pierced her throat, her lips split into a bloodthirsty smirk.
My pulse shot through the roof, even more so when she removed the weapon and licked the tip of the blade.
Fuck me.
I caught a glimpse of Jordyn on my right, now free, bending down to retrieve the blade I’d thrown to her.
Rianne charged me, claws primed to scratch out my eyes, canines gleaming from her upper gums.
I crouched down, shoving my head into her stomach as I latched on to her legs, and right before I lifted her, her talons scored my back. Pain lanced through me, infusing me with more adrenaline as I shrieked before throwing her behind me. I whirled around as she popped to her feet.
“You don’t stand a chance, Layla,” Rianne boasted.
Jordyn charged her with the dagger. “My turn.” My younger sister yearned to inflict pain on her.
Rianne snorted. “Give me all you got, sis,” she said rather proudly to Jordyn.
I grabbed a chair and rushed toward Rianne and swung at her head. The impact did nothing other than make her growl, giving Jordyn a window to flee.
“Get out of here, Jordyn,” I shouted.
Before Jordyn could move, Rianne had her by the throat, lifting her and pinning her to the counter. “I wanted Layla to be first, but I’ll settle for you.”
I jumped onto the table and dove at Rianne, and when I was midair, she swung out her free arm, backhanding me. Her powerful strength sent me flying through the air. My back hit a booth, taking the brunt of the impact before my head followed suit. Every ounce of air left me, and I lost the ability to breathe as I landed on the floor. My lungs burned as I tried to get air in them but failed. I punched my chest, my mouth agape, inhaling. The ceiling spun above me, my head ready to explode.
Don’t you dare pass out, girl. Get up. You’re strong, resilient.
How the fuck could I stand? I couldn’t breathe.
I took a deep breath, and a smidge of air filled my lungs. On another inhale, more air. I repeated this process as I got on all fours and pushed myself upright. I staggered, catching the booth’s table, orienting my vision at my two sisters.
Rianne pulled a syringe from her vest pocket.
Fear squeezed my chest, but anger neutralized it, allowing me to gulp in as much oxygen as I could. I shouted, but nothing came out.
I grabbed a sugar jar off the table and threw it at Rianne. The fucking thing missed but distracted her enough to bare her fangs at me.
I picked up the saltshaker and launched it at her. Then the pepper and a dirty dish that had a half-eaten burger on it. I kept launching anything I could get my hands on. Some items hit her, and others didn’t. But my actions were enough to distract her from using the syringe.
She threw Jordyn into the window as if our sister was a piece of trash. Jordyn slumped like a rag doll before she crumpled to the floor.
Fury pumped through my veins, spiking my adrenaline enough to clear my mind. From where I stood, I looked for but didn’t see the dart gun. It wouldn’t kill her, but it might slow her down.
Rianne came toward me, hunger in her red eyes, needle ready to inject me. “It’s always been you I wanted.”
