Page 268 of Saving Her

This time the torment escapes, the agony parting my lips. I sob, believing him. He’s sick enough to follow through.

“Decide,” he taunts. “The brother or the lover.”

My lips tremble. Everything does. I can barely think over the shuddering rack of my body.

“It’s okay, shorty.” Luca hunches over, his hands on his knees, his forgiving eyes on mine. “You know the right choice. You need him more than me.”

“Don’t pull that bullshit,” Sebastian mutters.

“How honorable.” Robert jams his gun into the back of Luca’s head. “Make your choice or I’ll do it for you.”

“Wait.Stop,” I beg. “I’ll decide. Just give me a minute.”

I need more time. I can’t do this.

“Don’t leave me hanging,” he growls. “Fucking tell me.”

I glance from my brother to Luca, knowing there’s only one choice.

It hurts. Oh, God, how it hurts but there’s no other way.

Someone has to die.

“Penny,” Robert growls.

My pulse becomes a staccato, the thunder pounding in my ears. “I choose…” I can’t say it. Can’t get the words out.

He snickers, loving every moment of my struggle.

“Run,Penny,” Luca roars. “Just fuckingrun.”

I raise my chin, strengthened by the reminder of his salvation. He’s always been my shield. My lifeline.

No matter how much this hurts, I’m indebted to return the favor.

I turn my attention to Sebastian, hoping he understands my heartache—the gut-wrenching agony—as I cement my choice. He smiles at me in return. A pained, yet comforting smile forever etched in my mind.

Then I divert my gaze to the monster, swallowing over the agonizing dryness of my throat as I start toward him. “I choose me.”

33

Luca

My heart dropsas she breaks into a run.

I can barely hold my head up, even struggle to see, but she’s clear before me, her determination obvious as she sprints to take her own life.

I pivot on my toes, swaying with the movement and lunge, diving for Robert’s legs. Gunfire pummels my ears, the double shots striking fear in my veins as I take the motherfucker to the ground.

Penny screams. It’s all I hear, the high pitch, the terror.

I climb on top of my blurred opponent, swinging my fists at the darkening obscurity of his body, sometimes connecting with hardened flesh, other times with empty air.

More screams ring out. Pain lashes at my face. My head fills with pandemonium. The only notable thought I’m capable of holding revolves around Penny’s safety as knuckles punch into my cheek, my jaw.

She can’t be taken. Can’t die.

Not by him.

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