Page 118 of Cruel Revenge

Blood stains the floor as I dive on top of her before she can get to her feet.

I grab her by the hair, slamming her face into the ground again, grinning at the sickening crunch that fills the room when her nose breaks.

I rip her head back as hard as I can. “You’re going to think twice about fucking with my family.”

She starts laughing, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the ground. “It’s too late.”

“Skyla!” Aiden shouts from the rafters as thick, black smoke begins to fill the room. “Fire. I need your help!”

Zoe thrashes enough to slam her elbow into my thigh.

She sends me off balance enough to throw me to the side.

Moving with her is difficult, but I do, taking a few hits to the face until the taste of blood fills my mouth and stars dance across my vision.

I get on top of her again, driving one knee into her chest and pulling out my knife.

I flick it open, placing the blade beneath her chin. “I’m going to take my time with you. I’m going to do things that you wouldn’t think of doing in your worst nightmares, and when I’m done with you, you’re going to be begging to die.”

“Is that the worst you have?” She laughs, black bruises already forming on her face.

“Skyla!” Aiden shouts before he starts coughing. “You need to get below him now! I can’t lower him down safely!”

Zoe smirks. “What’s it going to be, Reaper? Lose your prey and save your husband, or lose your husband and kill your prey?”

I stare down at her, hate filling my veins and seeping through every pore.

Each and every cell in my body is begging for me to kill her. To slip the knife between her skin and end her.

She uses the moment of hesitation to rise up and take the knife, ripping it from my hand and slamming it into my thigh.

I scream in pain as she shoves me to the side before getting to her feet.

Chase the bitch.

Save Joshua.

Kill her.

Save him.

With gritted teeth, I make my way over to him, the smoke sinking deep into my lungs, making it harder to breathe.

I cough and choke as I get beneath Joshua, watching Zoe escape through another door out of the corner of my eye.

Aiden starts to lower Joshua, all of our joined coughing filling the room as the place grows hotter, and more smoke fills the air.

I wrap my arms around Joshua’s legs, helping ease him down, trying to support his weight the best I can even though it feels like I’m about to be crushed.

Joshua mumbles, but I don’t think he’s conscious.

His blood is hot and sticky as it smears against me.

I allow his weight to lean into mine, bracing myself until he’s almost standing.

As Aiden continues to lower him, I shift around to his back, supporting him beneath his arms, trying to keep him from hitting his head.

My lungs are on fire as I lower him to the ground, the black smoke so thick now I can barely see through it.

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