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It wasn’t Cian.
I took a step back, and the man took a step forward. Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck. I screamed at the top of my lungs and turned, running as fast as I could down the aisle. His footsteps echoed behind me, his presence growing closer as I shot down another aisle. Fear was taking over, my heart ready to explode out of my chest at any moment. I crouched down behind a stack of kegs and held my breath, the footsteps stopping.
“Nova,” a sing-song voice called out. “Where are you?”
Ryzen.
It was fucking Ryzen.
How was that possible? How could he have gotten in here without being noticed? I clamped my hand over my mouth to try to quiet my ragged breathing. His footsteps came closer. My mind was screaming for me to run, but I couldn’t move.
“You can’t hide forever.” He sounded like a maniac and my eyes widened as I realized he was standing on the other side of where I was crouched. I couldn’t stay here. He would catch me. No, I had to make a run for it. With all the strength I could muster, I pushed the kegs over and sprinted in the opposite direction.
My mind raced as I darted down the aisle. I was getting turned around. Fear was taking over my body, making me confused. Where was the fucking door? My dress tangled around my feet, and I fell to the ground, the cement scraping against my legs.
“Got you,” Ryzen shouted and my blood turned ice cold as he stood just a few feet away. No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. Not again.
I jumped up quickly and took off, knocking everything over that I passed, trying to slow him down. Nothing was stopping him. My eyes widened when I looked over my shoulder and saw him behind me. He moved with such an unnatural swiftness, closing the distance between us in seconds.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me, turning us in a circle as I thrashed with all my might, screaming at the top of my lungs. I kicked my legs and scratched at his arms, drawing blood. He let out a slew of curse words but didn’t loosen his grip. The way he laughed was terrifying, like a madman who had nothing to live for. I threw my head back with as much force as I possibly could, making contact with his mask, which made him loosen his grip slightly.There we go, just keep fighting, Nova. Don’t stop fighting.I slammed my elbow back once, then twice, and when he still wouldn’t let go, I angled my head down and sank my teeth deep into his arm.
He bellowed with rage and dropped me to the ground, and I ran, but he was too quick. With lightning speed, he lunged for me and slammed me into the wall, knocking the air out of my body. I wheezed, struggling to catch my breath as I leaned against the wall for support. Ryzen’s breathing was just as ragged as mine, and he let out a growl as his hands wrapped around my throat and squeezed. I couldn’t die like this. Not here. Not now. I gasped for air and clawed as hard as I could at his hand. If he wanted to kill me, he was going to have to work for it. I wouldn’t go down without a fight. My hands were frantic, scratching and clawing, and I slapped the mask off of his face.
Nothing could have prepared me for seeing him again. The look in his eyes was of absolute pure evil.
“That’s right, Nova. I want to see the life drain from those pretty eyes. I want to be the last thing you fucking see before you die,” he roared, his hands squeezing so hard little black dots danced in my vision.
A million thoughts flashed through my mind as my strength weakened and I struggled less and less. What Cian would do if he found me dead. How devastated Juliet would be. And Grams. God, Grams wouldn’t be able to handle losing me.
And then another thought from earlier in the night.
Deandra yelling after me about the knife.Remember the knife.That was what she’d said.
My eyes widened as I stared into the pit of Ryzen’s soulless eyes. The fear of seeing him and him chasing me had made me frozen, and I had forgotten the very first thing Valik had asked me when we arrived at the club.
“Is everyone armed?”
My hand flew down to my thigh and I dragged my dress up, reaching for the handle of the blade. I pressed the button I had pressed so many times and, without thinking, slashed it across Ryzen’s face.
He looked stunned as blood gushed down his face, and he let go of my neck, reaching up to touch his face. It was the only moment I needed, though. I swung my arm again, and with a feral cry, I drove the knife into his right eye and twisted. He howled in agony and stumbled backwards, reaching for the knife.
Run, Nova. Run now.
Adrenaline pumped through my body, making me move down the aisle as fast as I could. Ryzen was screaming in pain behind me, and I pumped my legs faster until I turned the corner and finally found the door leading back to the club.
I had to get out of here before he came after me. Cian. I had to tell Cian.
Seconds before I reached the door, it flew open, and Cian’s large frame took up the entire doorframe. His eyes were wide and, when he saw me, his face twisted in anger.
“Cian,” I croaked out and ran into his arms. “He’s here. Back there,” I choked out and gripped him like my life depended on it. And in that moment, it most likely did.
“Hold her,” Cian barked at Valik, whose face was ashen at the sight of me. Cian pulled out his gun and ran towards the back, Orin and Eros right behind him.
“It’s OK, Nova.” Valik wrapped me in his arms. Juliet and Thora came running through the door, an anguished cry escaping their lips when they saw me covered in blood.
“It’s not mine,” I whispered as Juliet grabbed onto my arms.
Thora pulled out her gun and ran after her brothers, and I wanted to stop her, but I couldn’t speak. My throat was dry as Valik ushered me through the crowd to the elevator. I sagged in his arms, tears threatening to break free at any moment as I struggled for air.
