Page 157 of Depraved

“Give me the gun, and we can talk about it.”

Movement by the door caught my eye, and I saw Onyx standing to the side, gun in hand and out of Tanit’s view.

He noticed me looking at him and placed his finger in front of his lips, telling me to keep quiet. Suddenly, I was back there that night they took me, the night Onyx shot the man who had a gun to my head.

A shiver ran down my spine, and I was struggling to keep the bile down. The fear I experienced that night did not come close to the terror I was feeling now, knowing Granite was also in danger. That night, I didn’t know him. I didn’t care.

Today…I cared.

“Listen, Tanit,” Granite started, and he hunched his shoulders forward slightly in a bid to make himself seem smaller. Less intimidating. “Give me the gun, and I promise we can talk this through. No one needs to get hurt.”

“I got hurt.” She pressed the muzzle of the gun against her chest. “I got hurt when you brought this slut to your bed and tossed me out like I was nothing. Do you have any idea how that feels? For months, I was your secret midnight fuck.” Tears mixed with snot ran down her mouth and chin. “And then she came along, taking my place in your fucking bed.”

Granite pinched his eyes closed, biting his lip. “You knew, Tanit. You knew right from the start that what you and I had, it wasn’t serious. You agreed. I was honest with you from the beginning, and you were okay with it.”

“Because I thought you’d change your mind, that maybe if we spent enough time together, you could love me.”

I glanced from Tanit’s sorrow-filled face, to Onyx lurking by the door. His aim was on her, but Granite was half-blocking his way. It was like Granite knew his brother was there, and he knew Onyx would shoot if he had the opportunity. Through all this, Granite was trying to protect her. He was trying to protect us both.

“Tanit, listen,” Granite slowly started to move toward me, “I’m going to untie her and let her go. Then you and I can talk this through. Alone.”

“Granite,” I whispered, but he shushed me by holding out his hand, not once taking his eyes off Tanit. She seemed confused, frenzied, almost disconnected somehow.

Granite positioned himself between her and me. “Say okay, Tanit. I’m going to untie Alyx, and I need to hear that you’re okay with that.”

My heart had started to claw up my throat, my skin damp and cold. Even if he did manage to untie me, I wasn’t sure my weak legs would have been able to carry me.

Tanit nodded, wiping tears from her cheek. And Granite stepped backward, crouching as he started to untie my legs.

“As soon as Alyx is out of here, you and I are going to talk calmly about this and see if we can sort something out.” He reached behind me and untied my wrists.

“Do not run,” he whispered. “Walk slowly to the door, and then you get the hell out of here with Onyx.”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to leave him here. Not with her still holding the gun.

“Do as I say, Alyx.”

“I’m not leaving you here with her.”

Tanit’s glare cut to me, her bewildered look replaced with sheer hate. “You’ll never take your claws out of him, will you?” she shouted, the anger in her voice slamming against my chest.

“Tanit, calm down.” Granite tried to push me out of the way, but she lifted the gun and aimed it straight at me.

“As long as you fucking breathe, you will never let him go. You will never let me. Have. Him." Her arm shook, and I knew she was about to pull the trigger. I saw it in her eyes, the way they darkened, the bloodlust mixed with her scorn. In her mind, I had to die.

“Alyx!” Granite called, and I closed my eyes, seconds suddenly turning into hours.

And then the explosion came, the thunderous crack fracturing the silence. I was expecting the blow, but instead I got slammed into the ground, the wind knocked out of me.

I opened my eyes, blue irises staring down on me. “You okay?”

“Onyx.” I tried to push him off me. “Granite. Is Granite okay?” Finally, Onyx gave way, and I saw Granite standing a few feet away, holding a gun.

I got up to my feet and gasped when I saw Tanit’s body, her back halfway on the desk like she had stumbled back, a blood stain spreading along her white shirt.

Granite shot her.

Granite killed Tanit…so he could save me.