Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 62497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
I’m starting to struggle to breathe, and I’m not sure what to do. Or if there is even anything I can do about it.
“Which one, Kenzo? Pick one,” the man taunts. “The girl…” he pulls tighter, “or your brother.”
Kenzo doesn’t even spare Kyson a glance.
“Neither,” he says, smirking and moving closer to me. I watch as he pulls out the knife that he carries with him. He seems to do his killing with a gun but keeps the knife for himself. It’s odd, but I don’t know the inner workings of his head. But from what I do know, it’s lethal inside that brain of his.
And a little sweet.
At least to me.
Kenzo’s eyes meet mine as he lifts the knife and places the blade on his forearm below his rolled-up sleeves. I watch as he presses the blade into his flesh until I start to see the first bit of blood.
Oh shit! My head instantly goes hazy, and I see movement just before everything goes black.
“What did you do?” the man behind me screams.
“Mayve…” Kenzo is saying my name.
But the blood…the blood is there.
Just as I think I’m about to die, someone slaps my face—hard. I taste my own blood and snap my eyes open to see Kyson crouching before me.
There is no one behind him anymore.
“Wake up! Now is not the time,” he says and pulls me to his side as he stands. He turns, holding me upright, and I see Zuko slice the throat of the woman he’s holding and letting her drop to the floor. The man who had me before, Pops, is backing up, shaking his head, as Kenzo steps up closer to him.
“Did you think you could kill us? Kill her?” Kenzo chuckles, and something about that chuckle makes my skin crawl.
“I was a father figure to you, Kenzo. You can’t treat me like this,” the man pleads.
“How am I supposed to treat someone who wanted to cause harm to those I love?”
Love? Surely, he’s talking about his brothers.
But what about me?
“You good?” Kyson asks me.
I nod, and he lets me go.
There are three bodies on the floor, two right near where Kyson was—the man who had him is now dead—and the woman who Zuko had is also dead.
I should be more freaked out, but my hands raise to my throat. It stings. Burns almost. “Kenzo,” I say weakly. When he doesn’t reply, I look up. Kenzo has Pops down on his knees, leaning over him.
Fuck! There’s blood, and I quickly look away. I can’t watch this. If I do, I know I will be flat out on the floor, unconscious. Nope, it’s too late I saw it.
“Fucking hell, Kenzo. Mayve.” Kyson catches me before I fall, but I manage not to totally pass out.
“He deserves to die,” Kenzo says.
I can hear his footsteps coming closer.
“I’ll fucking end it.” I know that’s Zuko’s voice, and I hear a loud pop before I can say or do anything. Then arms lift me, and I’m being held bridal style.
“I wanted to be the one.” Kenzo’s voice is so close now.
“Yeah, and you had your chance. Why would you stab him in the chest only to take it back out and do it again if you wanted to kill him?” Kyson says.
That explains the blood.
“Because I wanted to play a little longer, so he knew how it felt,” Kenzo seethes.
“He has no damn feelings. That man is dead inside,” Zuko adds, and I see him walk out ahead of us as Kenzo carries me. We get to a car where he places me in the back seat and then climbs in after me. I scoot away from him and lean against the door, staring out the window.
“Show me your throat.” I shake my head, but he scoots even closer. “Please.”
Someone coughs or chokes on something, and I know eyes are on me, but I can’t seem to move.
“Please don’t touch me.”
He huffs. “Does it hurt?”
“I’ll be fine. I need to go home.”
“Do you want me to come?”
“No,” I say without a second thought, then, “Actually…”
“Yes?”
“Will I be safe?” I ask.
“I’ll stay out front for the night,” he says.
“Okay.”
When we arrive at my apartment, I get out without a word. What am I supposed to say, Hey, thanks for putting me in this position and then saving me?
Nope. I can’t think of one nice thing to say right now, so it’s best to say nothing.
I feel him behind me as I climb the stairs. When I reach the top, I look down to see the car is gone.
Shit.
I don’t have keys.
Where is my purse? My phone? I didn’t even think of any of that.
“Here.” Kenzo hands me my bag, and I take it from him. Reaching inside with shaky hands, I pull out my keys and unlock the door. I don’t bother turning around to face him. I don’t want to see him right now. I am going to take everything off and burn it, then I want to sleep for about a week.