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“Playing a game with me makes you downright stupid,” Sam jumps in, undoing my focus. “Put the gun away.”
“You know I plan on killing you at some point, Sam. You did betray me after all. I guess I can kill Lik first.”
Rachel squeals something behind her gag, but I can’t look at her. If I see her state of distress, I’ll lose focus. If I lose focus, I could lose her. That’s not a fucking option.
“Don’t underestimate how much I hate you, Rose.” I sense Sam readjusting himself and it makes Rachel groan in pain. “She’ll hurt. You won’t have time to shoot, she’ll already be dead.”
My heartbeat doubles. I can’t fucking breathe. That’s okay, I don’t need to breathe to shoot. In fact, I can feel the usual sweat coating my back. That’s my focus coming back. I caress the trigger to prompt my muscle memory—one hand under the gun, one tight around the handle.
“You’re forgetting how good I am with a gun, Sam,” I jeer.
“And you’re forgetting I kill people for a living.” His voice is hard this time, and when I hear Rachel’s pained whimper calling my name, I can’t stop my body from turning to them slightly.
Her hair is completely disheveled, and she’s got a red scratch on her face. Her eyes are the worst. They’re wide and darting all around the room in fear.
So. Much. Fear.
She finally settles her gaze on me just before her eyes squeeze shut from the pain. Sam has pushed the blade of his knife slightly into her neck and I can see drops of blood starting to roll down.
“You’re such a fucker…” My voice is weakening as Rachel trembles under his knife.
I look at Lik again, he hasn’t moved. My gun is still pointed at him, but he could have moved while I was looking away. He could have attacked me. He didn’t, and from the look on his face I understand it’s because he knows they already got me.
No, no, no.There must be a way. I am not folding to Samuel fucking Thomas. Not to the guy who pretended to protect me my whole life just to let me down when I needed him the most. Not to the guy I swore I would never let into my life again.
Lik chuckles, and it brings focus to my eyes again. He puts his hand into the red slacks he’s wearing, relaxed. “Put the gun down, princess. It’s over.”
I shake my head, even though my throat is tightening from the fear. I hate that word. Fuck, I really hate that nickname.
“You have two choices,” Sam explains slowly. Rachel winces when he moves the blade slightly. She is so tight against his body, they’re practically one. “Put the gun down and surrender. Or you cantryto shoot Lik and watch the girl you love bleed out at your feet.”
The image sends a shudder through my body. I feel fucking sick. My jaw is locked so tightly that my face muscles hurt. My thoughts are tangled, and my coping mechanism kicks in.
Burj Khalifa, Shanghai Tower, KXJB-TV Tower…
“Now is not the time to lose yourself in your fucking lists,” Sam seethes. “This is my last warning, Rose.Fold.”
“Remember,” Lik taunts me. “She’s the reason you think life is worth living.” He throws the words I trusted him with right back in my face. Not only making sure I know he fooled me, but also that I’m fucking stuck. Cornered. My back against the wall and left with no choice.
Another whimper escapes Rachel’s throat, and my arm falls by my side without asking for my permission.
“Drop it.”
The safety clicks back on and the gun drops from my hand. I refuse to admit it is me who lets it go.
“Slide it to Lik.”
I can’t pretend it’s not me that pushes the gun with my foot and slides it to the side of the sofa where Lik is. It’s not the defeat that hurts the most, it’s the sigh of relief that escapes Rachel. As if, until now, she wasn’t sure I was going to choose her over my pride.
“See? Not so hard to follow orders, is it?”
“Let her go,” I growl. I can feel my hands tightening into fists. My body is so tense I’m going to have muscle pain tomorrow.
Lik grabs the gun and Sam lets go of Rachel, only for his boyfriend to grab her arm and aim my weapon at her.
“I did what you wanted. Let her fucking go, Sam,” I rage.
His laugh sends acid up my throat. “Don’t be naïve, we’re only getting started.” He slowly rounds the sofa and approaches me until he’s towering right over me.
