“Yes, it’sfucking Jolie, you piece of shit! Now get me out of here,” she yelled, and despite the banging in the back of my skull and the throbbing in my ribs, Ifound myself shaking my head and laughing quietly.
“Step back,” Isaid, relief flooding me. Icharged the door with my good shoulder, but it didn’tstop the pain running from one shoulder to the next. Lights flashed behind my eyes as Islammed myself against the door again, blood splattering against the wood, though Iwasn’teven sure where it was coming from anymore. “Fuck.” Ihissed in asharp, painful breath before Ithrew myself at the door once more, and finally the lock gave in and the door flew open.
Istumbled forward, only managing to stop myself from falling down by sheer luck. The world spun and Ishook my head to try to get my eyes to focus.
“Gauge.” Jolie said my name, and Iwasn'tsure if it was the pain talking, but she sounded confused.
“Who the fuck else did you expect?” Igrunted, my head feeling foggy. Blood was trailing down the side of my neck and onto my shirt and cut, and her eyes looked over me.
“God, look at you. You’re amess,” she said matter-of-factly, and despite everything Istarted to laugh. This bitch’sfucking brazen bullshit and complete lack of care never failed to impress me.
Her eyes widened as she watched me laugh, and then all the weight left my body and Idropped to my knees with aheavy thud. The stitches in my side had popped back open and fresh blood was pouring from the wound. Ipressed ahand to it, and when Ipulled it back, my fingers dripped with warm red. The world was spinning, and the more Itried to make it stop, the more it spun.
“Well, you’re no good to anyone, are you?” she sighed. “Is Dom here, at least?” she said from above me.
When Ilooked up Isaw apair of smooth, tanned legs amile long. Ivy tattoos trailed from ankle to thigh, each vine ending with asplash of red from abloody rose. My gaze rose higher still, trailing up her voluptuous body until my eyes met Jolie’s. Our gazes locked on each other, ashared look passing between us. Her expression was hard, her lips pursed like she didn’tgive afuck about anything or anyone. Fuck me, she took my breath away.
“What the fuck are you wearin’?” Igrunted out, finally noting the short pink dress she was wearing. It wasn’tJolie—she was all black leather and tight corsets—but there was no denying that it looked good on her. Hell, anything would look good on her.
She touched the hem of the dress and made adisgusted sound. “This is trash, that’swhat it is.”
Despite the fucking siren in front of me, the sound of footsteps in the hallway were unmistakable and Itook adeep breath and gritted my teeth before pushing through my pain and delirium and dragging myself back up to my feet. Iaimed my gun at the doorway, ready to kill whoever walked through it. My grip was unsteady, my hand unable to hold the gun like Ineeded to because of the splitting pain in my side. My hazy gaze looked down at my limp hand and then Iwatched as Jolie’shands slid over mine, long red nails resting on top of my dirty blunt ones, lifting my arm up higher, until together we were aimed firmly at the doorway. Her body was flush against mine, so close that Icould hear her breaths by my ear. Feel her chest rising and falling in sync with mine. The soft, warm skin of her hands covered my rough ones as she held us both steady.
We put three bullets into the man that came through the doorway next. One in the chest, one in the side, and then one in the head. Because no one could take us on and survive.
