I won’t until he’s safe. Until I can put him back together again.
The knife I’m carrying slices into Emin’s arm, deep into the muscle, tearing at the flesh and forcing him to drop the gun to the ground with a clatter.
Behind me, I hear Henry’s cursing, the crash of a chair, but still, I don’t hesitate. I just twist the knife and drag it up to Emin’s shoulder, effectively severing the joints.
Emin screams, trying to fight me off, but I’m stronger and fueled by more than anger and revenge.
I’m fueled by love.
I pull the knife from his shoulder and stab it into his chest, falling with him as he sinks to his knees, trying to push me away, but I just grab the back of his neck and twist the blade deeper. So deep that the hilt plunges into his chest, enveloping it.
Dragging it down his sternum, I feel each rib slowly fracture until Emin is on the floor, blood gushing from him onto me.
I’m covered in it.
And still, I don’t stop.
I promised I’d tear him apart, and I always keep my promises.
My hands sink into his chest, and with a roar, I rip his ribcage open. Bones crack, blood gushes, his heart and lungs completely exposed. I know I said I’d make him suffer, but I can’t wait for retribution.
And he doesn’t have long.
So I make sure I’m the last person he sees.
That my words are the last in his mind.
“Look at me,” I hiss. “Look at me.”
His eyes flick to mine, and I reach up and hold onto his bloody chin.
“His reaper has come to collect, and you will pay for your sins.”
With that, I reach inside his chest and rip his heart from his body, watching as the life fades from his eyes. It’s slow, he fights it, but he doesn’t win. In the end, I conquered Death.
When his head lolls to the side, I finally let myself look.
To see what’s become of the man I love.
My head turns, hair in my eyes, spittle on my chin.
Bane is blinking up at me, lying on the floor in a puddle of his own blood, Henry dead beside him, his eyes sunken into his head.
“Georgiy,” Bane whispers, and I crawl toward him, grasping and holding his body as he sinks into unconsciousness.
And the cry that leaves my mouth rips at my vocal cords.
And when they find me, I’m lost to it all.
I’m utterly and completely lost.
“Georgiy, come. You need to eat.” Anthony is staring down at me as I sit near Bane’s bed and watch him. I’ve not moved for days, hoping he wakes up.
He hasn’t. It’s been a week and still nothing. The trauma to his body was almost too much. It makes the gunshot wound on my shoulder look like nothing.
“I won’t leave him.”
“You’re no good to him dead.”
