Page 41 of Asphyxia
Un-fucking-fair.
“What do you mean I have to fucking stay here?” I barked as Drake and the rest of his squad finished gearing up for their raid on Anathema.
“Exactly what I said, kid. You’re a liability, and we can’t take any chances.” Drake shrugged as he fitted his black leather gloves over his hands.
“Look, you’ve got a radio and can watch the live feed through Davidson’s GoPro. It will be like you are right there in the thick of it all… but not.”
“That’s not the fucking same, and you know it,” I shouted, ready to flip the chair in front of me out of pure rage.
Why did I expect any less? I should have automatically assumed that I wouldn’t be allowed to go with—that I would be stuck here in this room like some fucking child left at daycare.
“You want to play the hero, Marcus? Here’s the thing about heroes: they only do things if it earns them clout, and I will not be held responsible for you dying just because you needed an adrenaline high.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, clamping my mouth shut from another smart-ass rebuttal. I was fucking pissed, but Dean needed Drake’s help, and I was only delaying the process the longer I protested.
I watched the rest of the officers as they pulled on thick, deep red cloaks to conceal their identities and uniforms. Rifles and guns were being tucked out of sight, and Drake checked over each officer to ensure nothing was out of place.
“This mic is linked to Davidson’s earpiece. If you see anything on the feed, you tell him, and he will relay that information to me. The biggest help you can be tonight is an extra set of eyes and ears.”
“Whatever…” I grumbled as I fell into the empty chair beside me and stared at the monitor displaying Davidson’s camera feed.
I guess this was better than being told to go home…
Chapter 20
Dean
“Ican’t…”Madison’svoicebroke as she sobbed on her knees in front of me, her hands fisting against the sandstone floor.
I could see her tears falling and soaking into the dirt as she fought off the war raging within her. The knife that Adrian had dropped to the ground glistened in the flickering lights with his freshly spilled blood.
“And if you don’t choose within the next five minutes, I’ll kill them all.” Adrian’s all too casual voice echoed over Madison’s whimpers and cries.
I hated seeing her like this—couldn’t stand it. A woman who took shit from no one and was always in control, brought down by the words of a man who didn’t even deserve her in the first place.
“Mads…” I hissed through gritted teeth, the pain from the beating his Anathema followers had given me sinking in. As soon as the lights had gone out, fists flew at my body and face, knocking me to the ground as my hands were bound behind myback. Derek and Atlas were in no better condition themselves. “Take the knife and kill me.”
Madison’s pleading eyes snapped to mine, and she violently shook her head.
“No—”
“Yes. Do it.”
“I won’t…” She breathed as her eyes flicked over to her sisters, who were currently restrained across the room from us, before reconnecting back with mine.
“They’re your family, darling. Choose them. Save your family.” My voice was shaking with my words as I fought against the fear of dying.
I didn’t want to die, but I’d give my life for her happiness without hesitation. Madison and I barely knew each other, and she had every reason not to choose me.
Was I out of my goddamn mind? Fuck yeah, I was. But since the breakup with Amber, I felt like I had nothing left to live for, and she had everything worth protecting right here in this room.
Madison had pulled me out of my depression in just one night spent with her. She would still have Marcus; she didn’t need me.
“Dean, you don’t get to come into my life and then rip yourself out of it days later. You don’t get to make my choices for me, and I refuse to give up what’s mine.”
Hers…
“So. Fucking. Sweet,” Adrian crooned, rolling his eyes at the both of us. “This is a new low for you, sweetheart. We’ll have to fix this attitude ofyours later.”
