Page 97 of King of Clubs

“Marls, please wake up. My love, can you open your eyes?”My voice was choked, the adrenaline coursing through my veins my driving force.

“Cooper, call an ambulance!” I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Lifting her wrists, I placed them on my knees as I began untying the knots despite the tremor in my hands. I gently caressed the angry red cuts on her wrists, visible reminders that these mother fuckers had restrained her, as a dull ache began behind my temples, a simmering anger boiling within. I ripped my shirt off and used it to wipe the blood from her forehead until I located the gash above her right eye. I needed to stop the bleeding before I moved her. I winced as a tiny groan escaped her throat, the pressure against her wound enough to rouse her.

“I know, baby. I’m so sorry. I’ve got you,” my voice trembled, unable to mask my fear any longer.

Looking up for the first time, I saw Cooper holding Lucas by the throat against a tree, his eyes on Lori who was on the ground beside them.

“I will fucking kill you both,” he roared and I knew he would if I didn’t stop him – not that I gave a fuck about either of them, but I wouldn’t let someone I loved have to live with that.

Marlee

He was barely audible, broken only by bursts of air. I knew it was him by the intonation of his voice – deliberate with his words – but I couldn’t see him.

I reached out, wading through the abyss in an attempt to calm him. My mind thick with fog as I desperately sought to open my eyes. They were so heavy, weighed down by an invisible force.

Remnants of other voices moved through the waves. Was that Lucas? Why was Lucas here?

“What the fuck did you do to her?”Sebastian’s voice was muffled as if he was moving further away from me.

Wait! Please don’t leave me.

“Nothing she didn’t deserve!” A shrill female voice spat.

Lori? I was so confused. Nothing made sense.

I pushed, focusing everything into opening my eyes. Seb was close, I could feel him, which meant I was safe, but time was warped.

Where was I?

Sebastian

With every ounce of willpower I had left, I gently placed Marls back on the grass and ran over to where my friend was close to do something which would destroy him.

“Let him go, Coop,” I gripped his shoulder firmly, the pressure causing him to flinch as I spoke again. “This motherfucker is not worth it.” I didn’t believe my words for even a second, I wanted to slice both of their throats open and watch them bleed out, but they weren’t what mattered now.

Placing my hand on top of the one Coop had around Lucas’ throat, I added a little bit more pressure, sadistically enjoying the way his eyes bulged before I pulled Coop back with my other arm. Lucas fell to the floor next to his sister, gasping for breath.

“Marls and I need you,” my voice was ice and Cooper nodded before turning towards Marlee.

Lucas got to his feet, his hand still gripping his neck as he coughed and I turned to walk away.

“I hope she’s dead,” the shrill feminine voice was raspy, “just like her parents.”

I stilled. Her words slicing through me like an inferno as white hot lava swarmed in my chest. Any sense of rationality dissipated as I spun back and took in the sight of Lori.

Leaning down into her face, I gripped her chin hard enough that the widening of her eyes sent a sick pleasure through me.

“If she dies, you do too. You and your pathetic fucking brother,” I hissed with barely contained rage, before turning and leaving them both to rot.

Marlee

Light. Bright lights. The soft hum of an engine. Sebastian fighting with someone I couldn’t see.

Lori was screaming, yelling at him to let go; to get off whoever he held as the sound of a siren neared.

Snippets of memory filtered through – her apartment, a knife, the unrestrained craze in her eyes.

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