Page 97 of Keeping Kara

A feeling of calm settled around Chaos. The danger hadn’t dissipated. If anything, it had ramped up even higher. But he’d spent the last day and a half praying to be able to find the woman he loved with all his heart and soul—and now he had.

Pausing for a beat to let the two officers go in front of him, Chaos took a deep breath. He had a pistol with him, but breaking down doors and confronting assholes was what the SWAT officers did. And Tex’s voice was echoing in his head. His only concern was Kara.

The officers communicated with hand signals, pointing at the door, deciding who would kick it in and who would enter first.

He sensed movement behind him, and a moment later the two officers became four.

“Easy, Chaos,” Buck said from his back, voice low, obviously having joined the SWAT guys from his chopper.

Nodding, Chaos waited for the newcomers to be updated on the plan.

Then one of the officers lifted his foot and kicked in the door.

All four poured into the room, yelling loudly, as Chaos and Buck followed right behind them.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

How many times Nolan had strangled her to the point of passing out, only to let go, Kara had no idea. But even when he paused, it didn’t feel as if she was getting any air. Her throat was swollen and the rope around her neck was so tight, breathing was nearly impossible.

Nolan was going to win.

“This sucks,” he declared with a shrug. “I thought you were stronger. Figured you’d be a lot more fun to kill. But you’re just like the others. The packaging is a lie. All women are just weak, stupid whores.”

And just like that, Kara knew the next time he tightened his hand, he wasn’t going to let go. This was it.

“Fuck you,” she mouthed as she glared at him, letting all the hatred in her heart show through her eyes. She was done trying to placate him. If he was going to kill her, he needed to know that even at the very end, she wasn’t submitting. Wasn’t rolling over and giving up.

Women weren’t weak. They were strong as hell. The shit they’d had to put up with throughout history had proven that time and time again.

His eyes narrowed—and he brought his other hand up to her throat, using both to strangle her this time.

“Die, bitch,” he snarled.

Kara tried to squirm, tried to fight, but it was no use. She was completely at this madman’s mercy. She felt extremely sad right then. Sad that she’d never get a chance to tell Arrow that she loved him again. That she’d never get to live her life with him by her side.

In the back of her mind, she heard a loud noise. But she was lost in her head, in thoughts of the man she loved, nothing else was registering.

When Nolan let go of her neck again, instant relief hit. Then anger. She’d thought he was finally done torturing her, but apparently not.

But even though his hands weren’t around her neck, not even a hint of air was getting through her abused and swollen throat.

There were loud shouts in the room now, and some part of her brain acknowledged that maybe help had arrived…but it was too late. She couldn’t breathe.

There were two extremely loud bangs, which would’ve made her flinch if she hadn’t been desperately trying to get even the tiniest bit of oxygen into her lungs.

Then a miracle happened.

Arrow appeared.

He was in front of her, staring into her eyes.

That was when Kara knew she was dying. Because the last person she’d been thinking of was him, and now he was there. She had to be hallucinating.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart. Don’t give up! Stay strong for another ten seconds. I’ve got this.”

That was his voice. He really was here…

Kara’s mouth opened and closed as she desperately tried to talk, to tell him how much she loved him, to apologize for not being stronger, but no words materialized.