“If you’re gonna kill me, I wanna look you in the face. Not the first time today that you tried. Stop being a pussy and take your mask off.”
His head slowly tilted to the side. “Wasn’t me, doll. That was the poor guy you made a puppet out of, earlier…what’d you call him?Larry?”
Everything is slowing down. I think time just hiccupped. My face is tingling. He brought me the man that tried to blow my brains out, and he expects me to believe he’s gonna kill me? My fingertips nudged my phone loose from my pocket and I double-tapped the screen. I’m thanking God or whoever is listening that I dimmed it.
“Lying piece of shit,” I spat. He pressed the flat of his big ass knife to my lips.
“Shhh…let’s not get off callin’ names, Little Doe. Besides…you’re the liar…aren’t you?”
I guessed at what corner I was tapping, hoping it was my recent calls and slid my finger across Declan’s name. He was about to say something else, I think…until vibrating started and light peeked out from his front jacket pocket. I felt my eyes slowly widen and my throat dry out.
No…no fucking way.
His contacts glowed as they slid down to the phone under my hand. He picked it up and clicked his tongue at me while I struggled underneath his weight. My breath sawed in and out of my lungs and panic took over. Batman hung up the phone and teetered it between his fingers.
“You were right. As men go, heisa ‘sexy little nerd’.”
“What did youdo?!” I jerked my body around, but his thighs only pressed tighter. There’s no way out of this. My mind is reeling. I can’t remember who I’d said that to…Lydia…I said that to Lydia while she was bleeding out in her own passenger seat. How the fuck? Where is Dec?
This is all my fault. Dec would’ve seen him coming if I’d just told him the truth. I’ve put them in more danger by trying to keep themoutof danger. Did I just sign everybody’s deathwarrant? My phone dropped to the ground, and he moved the knife from my face and raised it up, pointing the tip straight down at me. I’m about to get acquainted with the Devil. I thrashed around, screaming inaudible everything, leaves and hair scraping my face.
“Do it, Little Doe. Call out to him. Who do you really want? Who’s gonna save you?”
“Fuck you!”
“What’s his name?”
“Noooo!”I screamed through my teeth, putting up my best fight.
“Tell me, or I’ll fuck you into dog meat while you bleed out. Rough way to go, baby.” His elbow bent, and he leaned forward, setting himself up for my execution. “Last chance.”
“DECLAN!”I wailed, tears spearing towards my hairline.“DECLAAAANNNN!”
He moved quick and I squeezed my eyes shut, accepting my fate right before I heard the plunge of the knife into my chest…
…I…I don’t feel anything…
I peeled one eye open, looking up to see him sitting on top of me…arms at his sides. I warily opened the other one, my entire body violently shaking, and turned my head to see the knife buried into the ground—right next to my face. My harsh breaths clouded in front of me while I stared at the handle. I felt movement and looked up to see him lowering his hood…those neon eyes staring down at me while he started tugging up the bottom of his mask…
“You shoulda just told me…”
My breath caught in my throat as the material eased off his chiseled jawline and curls of his hair fell around the face I thought I’d never see again.
CHAPTER 10
The Pawn
It’s as glorious as I thought it’d be.
The panic I rose in her. The fear.
Thefight.
The one thing she’d never admit, but I’ve always known.
“You shoulda just told me…”
That beautiful perk of her chest heaved up and down while I pulled the ski mask over my head, the hair that was loose from my bun falling into my face.
