I grabbed him by the throat, lifted his bloodied face to mine, and slammed him back against the ground. His head bounced off the concrete with a wet, ugly sound.
I leaned in close, breathing hard. Watching the flicker of fear in his eyes.
“You wanted Evie,” I whispered, fingers tightening around his throat. “And you knew damn well I would never let that happen.”
He tried to speak, but it was only a gurgle.
I smiled. Then I grabbed his own knife, slicing it across his neck, making sure he never got up again.
I fell back, the adrenaline already feeling like it wasn’t enough. The pain shot back through me, the slice in my side feeling like my entire stomach was ripped open and my head pounding. If I didn’t have a concussion before, I did now.
Evie lowered the knife she held in Zack’s direction, fear making her worry he wasn’t done. Her wild eyes found mine. “Are you okay?”
“Okay, after you came in here and killed someone to save me? I’ve never been better. You’re a fucking dream, psycho girl.” I wiped the blood from my mouth. “Marry me.”
She groaned. “You’re ridiculous. Shut up and let’s get out of here.”
I smirked. “You love me.”
My vision went hazy at the edges, the world blurring.
She rolled her eyes. “Ask me again when you’re not actively bleeding out.”
I grinned, despite the pain. “No, Evie, I’m asking you now.”
“About a wedding or love?” she asked, her eyebrow arching.
“We can start with love,” my voice cracked on the wordlove, a rare softness cutting through the pain.
She looked around, looking more nervous now than when she burst in here to kill. “Dammit,Ace.” The nickname loving now. “You are not seriously going to make me say all that first.”
I reached up, wincing as I wrapped a hand around the side of her neck. “I love you, Psycho.”
She smiled, her shoulders relaxing now. “I love you, too, Ace. Looks like you’re my second-in-command now. Someone I can always count on.”
“I’ve always been that for you, Evie. I’ve always been yours.”
She leaned down, her lips finding mine without hesitation.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Rook groaned, looking at the bodies on the floor. “Are you two done with your murder foreplay, or should I come back later?”
“You could leave us alone,” I said, shrugging only because I knew it would piss him off.
“Fuck you,” he said, stomping in our direction. “I specificallysay don’t fuck around with my sister and now you’re going to throw it in my face,” he said, but there wasn’t as much anger behind the words as I expected.
“Fucking around? I just asked her to marry me!” I yelled, laughing.
He stopped, his mouth dropping open.
Hero, Mason, Harper, and Kane burst through the door.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Hero yelled, the grin dropping from his face as he looked around. “We are late?”
“Very late,” I said, turning my attention from Rook, who was still staring at us. “But I could use a little help if you feel like setting down a gun or two.”
He rolled his eyes, but Evie was at my side before he could move, pulling one of my arms up and around her shoulders.
“I was told I could come in guns ablaze and now this? You guys owe me.”
