Chapter 55
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
dani
“Kole,” I choked out, my heart lurching.
His eyes met mine, the fury on his face dimming slightly.
His lip was busted, with fresh blood still trickling down his chin.
His arms were bound behind his back, and he spat out a curse when the masked killer kicked him, sending him to his knees.
The gun stayed pressed to the back of his head as tense silence blanketed the room.
“Is my death worth his life?” my monster asked tauntingly. I looked back at him, my glare turning frigid when I met his smug gaze. His laugh was cut short when I nicked his throat with my blade. “Go ahead,” he challenged. “Kill me—then you get to watch him die.”
My emotions clashed as I stared at him. This was the moment I’d been waiting for ever since the night this monster tried murdering me. It would only take one small move, and he’d be gone. My hand trembled as I struggled to think clearly.
“Interesting,” he continued when I remained frozen. “The feelings you have for him overwhelm your urge to kill me?”
I bit my tongue, loathing for him burning through me. What made it worse was that he was right. For the last twelve years, revenge had been the only thing that kept me sane. My vow to find him ended right now, with my blade at his throat.
But Kole?
His life was more important than fulfilling my vengeance. Which was a shock to me. This man began putting the pieces of my heart back together in the months I’d been in Winterlake without me even realizing it. If he died, I would shatter in a way I would never fucking recover from.
“Kill him, Dani,” Kole bit out from behind me. “Do it—”
His words were cut off, and I turned just in time to see the masked guy slam the gun against Kole’s head. He grunted in pain, swaying on his knees. My heart stuttered painfully when I faced my monster again. His vile smirk had my rage spiking.
“We both know you won’t kill me,” he said mockingly. “Put the knife down.”
I scowled, making a split-second decision.
Keeping the knife on him, I grabbed his arm, yanking him away from the wall.
He cursed under his breath when I cut him again as I spun around, putting myself behind him, and we stood in front of the door.
I noticed blood was soaking the back of his shirt from where I’d stabbed him.
I kept the blade steady on his throat as I faced Kole and the person holding the gun on him.
“You’re going to let him go,” I ordered coldly. “Or I’ll kill him.”
The masked man only cocked his head, the gun staying on Kole.
His free hand slid into his pocket, and he pulled out a walkie-talkie.
All he did was push a button, and an alarm began blaring.
He cut it off after only a couple of seconds, putting it back into his pocket.
Before I could try to figure out what was happening, the door behind me suddenly opened, slamming into me.
As if he knew it was about to happen, my monster snatched my wrist, preventing me from using the blade as we were thrown forward.
I knew five ways to get my wrist out of his hold, yet I didn’t fight back as I stumbled away from the door.
Because the masked asshole was hauling Kole to his feet, and even with his arms bound, Kole was putting up a fight.
I was worried for his life more than my own.
The killer put his arm across Kole’s chest, pressing the gun right over his heart.
“You lost your chance.”
His voice shot disgust through me, and I looked back at him when his grip on my wrist tightened.
Only this time, he had a gun in his other hand, aimed at me.
Did he have that the entire time? I went still, my heart thrashing.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted another body slinking past me.
The one who shoved the door into me. The new masked person stopped next to Kole.
My stomach knotted painfully, fear sweeping through me.
Not only were we outnumbered, but my knife was nothing compared to their guns.
“Drop it,” my monster ordered, eyeing my blade. “Now.”
I clenched my jaw, refusing to let go of my only weapon. Instead of them threatening me, Kole let out a grunt when he was hit with the gun again. After a few tense seconds, I let the knife fall from my grip. It clattered on the hardwood, and a moment later, it was kicked away.
“Dani, run. Go.” Kole’s panicked voice tugged at my heart.
My monster chuckled cruelly. “She won’t do that. Not when we have you.”
Ice dripped down my spine. The bastard knew I’d chase him. They’d planned this, and I walked right into it. My eyes snapped forward when the muzzle of the gun grazed my jaw. He trailed it down my throat, making my heart thud painfully.
“So different this time,” he murmured, almost in disappointment.
“Apparently our last encounter together didn’t make the impact I thought.
” I clenched my teeth together, refusing to show him an ounce of emotion when he leaned closer, his face inches from mine.
He searched my face, a frown tipping his lips. “Was my knife not enough to scar you?”
The back of my neck prickled, my scars burning like they always did when I thought of them. But he wasn’t speaking of my physical marks. He was craving my fear.
His chuckle had dread knotting my stomach. “I know what you’ve been up to ever since that night. You should be thanking me.”
His eyes flashed with annoyance when I stayed silent, not rising to his bait.
He glanced behind me, nodding slightly. I turned my head, following his gaze.
I sucked in a breath when the taller masked asshole dragged Kole toward the stairs.
I tried to take a step until fingers tightened around my upper arm.
“Do not move,” he ordered, raising the gun in threat.
“Shoot me,” I spat out, absolutely detesting having his hand on me. “You think I’m scared to die?”
My attention shifted when Kole was thrown forward. I caught sight of the zip tie around Kole’s wrists when he twisted his body, letting his shoulder slam into the rails instead of his face.
“Motherfucker,” Kole snarled, trying to climb to his feet. “You fucking—”
“Shut up,” my monster snapped, his patience suddenly gone, “or I’ll gag you. You’re here for one reason—and it doesn’t involve you speaking.”
My chest tightened when I caught Kole’s gaze. The worry and fury burning in his eyes weren’t for himself, but for me. He was only here because he was important to me. It was my fault his life was being threatened.
“Make sure he can’t interfere,” my monster ordered, sparing a glance at the masked killer who had a gun on Kole.
“If you hurt him, you’ll have nothing to keep me compliant,” I hissed, my heart thrashing wildly.
I would do anything to make sure Kole survived this. He was worth more than my monster’s death—and more than my own life. I’d give myself to the evil in this room to keep Kole alive.
My monster stared at me as if evaluating my words. I didn’t break our stare, letting loathing seep into my gaze. My breath locked in my lungs when he used the gun to brush hair out of my face.
“We have a lot to talk about,” he said, his voice deadly soft. He trailed the muzzle down the side of my face. “You behave, and he stays alive.”
Lies.
Kole’s death was signed the moment he was forced into this house. But I’d play along for now until another opportunity to get him out presented itself.
“Hands behind your back,” my monster ordered.
I bit my tongue, panic at being restrained crushing my chest. He could have forced me, but no, he wanted the satisfaction of controlling me. He knew I’d listen when Kole was here.
My hands shook as I slowly brought them behind my back. My breaths came out short and rapid as he moved, disappearing from sight. A few moments later, a zip tie tightened around my wrists. He made sure to secure it to prevent me from wriggling out.
The taller masked killer was pulling Kole’s arms above his head, and Kole kicked at him.
His partner came up, and punched Kole in the throat.
It wasn’t a hard hit, but enough for them to shove his spine into the stair banister to finish what they were doing while Kole fought for a breath.
A new zip tie was wrapped around his wrists and the closest metal rail of the banister.
Kole remained standing, spitting out curses when the zip tie was tightened.
The two masked assholes were standing silently. There wasn’t enough light to see their eyes, and I studied their bodies, trying to pick up any hint of their identity. Since they refused to speak, I was guessing I knew them.
My monster stepped away and picked up my pocketknife before halting in front of me, blocking Kole from sight. His smug smirk shot fury through my veins, and I twisted my bound wrists. He was a few inches taller than me, and I tilted my face up, keeping all emotion off my face.
“I think it’s time to make a proper introduction,” he said with a wide grin. “We’ve known each other for twelve years and you don’t even know my name. I’m Leo.”
Leo. The name didn’t match the monster who’d haunted me for years. I had no idea if it was his real name.
“I’ve kept tabs on you,” he admitted, a hint of pride in his voice. “I got to witness what I created.”
Bile burned my throat. He’d been watching me? I’d spent twelve years chasing him when he’d known where I’d been this entire time?
“You might have changed your name, but I know everything about you.” His fingers gripped my jaw, and he turned my face slightly, rubbing his thumb over a small scar that had faded years ago.
“You have marks I never gave you. I admit, it makes me jealous. I was supposed to be the last one to touch you.”