Page 156 of Revenge Saints
Knox laughs; there’s blood on his lips, but no fear—it’s just rage.
“Bryn,” he says, grinning through the pain. “I’d rather stick my dick in a shark’s mouth than touch you.”
My Reaper.
She slaps him, and something inside me snaps.
I move, circling left. Quiet as I can.
I could shoot, but what if I miss?
What if he shoots Knox the second he hears the noise?
I can’t risk it. I need a distraction. Something to make Roman move that gun. Just for a second.
I take a deep breath and slam my boot into the ground. Loud.
Bryn jerks. “Are the others here?” She sounds scared now.
She should be.
Not of the BloodHawks but of me.
“BloodHawks?” Roman calls out. “Come out or I blow your precious leader’s brains out.”
Fuck.
My heart nearly caves in, and I walk, step by step, appearing from the shadows. with my gun raised and aimed at Roman.
Knox’s back is still to me, and I can’t see his eyes. That is killing me; I need to see him, see that he’s okay.
“Aspen!” Bryn squeaks.
My stomach turns.
Knox hears it. “What?” He tries to stand but stumbles, falling back to his knees.
Roman presses the barrel to his head.
“Don’t.” I say, calm and loud.
Knox turns his head, just enough to glimpse me. His face is white with blood and pain, but his mouth pulls into something that looks like relief.
I smile at him, even as my throat burns, even as I want to fall apart.
“Oh my God, Aspen!” Bryn takes a step toward me, smiling like she just found her best friend in a cafe.
She opens her arms to hug me.
I raise my gun and aim it between her eyes.
And I smile back.
“Don’t move, you fucking bitch,” I snap.
She flinches. Halts. Her hands twitch at her sides, but she takes a single step back.
“Aspen, don’t believe anything they told you!” She shouts, pointing straight at Knox, like she’s still got the power to twist my mind.
