Cold metal against my ear.
"See?" His voice is right next to my head. Shaking. Unhinged. "I'll hurt you. I'll fucking hurt you if I have to."
The pain is sudden and white-hot.
He's cutting me.
The knife slices through my earlobe. Through flesh and cartilage. I feel it separate. Feel blood run hot down my neck.
I scream.
The pain is nothing compared to the terror. To the realization that my brother just mutilated me.
That he's capable of this.
That he might actually kill me.
"See?" He's yelling now. "See? I'll hurt you! I'll do whatever I have to!"
I'm sobbing. Blood is everywhere. Running down my neck. Soaking into my shirt.
And then I feel it.
Different from the blood. Different from the pain.
Warmth between my legs. Wetness. Spreading.
No.
Oh no.
I look down.
My pants are soaked. Water is pooling beneath me on the hardwood floor.
My water just broke.
I look up at Gabe. Our eyes lock.
His face goes white.
"Sera—"
Labor.
I'm in labor.
Thirty-three weeks. Too early. Too dangerous.
I'm in labor in a bookstore, with my psychotic brother who just cut off my ear.
The baby is coming.
And I'm going to die here.
CHAPTER 35
Sera
