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I gritted my teeth. “I don’t know.”
“Liar!” His intense gaze narrowed, his chest rising and falling with his rage. “Get on your knees.”
My legs trembled, entirely at his mercy. He was too far away for me to tackle, and I had to give him a reason to move closer. Vomit traveled up my throat, and I swallowed the bitter bile down.
Stephen paced in front of me. “Where are they, Ella? You helped them escape, pretending you lost your little dog. Well, guess what? You don’t have one. There are zero signs in your house that you have any animals at all. As a single female, it’s a stupid move.”
“Thanks for the advice,” I muttered, immediately scolding myself for what I’d just said to the man holding me at gunpoint. Fear showed itself in crazy ways under duress.
Stephen stomped toward me, his black boots thundering against my hardwood floors and my heart along with them.
He aimed the gun at me. “Get on your knees.” He pressed the weapon against my temple and moved his finger to the trigger.
He threw his head back and laughed. “I want you to take a moment to think about this. Are you willing to die for that cunt? She’s my problem, not yours, and she sure as fuck isn’t worth dying for. But you have a big backyard, and I have no qualms about burying you there.”
Thoughts of Sarah and the kids broke through the fear, followed by Sebastian’s kindness as he kneeled in front of the children, encouraging them. I could be strong for them. I had to.
I stilled, clearing my mind the best I could. That little girl was worth saving. She was worth dying for. The fucking bastard would never hurt her again. My fear twisted into a dark, nearly blinding hatred, and my determination to protect Sarah and her family returned full force. Slowly, I looked from the weapon in his hand to his hardened gaze, full of rage.
The corners of my lips kicked up as I planned my next move. I would rather die rebelling and protecting innocent children than submitting.
“You stupid bitch!”
Time seemed to grind to a halt as I plowed forward, and head butted him right in the junk. He yelled as his arms lowered, and the weapon clambered to the floor.
The momentum of my hit sent me tumbling toward the gun, and my fingers closed around it before he could react. In one smooth motion, I spun around and pointed it at him. He froze, his expression wide with terror as I cocked the hammer back, ready to pull the trigger if he came at me. But it was too late.
“Hello, Ella. Nice of you to give me a new body to bury,” Death said from behind Stephen.
I stilled as the glint of his blade against Stephen’s neck caught my attention.
Death’s grey eyes peered at me through his mask as a swell of gratitude bloomed inside my chest. “Did he hurt you?” His tone was void of emotion, cold and calculating.
“No,” I managed to choke out as the realization sunk in that Stephen had almost killed me, and Death had snuck into my house and saved me.
“Who is this man to you?” Death asked.
“He’s looking for his family who escaped him a few nights ago. He abused his wife and son but even worse … he molested his daughter. He’s a horrible excuse for a human being.” I stood, the gun still in my hand as I righted myself.
“That’s a lie!” Stephen yelled, his voice quivering with fear.
“Make another sound, and I will slice you open from throat to groin. You will drown in your own blood, and I will cherish the sight of your last breath leaving your body.” Death dug the sharp edge of the weapon into Stephen’s neck, causing a trickle of crimson liquid to stream down his shirt.
“Little lamb, go to your bedroom right now and lock the door. Don’t come out until I give you permission. Do not call the cops. Do you understand?”
Fear surged through my veins like icy water as I ran toward my room. My hands trembled as I threw the door shut and pressed my ear against it, desperately trying to make out what was happening on the other side.
Death’s voice was a mumble, but Stephen’s pleading was clear as a bell. Every fiber of my being rooted for Death to end the fucked-up bastard for hurting his family. My heart thundered in my ears as I continued to listen.
I chewed on my thumbnail as the conversation’s volume dropped, and seconds later the sound of a lamp crashing to the floor split the silence. Cringing, I grasped the gun again, unsure if Stephen would barge through my bedroom door and hurt me. If he did, I was prepared to shoot … and kill.
Another crash echoed through the house, and I held my breath and waited for his reply. Instead, I heard only the sound of glass shattering against the walls of my home. Gripping the pistol tightly, I tensed, ready to defend myself. My pulse skipped several beats as another deafening crash rang out.
Then there was nothing.
Minutes seemed like hours as I strained to hear any additional noises, but there was only an eerie silence. I braced myself as I slowly turned the doorknob and cracked the door. I tiptoed into the kitchen, wondering when Stephen would grab me, but I didn’t see him. My gaze swept the area, and before I could scream, a large hand slapped over my mouth.
Blood. So much blood coated the kitchen floor. Stephen laid on his back, his unseeing eyes staring at the ceiling. His throat gaped where it had been slashed, still gushing crimson.
