“Zack.” She whispers my name like I can’t be real.
“You did it.” It’s all I can say as I watch Travis die. She just killed a man. It’s something I didn’t know I needed to see.
It makes what I need to do hurt even more. I thought I was content with my plan, but now she’s here I’m not sure what’s right anymore.
I focus on the present. On her. “Are you hurt? Did he touch you?” I’m frantic with worry. My mind buzzing with fear.
“I’m fine.” She cups my cheek and presses her thumb to my lips. I kiss it and let my eyes drift closed so I can feel the warmth of her against me. Feel the life running through her veins.
Light. She’s pure light, warding off the darkness I’ve engulfed myself in.
“Look out!” Chloe grabs the knife from my limp hand and detaches herself from me so she can lunge at Jonah who’s lumbering toward us with one blood-soaked hand pressed to his chest.
“You killed him!” he shouts.
He’s slow enough for Chloe to weave under his outstretched arm and stab him in the ribs.
Finally, I come to my senses. The need to protect her takes over. Stalking over to them, I take the knife from Chloe and plunge it into Jonah again. Aiming for the heart this time.
He drops like the sack of shit he is.
“Zack?” Chloe says hesitantly. She still looks scared. I step toward her and grab her face with my bloodied fingers.
“Are you okay, darlin’?”
She nods and whimpers.
“What did Travis say to you?”
“That if I didn’t struggle, he’d let you live.” A single tear escapes her, and she quickly blinks the rest away.
I got what I wanted. I’ve broken her enough to cry for me. What’s left of my heart splits in two.
Keeping my hands firmly on her cheeks, I make sure she stays focused on me.
“Chloe, you listen to me, if anyone ever tries to hurt you then youfucking. Fight. Back.”Wrath clips each of my words as I force them at her. I’m seething. My chest tight. Myheart about to burst as it struggles to keep up with the fury coursing through my veins.
“Never put another life before yours.Ever.Not even mine.Tell me you understand.”
She nods the tiniest amount she can in my grasp. But I need to hear it. I need those words to be echoing through the hollow of my bones when the flesh has long since decayed from my body.
“Say the words, Chloe. Tell me you’ll put yourself first for the rest of your life. That you’ll kill if you have to. That you’ll do whatever it takes to stay alive, and you’ll still keep your head held high, no matter what.”
“I-I will.”
A heavy sigh of relief rattles from my chest. Letting her go, I step back and wipe my brow. My hands are shaking. From the adrenaline? The pills?Her?
I look around at the destruction and put that wall back up inside me once more. I’m not sure how long it will last this time. It’s cracked, and I can see her light shining through. I want to accept it so badly, but years of pain don’t just vanish in one night. No matter how hard I wish they would.
“We need to get back on the road as soon as possible,” I say, getting my head back on straight.
“To run from the cops?” There’s suspicion in her voice.
Chances are we won’t run into them this end of the road. The nearest station is in the opposite direction to where we’re heading, and they won’t search the road for anyone tonight. They’ll deal with the fires first, and ask questions later.
We’ll be long gone by then.
I don’t want to ice her out, but it’s the only way I can get through this without completely breaking down.
