I know exactly how much I’m worth to him.
I laugh. “Everythingyou’veworked for? What did you do? You inherited your father’s empire. You’re just as pathetic as Allers there, sucking on other people’s dicks for scraps of their success.”
His face turns red, but before he can answer, a female voice sounds over the speakers.
“Everybody! The front doors are open. Evacuatenow. Don’t stampede! But get the fuck out!” It’s Anastasia, and it means something went wrong because people aren’t supposed to be escaping right now, like this.
River glances at me then steps back, going to Pandora’s side. “Pandora,” he says, “let’s go. The doors wouldn’t be open unless something is seriously wrong.”
Pandora shakes her head. “No! I’m not done with Allers.” Pandora stabs her knife into his penis.
It comes right off, and the screams are louder than anything else before.
Pandora bursts out laughing. “How does that feel? Do you regret it yet? Do you regret it?”
George shakes his head. “Do you see what you’re tying yourselfto, Blaze?” He motions to Isaac. “Grab Blaze. We’re getting out of here.”
I shake my head. “No. I’m not leaving without Pandora!”
“You want to get the fuck out,” Bobbi’s voice says in my ear. “Ezio set bombs. Anastasia and I found one of them, but there’s more. And we aren’t exactly a bomb squad.”
“Fuck,” River snarls. “I should’ve known he’d cause trouble.” He grabs Pandora by the arm. “We’re getting out of here. Allers can blow up with the rest of the place. He’s going to pass out from the pain soon anyway.”
I’m surprised he hasn’t already passed out. The pain must be excruciating.
Pandora struggles against River. “Let go! He hasn’t suffered enough yet!”
I join Pandora. “You heard Bobbi. You can’t avenge Rachel by dying, Pandora.”
Pandora slaps her gloved hand against my chest. If River weren’t holding her other wrist, I suspect I would have gained a deep stab wound instead.
How much time do we have?
My carefully spun plan is unraveling in front of my eyes.
We were going to burn down the murder opera. Once the smoke started filling the halls, we’d have let people out. Casualties weren’t an issue as long as Allers was dead and burned and we had all the passwords and financial information from the guests.
I’d invited everybody who ever partook of the Bouchard merchandise.
“What’s going on?” George snaps. “Blaze, if everybody’s in danger, we need to get outnow.”
Isaac puts his arm on George’s shoulder. “Forget him, sir. We need to evacuate while we can.”
“Not without Blaze,” George hisses.
Like he really gives a fuck about what happens to me.
River pulls Pandora to him, wrestling the knife from her grasp. “You got him. He’s as good as dead,” he says. “But we need to get out now. I’m not risking losing you, so I will drag you out of here if I have to.”
“Stop it!” Pandora yells. “Fuck off, all of you!”
I help River manhandle Pandora, my stomach twisting as we force her like this.
I should be helping her destroy everything.
But I’m not going to lose her.
She’s more important than anything, even her own revenge.
