Page 153 of Ruthless Creatures
She digs the muzzle of the gun into the top of my head.
But something in her voice ignites a tiny spark of hope in my chest. I raise my head and gaze up at her, this woman I adore who I’ve just wrecked.
As she points the gun an inch from my forehead, her finger on the trigger, I stare into her eyes.
“I love you. That’s not a lie. I love you more than anything. More than I want my next breath. I’ll give anything for you to forgive me, and that includes my life.”
I lean forward so the gun rests between my brows. I raise my hands and rest them on her hips.
My heart in my voice, I say, “Kill me if it will take away your pain, love. If it will give you even a little peace, pull the trigger and end me.”
She swallows, hard. Her hands shake. She moistens her lips. With her free hand, she swipes angrily at her watering eyes.
After a long, breathless moment, she exhales heavily and lowers the gun to her side.
Groaning, I throw my arms around her waist and bury my face into her belly. I hold her tightly until she sighs.
“Get off your knees, gangster. I can’t deal with you like this.”
I stand. When I try to take her face in my hands, she pulls away, shaking her head. She holds out my weapon.
“Just take this damn thing, will you?”
I shove the gun under the waistband of my jeans at the small of my back, then reach for her again. But again, she withdraws, turning her back to me and wrapping her arms around her body. She goes to the sink and leans against it, looking down.
Her voice very quiet, she says, “What now?”
The relief I feel that she’s not screaming for me to leave is so overwhelming, I almost sink to my knees again. But I manage to stay upright when I answer.
“I put Viktor in the car, but I have to…” I hesitate, not wanting to traumatize her any more.
She says, “Get rid of the body. I get it. Go ahead.”
I should’ve known she’d rally, my Valkyrie queen.
“I’ll be back within the hour.”
She turns her head, speaking over her shoulder. “Where will you take him?”
“The lake.”
She pauses. “Is that where you would’ve taken me? If you hadn’t fallen for me, I mean.”
Oh fuck.
“No more lies, gangster,” she says softly.
It’s a moment before I can get it out. “Yes.”
She turns her head away. Looking at the closed blinds over the sink, she says, “Thank you for being honest.”
It sounds likeFuck off and die,but we don’t have time to argue.
“Don’t answer the door or the phone while I’m gone. Don’t go outside. When I get back, I’ll clean up the rest of it. Then we’ll make a plan.”
“A plan?”
“When Viktor doesn’t check in, Max will send someone else.”
