Page 37 of Saving Her

Luther won’t kill him? Is he kidding?

I fumble onto my haunches, preparing to make a run for salvation as Luther drawls out a pithy insult. I either want to die in a rain of bullets or be completely freed. I won’t sit by as the devil regains the upper hand so he can draw out my punishment for days.

Weeks.

Months.

I’m about to make a run for it when Luca lunges for me, his trunk of an arm tackling me around the waist to haul me back into him.

I fight his hold as he drags me between his legs, his thighs closing in around me, the knife clutched in his free hand.

“Quit it,” he growls low in my ear, his voice barely audible over the threats and demands being continuously flung around the armed standoff. “Cole needs to finish this. It’s his right. Otherwise I would’ve already done it myself.”

I shake my head, denying his words and the voices screaming in my skull.

My instincts demand I take action.

“Don’t be scared,” he whispers. “Trust me.”

I keep shaking my head, over and over, trying to drown out the mania.

I’m going to be tied to a table. I’ll be brutalized by anyone and everyone who enters Luther’s house.

“He’s safe, Anissa,” Luca speaks louder. “Give Cole your gun and let him finish this.”

I struggle to focus on the conversation. Who’s safe? Cole? Tobias?

Doesn’t Luca realize nobody is free from harm when Luther is armed?

I wiggle, attempting to break free of his strong hold but Luca grips me tighter, hugging my back to his chest.

“I’ve got you,” he murmurs. “Just drown it out. This will be over soon.”

I try. I concentrate so hard on escaping to my mental sanctuary. I hide in silence, in darkness, and still the panic finds me.

Cole’s slurred words brush the edge of my consciousness.

The woman’s demands haunt me.

Then Luca speaks up. “I’m not hiding, asshole. I’m giving Cole space to finish this his way. And if he can’t, I’m on standby with a knife in my hand, ready and willing to slit your throat.”

There’s so much vehemence in his tone. A wealth of determined conviction.

I want to believe him.

I can picture this man sinking his blade into my enemy’s neck. But he won’t. He can’t.

Not when Luther always wins.

Evil. Always. Conquers.

Luca holds me tighter. I can’t stop fighting and I’m not sure if it’s because I want to escape his touch or I fear he’ll soon be killed if I don’t act.

It’s too much.

It’s all too much.

“Give him your gun.” Luca waves at the woman. “Let him finish this.”

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