Page 278 of Chaos Kills

Judah speaks, but I can’t hear him. I do see Bay trying to pull away from his hold, though.

“I can’t bear seeing you with him,” my older brother confesses before Bay is able to gain some space between them. “You can’t be around anymore.”

My eyebrows clash together before Judah lunges for her, causing Bay to stumble back and fall to the ground. He takes advantage, straddling her body to the ground as Bay screams.

“Judah! Get off?—”

“It’s the only way,” he retorts before his palms and fingers tightly wrap aroundher throat. “I promise I’ll try to do it as quickly as possible.”

No.

No. No. No. No.

Through my glassy stare at the screen, my entire chest cavity caves in. Bay struggles underneath him, kicking with her legs, but she’s no match for my brother.

She’s too small.

He’s too big.

This…this can’t be right.

“Pleaseeee…” The desperate plea in her voice makes my heart shatter. The truth she’s repeated over and over begins to assault everything in my head and everything I’ve done.

I fucked up.

Not only did she suffer at the hands of my brother but also me.

Me.

Someone who promised to protect and love her.

We all know how that ended. I couldn’t do it; however, my brother doesn’t seem to be having an issue. And I’ve been protecting what happened to him and sticking up for his death.

Even there, in my dreams, I’ve listened to everything he’s said.

And I don’t know who the hell was talking to me or if I even know him anymore.

“I didn’t want you to bleed,” I hear Judah surmise sympathetically, seizing my attention as he bends closer and places his weight on her chest. “I’m so sorry, Bay. Please know…please know how much you mean to me. I know it didn’t seem like it, but I thought it was for the best.”

“Judah,” she begs again, her voice brimming with fear and causing a lump to form in my throat.

I deserve to choke out right now.

He was going to kill her.

Right then and there.

Alone.

“I’m sorry,” Judah repeats, the same amount of misery in his tone, but the difference between him and me is that I couldn’t bear seeing her disappear out of my existence. “Please…know how much, Bay. I’m so sorry.”

Judah leans in, and that’s when I see Bay thrust her forehead up and headbutt him in the face.

Not just once, but three fucking times.

Pride filters in my veins as my brother curses out loud before delivering a heavy punch to her face.

Then rage overtakes every emotion, and I welcome it over the gloom that taunts my every breath.

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