Page 67 of Bound to a Killer

A small voice in the back of my mind begs me not to drag the pain of what-ifs out during my final moments. Instead, just sit with the knowledge that he tried his best to help me. That during my short time on Earth, there was someone who cared enough to try for me. That’s more than I’ve ever gotten before. My eyes sting before a stream of tears sets my cheeks ablaze.

“Wilson.” Tanner’s voice cuts through the fog; it doesn’t exactly break, but it bends with restrained emotion. “Let’s be done. Just hand her to me.”

Tension envelopes the space. Seconds trickle by.

Antonio nudges his barrel higher along the side of Frankie’s face, the act infuriating Ledger as intended, snapping him into action. “Fine,” he grits between clenched teeth. “I said fine.”

My chest clenches. Aches. Burns. Tears continue to gush from me like a spring that never runs dry, endless and unbroken. Unlike my heart, which feels like it’s being sawn in half.

Snaking another hand around my waist, he slowly drags me to his front, a sob lodging in my throat as something hard nudges my side.

With air trapped in my lungs, my hand flings toward the foreign pressure, fingers colliding with his own and sending sharp electric currents throughout my body.

He wraps his larger fingers around my hand, molding it around what feels like a handle of some type of blade in the front pocket of my sweatshirt.

My ears drum on, drowning out everything else going on around us. Someone speaks, but I can’t tell who or what they’vesaid. The warmth of his touch leaves me as he slips away with a subtle motion, locking his grip around my elbow and shoulder before he moves us forward.

Why’d he give me his knife? What am I meant to do with it?

Stab his partner?

I can’t…I don’t know…I’ve never?—

It doesn’t matter. Both men are armed with guns, bullets that easily outperform a single blade, especially when it’s wielded by someone like me. Tanner narrows his eyes at me, full of hatred and disgust. Electric tension builds under my skin as we near him, my skin vibrating with adrenaline.

Suddenly, I don’t feel as brave. The desire to whirl around and beg for my life climbs higher and higher until it’s too late, and I find myself before him. There’s not a hint of kindness anywhere to be found. No mercy. Only scornful bitterness etched into every hard line of his face as he glares at me.

Ledger’s solid protective frame leans away from me, leaving me exposed. Tanner grabs my elbow, twisting me around so he doesn’t have to look at me.

My pulse spikes. Blood whooshes in my ears, like I’ve slipped underwater. I’m drowning.

He levels the gun at my head.

A sharp cry comes from Frankie as she stumbles toward her brother, embracing him. I don’t blame them for choosing each other, but watching them now is a reminder of what’s to come, the cost to their rekindled connection.

My death.

I meet their gazes as they turn to face me. A sickly pallor creeps over Frankie, and Ledger—God, Ledger looks like he’s been met by the Grim Reaper himself. I’ve never seen him so afraid, the emotion ill-fitting on him, foreign.

Cold steel brushes into my hairline, the barrel adjusting just slightly as his fingers curl tighter along the trigger. I clenchmy teeth, feeling my soul rip out of my body before the bullet even flies out, anticipating the blow.

Series of my life flashes before my eyes. Brief. Immediate. Like a highlight reel.

Then I remember the knife.

I slip a hand inside my pocket, my heart slamming violently against my chest as I brace myself for impact, thinking it’s too late. That the bullet will tear through my skull at any moment.

Risking everything, Ledger lunges forward and shouts, “Wait!”

It’s enough of a distraction. My fingers glide down the exposed hard edge of the blade, curling my fingers around the thick handle before yanking it out.

Any and every thought is suspended. I act fast, swinging it aside, then jabbing it as hard as I can into Tanner’s thigh.

“Fuck!” he roars, guttural and raw with pain.

I rip the knife out and jerk my head low just before an earsplitting bang detonates beside my ear. It ruptures my hearing, leaving me momentarily deaf to anything besides a high-pitched ring that rattles my skull.

I eye the exit and run.