Page 168 of Vendetta Vows

The gun clatters to the floor.

"That's my girl," Kristofer purrs. He yanks Hannah's head back, exposing her throat. "Now kick it to me."

Hating myself, I do as I'm told.

"When are you going to understand, Jamie?" he sighs almost tenderly when the gun comes to a stop under Hannah's seat. "All of this could've been avoided if you'd just stayed with me."

"Please," I whisper. "Don't hurt her."

"We belong together." His voice softens, and there's something worse in his gentleness than in his rage. "You know that, right? We were happy together."

I want to scream that we were never happy, that what he remembers as love was just manipulation and fear. But Hannah's life hangs by a thread.

"Come home with me, Jamie." He strokes Hannah's hair with the knife, making her flinch. "We can be who we were always meant to be. Just you and me. In a nice suburban home. Two cars. A family."

My stomach turns at the thought.

"You get to choose," he continues, voice light as if offering ice cream flavors. "Either you come with me willingly, or I kill your friend right in front of you and take you with me."

Hannah shakes her head frantically behind the gag, her eyes screamingnoas tears run down her face.

When I don't answer, Kristofer's face darkens.

Without warning, he drags the knife down Hannah's cheek. She screams through the gag as blood wells from the cut, running down her face in crimson rivulets.

"Time to choose, Jamie," he says calmly, wiping the blade on Hannah's shirt. "Before I open her throat."

My hands ball into fists. I think of Ruslan, of the protection I felt in his arms, the future we'd begun to build. The mansion I just fled seems impossibly far away now.

I never told him I loved him.

"What's it going to be?" Kristofer singsongs. "Your freedom or her life? I'm not a patient man anymore."

The choice isn't really a choice at all. I look at Hannah, her eyes pleading with me not to give in.

But I can't let her die for me.

"I'll go with you," I whisper, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. "Just let her go."

Kristofer's face lights up with a twisted joy that makes my skin crawl. He lowers the knife from Hannah's throat, tucking it into his pocket.

"I knew you'd make the right choice, Jamie. You always do, eventually."

Hannah shakes her head violently, tears streaming down her face, mixing with the blood from the cut on her cheek as she screams at me through her gag.

I can't look at her anymore. The sight of what I've caused is too much.

"Please untie her," I say, my voice hollow.

"She'll be found sooner or later. I need to make sure you're really committed." Kristofer steps toward me, his breathing quickening. "I've waited so long for this moment. Oh, you have no idea."

He reaches for me, his thick fingers brushing my cheek. I turn my head away, but he grabs my chin, forcing me to face him. His breath is hot and sour against my face.

"Don't be like that, Jamie. We're going to be happy together."

When he leans in to kiss me, I turn my head again. His lips land on my cheek instead, but he doesn't seem to care. He drags his tongue up the side of my face, wet and hot.

"Oh, you taste exactly like I remember," he moans against my skin. "I've dreamed about this for seven years. Every night. Every day."

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