Page 82 of The Sting of Love
“Shut up bitch. Fucking shut up.” He’s about to continue when Donny makes his presence known.
Donny walks up the path with two guns in his hands. The moon cast enough light on his face for us to see his fury. There’s fury and blood. It’s splattered on his face and his shirt. The sight of him is dark and vengeful.
“Get your fucking hands off her. Now,” Donny bellows.
Mario lets go of me yes, but he points the gun at my head. The steel barrel so cold against my temple my soul screams with fear.
“You can stop right there, Donny. Don’t you come any further,” Mario warns him. “Where is Xiou?” he demands.
“Fish food.”
“You fucker.”
“Me?” Donny sneers. “Want me to blow your arm off? Looks like you didn’t learn the lesson last time.”
Mario chuckles. “There is nothing you can teach me. The bullet just grazed my arm. It hurt like a bitch but I’m fine.”
“Fuck, what a shame.”
“Drop the fucking gun asshole,” Mario orders.
“The hell I will. You seriously think I’m just going to drop my gun and let you kill the two of us?” Donny challenges.
Mario grabs my arm and shoves me toward the edge of the cliff. I scream and scream louder when rubble falls over the side. The echo of the stone surrounds us as it falls into the dark abyss. I remember what it looks like in the daylight. There’s jagged rock all the way down to the sea. I’d be dead before I hit the ground.
“Stop it!” Donny shouts. “I’m dropping my gun, see look. Just don’t hurt her.” His voice is full of anguish. So full of pain it grips me. He puts the gun down on the ground next to him and defeat fills his eyes.
He looks as defeated as I feel.
I never expected tonight to end this way.
Mario pulls me back to his chest. I’m shaking so much that bile is right in my throat and I’m sure I’ll vomit any minute now.
“Don’t fuck with me Donny. Don’t fucking do it,” Mario warns and tightens his grip on my arm. “Let me see the memory stick. I still want it.”
Donny scowls deeply, pulls the memory stick from his pocket and holds it up.
“How do I know it’s not shit you’ve brought to me?” Mario challenges.
“You have my girl. If you thought I’d chance bringing shit to you, you wouldn’t have her,” Donny answers.
Mario chuckles wickedly. “Yes, that is true. This is what you’re going to do… set it on the ground and walk away.”
“Give her to me. I’m not doing shit until you give her to me.”
Mario places the gun at my head again and more tears come. “You motherfucker, you aren’t in any position to give orders. I don’t know what you think this is but you aren’t in charge here. Not in the least bit you dumb fuck. Do it or she gets it in her head. You know I won’t hesitate to blow her brains out.”
Donny and I look at each other.
This… this right here is what feels like goodbye. Not what we said days ago. It’s right now, in this moment. It feels final and it’s because we both know that if he drops the stick that’s it. Mario isn’t going to release me.
“Do it!” Mario cries.
One final look and I know Donny will take the risk if it will save me. He took the risk coming here for the same reason.
So much has happened to me this year. Maybe this is it and I’m meant to die now. Maybe I’m not meant to live anymore.
At least I know what it felt like to be loved and fall for a guy who made me feel like I was everything.
