37. Thalia #3
I can hear the rustling of the brush as footsteps approach me. Multiple bodies are moving in our direction, and it throws me off for a split second. Vincent uses the opening to rush me with a war cry that echoes through the trees.
My eyes widen, and at the last second, I lift the knife before plunging it into his stomach and twisting it. Vincent stops, the air evacuating his lungs as warmth coats my hand. He slowly looks down at his fatal injury, the light bleeding from his eyes rapidly.
“When you get to hell, tell Crystal her daughter sends her regards.” I whisper before turning the knife again and shoving it even deeper, feeling the tear and rip of his intestines.
Rowan shoves out of the trees, the breath skating past his lips as he takes in the scene before stalking towards me and grabbing our grandfather.
He pulls Vincent off the blade before dropping him to the ground.
We stare at the last dead body of our immediate family, silence stretching between us before Rowan whips around to me and points a finger at my chest.
Here it comes. The yelling. The screaming.
His jaw shifts before he surprises me by crushing me to his chest. He places a hand over the nape of my neck, holding me tightly.
“Uh, are you okay, Row?” I ask awkwardly.
He pulls back, nodding. “Yeah. Don’t you dare scare me like that again. Do you understand?”
I offer a small chuckle. “Sorry. I can’t let Brooks get away.”
My brother nods in understanding. “Then you need to go. He’s at the highway. Not sure what his plan is, but he hasn’t engaged with a single person.”
My smile turns warm. “Thanks, Row.”
“Get out of here.”
I leave him behind, dead set on my next target as I cut through the forest with precision. My sight sharpens as I spot the highway in the distance. A few cars pass as I close in, but I’m not focused on the traffic.
No.
I watch Brooks intently while he scans the surrounding area. He’s backed himself into a corner as the asphalt rests just a few feet behind him. Every sound makes his shoulders tense, and I decide to have a little fun.
I duck behind a tree, projecting my voice until it echoes. “You know, this is extremely embarrassing for you.”
His feet slide along the grass, and I watch from my vantage point as he searches frantically for me. A sweat builds on his brow as he swallows. “How so?” He hides the tremor in his voice well, but not enough to mistake it for anything other than pure fear.
“You’ve always been a half-baked assassin,” I croon as I observe my nails. “I think I left you alive because, in the end, I felt a little bad for you.”
I close in, using the brush to shield me as I stalk Brooks like prey.
He chuckles bitterly, his hands rising as if he can stop me from coming any closer. “Or, despite everything, you still feel something for me…”
My guffaw bounces off the trees, coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
I sober quickly as that deadly calm grips me in a vice.
“You threatened my family,” another step closer, the darkness closing in.
“You tried to hurt Reed.” Brooks takes another step back, the heel of his boot scuffing the edge of the road.
I smile in victory as I stand only inches from him, and he does not know. “You fucked with everything I love.”
He gasps, his head whipping around as he stumbles back onto the road. He tries to regain his footing, but I’m on him in seconds, snatching the collar of his shirt and dragging him to me.
“You deserve something far worse than death,” I say so chillingly that it causes Brooks to freeze like a deer caught in headlights. His eyes widen as his pulse slams in his neck. “You deserve to suffer.”
I shove him back to the left side of the road. He places his hands on his chest before his head swivels to the right. He was so busy being a fucking chicken that he didn’t notice the semi barreling towards us.
He looks at me with fear dilating his pupils as I wiggle my fingers. “Goodbye, Brooks.”
The truck collides with him, clipping the assassin’s side and taking off his right arm as it drags his body beside it. The driver slams on the brakes as Brooks screams for mercy, causing them to skid to a stop a few feet away.
Rowan emerges from the trees, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me back into the brush as we watch the scene unfold. Brooks is still alive—for now—as the driver frantically dials emergency services.
“Wait, I need—”
Rowan stops me. “No. It’s done. Let’s leave while we still can. Nature will take its course.”
I pull against him, Reed’s handsome face flashing in my head as concern grips me. “What if he doesn’t die? What if—”
My brother takes my shoulders, turning me to face him as he softens. “It’s over, Thalia. They’re all gone. You don’t have to keep fighting anymore.”
My lips wobble as tears sting the bridge of my nose. “But Reed…”
“Is okay,” Rowan nods. “He’s fine.”
I crumble for the first time since this all started. My knees buckle and my whole body lurches forward. Rowan catches me before sinking to the ground with me held tightly to his chest. My tears flow as sobs wrack me, and all I can do is mourn what could have been.
What I gave up.