Page 78 of His to Keep
Lana had learned to watch him leave, only now she couldn’t afford to accept it.
She loved him.
Tremors shook her limbs but she lunged forward for the last time. Carl seized her hair, halting her retreat with a forceful jerk.
Squatting by her side, he screamed into her face and shoved the barrel of his gun to her temple. “Move another inch, and I’ll blow your brains all over this fucking room.”
Her face paled as her wide eyes found Marcus, huddled in a heap. “What have you done…” the words floated past her lips, but they didn’t sound like her. “Marcus,” she yelled again. “Marcus, I love you.”
Her heart cracked in two.
She was trapped.
Held prisoner once again.
Her hero, her lover, her protector was dying, and she was helpless. They both were.
Lana closed her eyes, giving in to the idea of death bringing her back to Marcus. Her shoulders shook as silent sobs shuddered from her chest.
“I’m supposed to be your hero, Lana. Not him. Is that why you fucked him? Because you think he’s the hero?” Spats of his saliva catapulted from his lips and landed on her grey face as he pulled her up to meet his steely stare.
She cursed the tears that clouded her eyes, making her more lost and vulnerable. “I’ll be my own fucking hero, you bastard.” Short breaths shuddered shaky words from her mouth as she accepted the fact that Marcus might not keep his promise to protect her after all.
In a flailing swipe, her palm flew up to meet Carl’s smooth jaw. Crooking her fingers, she stabbed her nails into his soft flesh. The other hand fisted, slamming into his neck.
A thud of metal hit the side of her skull. Her grip fell away, and she staggered back. Dazed and stunned, she almost lost her footing, crouching quickly to steady herself. Her blurry gaze flicked up to catch a glimpse of Marcus, but Carl stood in her line of sight.
The world had crumpled like a car wreck, leaving her smashed and twisted inside.
She craved to hold Marcus.
She would fight to be by his side.
He was too far to reach, slipping from this world to the next, on the cold wet floor in a puddle of fresh blood, all alone.
33
Lana was hoisted by her armpits to a shaky stand.
Carl pressed the glock to her tear blazed cheek, holding her wide-eyed gaze away from Marcus.
“At least I don’t have to hunt you down. I got two cheating fuckers for the price of one flight.” Carl smirked. “I’m going to enjoy fucking you up, Lana. I should’ve done it back in the garage, but you know what? I thought we could be together. Little did I know you would fuck that cocky asshole. You’re tainted now. I don’t want to be your hero. I’m going to be all your god damn nightmares rolled into one.” His face propelled into hers with malice dripping from every word.
Lana sucked in as the pads of his fingers gripped her cheeks and the hideous familiar smoky stench left his mouth.
“Jesus Christ,” Jamie roared, skidding to a halt in the doorway. His hands flew upwards, holding his head. “What the fuck have you done to my brother?” The rattle in his throat was the giveaway sign that he was holding back fear. “Marcus, get the fuck up!” he bellowed.
His startled gaze rapidly narrowed, and his fists clenched so hard that his knuckles turned white. He bolted forward, in the direction of Marcus’s still form.
“C’mon, mate,” he protested with a deep set frown.
“Don’t think about it.” Carl turned the gun away from Lana and pointed it at Jamie. “I didn’t come all this way for you to save the prick. Back off!”
Jamie slid to a standstill, lined up to precision with Carl’s aim. His big brown eyes held fury while he stared in disbelief at the bloody scene surrounding his big brother’s lifeless body.
“I’m gonna fuckin’ kill you, asshole!” his strained words boomed through the airy room and scattered chills over Lana’s scalp.
Her knees wobbled making her falter. The betrayal of her body forced her to lean into Carl. Her jaw locked as her choice to stand tall drifted away with her broken heart.
