I cough out another laugh. Maeve has landed more hits on Bruno than not. It’s fucking poetic.
Bruno looks down at me, and I see his urge to gut me. Make me hurt. Suffer.
Killian tsks, shoving his hands into his pockets. “We both know her aim is faster than you can run.” His smile turns twisted. “Do it.”
Without waiting, Collins rushes forward, dropping to her knees and pulls me into her lap. She checks my neck, my skin, fingers sticky with my blood. I’m almost ashamed I’m bleeding all over her.
The others move too quickly to track, my eyes darkening and clearing. There’s the flash of metal, the scuffle of feet, before Collins is grabbed out from under me. My shoulder slaps into the cement and I groan.
Looking up, I blink, focusing on the sight before me. Bruno stands, Collins in his arms, a gun pressed to her temple. Killian and Maeve are standing over me, and the reaper is bleeding. When did he get shot?
“Collins…” I moan, rolling over, but I can’t lift myself. My whole body throbs like a heartbeat outside of my chest, pounding against the cement.
Is this how I die?
“You think I won’t kill you for hurting my family?” Maeve asks, turning the safety off on her gun. “What’s the plan, Bruno? Steal Collins? I know where you live.”
“Consider this payment for killing my father and brother.” His hand shakes, the cold and madness finally doing him in. Collins glances at me—and she isn’t afraid.
No, my viper isfurious.
Without warning, she steps on his foot, throwing her elbow into his gut and both Maeve and Killian run forward. Maeve grabs Collins as Killian points the gun upward, one single shot ringing out into the night.
But she’s not done. Roman is on the ground, holding his groin, and Collins wrestles a knife from Maeve. The pearl-inlaid handle glints with malice, and she holds it to his throat, pinning him.
This is why I call her a viper. She’s tightly wound, perfectly composed but when she’s pushed or threatened? She will strike you dead. I knew that side was under the mask and I see it now, defending me.
She’s so vicious—and God above, I’ve never been more in love.
“Payment is me, dissecting your eyes while you’re still alive,” she promises, voice deadly calm. This is the monster Ferguson made—the doctor of pain and violence and I’m ready to bow for her. “Payment is me cutting off your balls and making you eat them. For what you did to me, what you did to my sister. But really? The best payment would be letting Hayes throw you in the blue room hell and leaving you there torot.”
Neither Maeve nor Killian interfere. They’re transfixed, like me, letting Collins have her moment.
“You don’t have the balls—” She stabs the knife into the joint of his arm and shoulder, a place that takes time to heal and can always act up.
Roman screams, nothing but a weak man faced with a strong woman.
“You don’tknowme,” she taunts. “You don’t know what I can do. What Iwilldo for him.” She rips the knife out and does the same thing to the opposite joint. “I will unleash fury on you and cut you into pieces, sew you back up and then do it all over again until you lose all concept of pain and life. I’ll do whatever it takes to make Hayes feel safe. Even if it destroys my soul.”
She pulls the knife out and a spray of blood covers the payment.
“Don’t,” Maeve commands as Collins raises the knife again. There’s a pause, and I look to her emerald eyes—twin cold stones that want vengeance. “If you kill him, you start a war.”
“If I kill him, I end his terror.”
Maeve seems to understand, walking closer to her sister. Gently, she grabs the wrist held high, prying the blade from her grip, finger by finger. “If you do, you become me.” Silently, they communicate. “And we both know you’re not me.”
My body falls back, the cold seeping into my injuries. It’s numbing, but I’m also slowly freezing. “Go to him. Let me handle this.”
She pushes Collins toward me. I don’t know where anyone is, just feel Collins’ stained hand caress my cheeks and hear her sweet sniffles.
If I’ve died, this is Heaven.
“Hey.”
Cracking a smile, I find it hard to move. “Hey.” Licking my lips, I lift my hand. “Collins, I?—”
“No, you listen to me,” she interrupts. “You didn’t let me say it before, so I am now. I love you, Hayes Monticello. I’ve probably secretly loved you since we were kids.” She pulls me close, her body heat burning my side like a blistering flame and God, I need it. “And I’m going to tell you every single day that I love you. Because you need to know you’re loved. That you’re safe.
