Chapter Forty-Four
Sadie
I’d really love to live a few more minutes to truly appreciate that shot.
I barely aimed, and the bullet hit the Fiver in his gut.
His body jerks back, and he hits the floor near Pappi, landing at Bowie’s feet.
He doesn’t die right away, but I don’t have time to watch him struggle or for the shock and guilt of shooting someone to set in.
Because the next second, I’m tackled to the ground, and fireworks of pain explode in my head.
First at the back when I land on the floor.
Then at my jaw where my attacker lands a hard punch.
Another comes from the other side, and I taste blood in my mouth.
Then another, this time on my side. The pain is all I can think about for what feels like hours.
Then a smooth, lightly accented voice penetrates the buzzing in my brain.
“That’s enough, Skins.”
The blows stop coming. There’s still a weight pressing down on me. I blink open blurry eyes to find a man with several facial piercings practically sitting on me.
Nausea claws through my throat and I turn my head just in time for the vomit to splatter on the floor. The guy on top of me jerks back, jumping to his feet. Now free, I groan and curl to my side. For a blissful second, I’m lost in the throbbing sensations, and I forget about my current situation.
But the freedom doesn’t last long. All at once, I remember Pappi falling dead and the following gunshots, including the one from me.
With enormous effort, I lift my head, finding the Fiver bleeding out mere feet away. He’s moaning, so, not dead yet, but no one is helping him. Only his hands attempt to stop the blood from leaving his gut. Five of his buddies are standing around him, and none of them are sparing him a glance.
They’re all facing me.
Including Bowie.
The man smiles.
“Oh, bella.” He clicks his tongue. “You seem to be in some trouble.”
Hatred bubbles through my ribs, coating my insides. I haven’t despised a man like this since Dakota.
Maybe I’ll get to kill this one. I’ve never had the same needs as June, but I just shot a guy and I’m not feeling some existential crisis, so would killing another really fuck me up that bad?
I open my mouth to greet Bowie, but the blows seem to have temporarily broken the sarcasm and reference cortex of my brain. That’s probably a thing that exists. So instead, I let out a groan of pain and spit blood and vomit residue.
Gross.
Bowie steps over Pappi’s body and squats in front of me. “Regretting your choices in men?”
“Almost always,” I say.
I’ve regretted every man I’ve ever dated. Bowie included.
Every man but one.
“Still don’t believe me?”
“God, dude. I’ve known the whole time.” Apparently, I don’t think before I talk anymore.
“I know. You’re a good actor, though, bella. Almost had me for a second.”
My lips press together as old instincts to say whatever he wants war with a new desire to spit in his face.
“I will admit that I underestimated someone.” Bowie’s scrutinizing gaze travels down my body before he adds, “Not you, of course. You did exactly what I wanted. Told Zervas and his ginger fluffer everything I said. But I expected him to come for me immediately. I was ready for a quicker response from those brain-dead idiots. I didn’t expect him to be smart about his revenge. ”
“You killed his daughter and girl. Did you really think he was going to fuck up taking you down?”
“I didn’t kill the bitch. She did that to herself.”
“Because you murdered her daughter!”
Bowie stands, waving his hand in the air like I accused him of eating the last cookie, not murdering a little girl. “Technically, that was Gray.”
I would shoot him if I still had the gun. No hesitation.
“You think coming after me will stop him?”
“I think that he’s pussy-whipped to your bitch of a best friend. Not to mention his right hand is obsessed with you.” He shakes his head. “The Saints never learn. Always letting cunt destroy them from the inside.”
This guy has never once made a girl come.
He turns and looks at the now-dead Fiver behind him. “I’m getting real fucking tired of Zervas’s bitches killing my men.”
“Maybe stop attacking us then.”
“Or… I could show you what it’s like to be with a real man before ending your miserable existence.”
Real terror returns in full force.
“You’re not touching me.”
He scoffs. “You’ll learn to love it.”
I push back, trying to crawl away from him.
I didn’t fight Dakota off. I froze.
That’s not happening again.
“Maybe I’ll let some of my men have a go first, so you’ll really appreciate me.”
“Just kill me. Get it over with.”
He smirks. “I don’t think so.”
Fuck.
Fuck fuck fuck fuck.
“If you touch me, James will kill you. He’ll destroy you slowly.”
“Is that supposed to scare me?”
“June will—”
“Do you realize how pathetic you sound? Threatening me with what other people will do? What about you, bella? Where’s your backbone?”
My eyes sting, and I’m pissed that with so few words, he can bring my insecurities to the surface in the form of tears.
“You pretend, but I saw it the first time we met. The weakness. It’s all in your face. Smart, to surround yourself with killers who will protect you. Too bad none of them are here now.” Then he reaches for me.
I scream and roll over, managing to push to my knees. He almost grabs my hand, but I lurch to my feet, practically falling forward before managing to run. The back door is close. If I can just reach it, maybe—
Arms circle my waist and lift me off the floor. I scream and kick, throwing my elbows back. The only response is a soft chuckle in my ear.
“That’s better. Keep it up. The fight does it for me.”
My stomach roils. I’m going to vomit again.
“I think I’ll send him a video. Maybe your murderous friend will come for me, and then Zervas can get a video too.”
No. Fuck that. He’s not touching me or June.
I stop fighting and go limp. Bowie laughs.
“Pathetic.” Then he starts carrying me to the front door.
I inhale deeply before throwing all my strength back into fighting him.
He adjusts his grip, bringing his arm higher up my chest. It doesn’t take much effort to angle my head down and clamp my teeth into his bare flesh.
He lets out a surprised shout and I bite harder, sinking my teeth until I taste blood.
“Fucking bitch!” He pulls his arm away, and I feel a chunk of flesh rip free.
He shoves me to the floor, and the slimy lump of meat in my mouth slides further down my tongue. I almost reflexively swallow but thankfully manage to spit it out. I glance back and am happy to see Bowie squeezing his arm, blood welling from between his fingers.
“Tie her up,” he orders his men.
Three men stalk toward me.
“Don’t fucking touch me!” I scream.
That must have been one shout too many for the others hiding in the house, because someone calls my name. The sound that follows drains my body of all warmth.
A bark.
In horror, I turn and watch Evelyn and Soot both running toward me.
“No.” It comes out as a whisper more than a yell.
No. Please. Anything but this.
Soot collides with me, then turns to face my attackers, growling and snarling.
Ev doesn’t reach me before she’s captured by one of the bigger Fivers. She struggles but doesn’t gain an inch of freedom from the large arms banded around her.
Then Bowie says the one thing that could convince me to stop fighting and let him have whatever he wants.
“Kill the mutt.”
A gun raises.
“No!” My scream tastes like blood. I try to maneuver myself in front of Soot, but he won’t budge. He just growls and barks.
I scream and scream.
But the bullet never comes.
Because from behind the Fivers comes my current favorite person in the entire world.
“Pull that trigger and you’ll wish I killed you first.”
Everyone looks toward the newcomer.
“Who the fuck are you?” Bowie asks.
The answer comes from Evelyn, the word a broken sound.
“Actaeon.”