He couldn’t die fast enough.
At least I had him right where I wanted.
I smirked once, cold and cruel, and whispered against his mouth, “You’re mistaken, Tom. Our final resting place won’t be next to each other and you were alousy fuck. We were together ahandful of times. It’s not my fault you romanticized it and fell in love, you delusional moron.”
His eyes flared with shock. “You fucking—”
“And today won’t be my last day on Earth. But it will be yours,” I growled and moved fast, slashing my knife across his face. “This is for hurting my Luna!”
I got him right in the eye and down across his cheek.
Blood instantly sprayed out of the cut and some of it landed on my white turtleneck. He screamed and fell back on his ass in a dramatic flourish, clutching his face. “Fuck!”
His bellow shook through the mausoleum and I leapt up on my unsteady feet. Whirling around, I dashed away, adrenaline pumping through me. Tom staggered behind, howling in pain.
When I almost reached the threshold and felt the heat of him at my back, I quickly grabbed the shovel he’d discarded earlier and turned around. “And this?” I spat. “This is for Morgan!”
I whacked himhardwith all my might.
The sound of metal meeting flesh and bone crunched loudly in the air.
Tom screamed again and fell back a few steps, bending over to brace his middle.
Satisfied that I’d disengaged him enough, I darted forward.
It must have rained. The manicured green lawn beneath my feet was wet and slippery. We were in a large clearing—maybe the backyard of Prescott Mansion—and willow trees lined the perimeters. Between the spaces, I could make out a wrought-iron fence and a street beyond it.
Run as fast as you can, Gabriela. All you need to do is get there, drag yourself to the other side of the fence, and get help. You can do it.
I ignored the protesting ache in my body as I pushed myself to a sprint, gnashing my teeth when I saw the grave to my left.
“Come back here!” he yelled. “Gabriela!”
How did he manage to gain on me with his injuries? He must be moving on pure adrenaline. Determined, I also kept running. Despite everything in me wanting to collapse right here, right now.
An arm circled around my waist. I was lifted into the air.
I turned feral, screaming, kicking, clawing at his hold as he dragged me back.
His heavy pants hit the top of my head and a knife pressed against my throat.
“You never listen, do you?” he grunted while I struggled. “We’re meant to be together. The sooner you accept it, the fucking better.”
He threw me to the ground. I landed right next to the grave. Every nerve ending in my body cried out. I was beyond exhausted and yet I still managed to crawl backwards and away from him. “Go to hell, Tom!”
“I am.” He was gruesome, every bit the depiction of a monster, with sweat-matted hair and blood running down his eye and sunken cheek. “But I’m taking you with me, Gabriela.”
Sobs spilled out of me as I retreated on weak limbs. I’d lost my own knife in the scuffle and had no weapons to use against him. Tom was purposely taking his time trekking forward, the sadistic side of him basking in my fear.
“I’ll slice your throat first,” he announced. “I’ll do the same to myself and join you. Don’t worry, baby. It’ll all end as it was meant to be. You and me. Together. Forever.”
His words filled me with revulsion.
I didn’t want to die.
I wanted to live.
I wanted to grow old and grey with my friends, with my family, with my Hunter.
