I tackle him, shoulder first, the way we learned to hit linemen in high school.He slams into the floor with a grunt that shakes dust loose from the beams above.
He catches my jaw with his elbow.Stars flash across my vision, and he’s then on top of me, pressing his weight down, clawing for my face.
But I’m bigger.And I’m meaner.
And I’m sure as hell going to fixthis.
I twist, hook my leg behind his, and roll, driving him onto his back.
He snarls, teeth bared.“Too late,” he hisses.“You can’t save her.I’ve got things in place.Things that?—”
I grab what Daniela was reaching for—a knife with an ornate jeweled handle—and jam the blade into his throat.
It’s a violent sucking sound.
A sound I welcome.
For a split second, he’s frozen, his eyes wide, shock flickering across his face.
Then he gurgles, gasping, blood bubbling from the corner of his mouth.
And he collapses back, eyes still open but empty.
I stay there, breathing hard, watching as the life drains out of him.
It’s over.
Finally over.
The room is silent except for Daniela’s uneven breathing.
She’s on her knees, staring at me, trembling.
“Belinda,” I say, voice breaking through the quiet.“She’s safe.Got home.”
Her eyes widen.“She’s… She’s home?”
I nod, pushing hair from my forehead.“Yeah.And Reyes isn’t going anywhere.I ran into him on the road.”
A shaky laugh slips from her, half relief, half disbelief.
The tension breaks out of me all at once.I reach for her, pulling her into my arms.She melts against me, shoulders heaving.
Something catches the light between us—a tiny flash of blue on the floor.
The sapphire from the knife handle.It must have broken loose when I grabbed it.
I bend down, pick it up between my thumb and forefinger.The gem glitters in the dim candlelight.
A thought occurs to me.It’s ridiculous.Improvised.Insane.
But it feels right.
I drop to one knee before I can talk myself out of it.
“Not a diamond,” I say, voice hoarse.“But it’s ours.”
Her eyes go wide, tears glinting.
