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FORTY-FIVE

Laura

G entle arms lifted me, my head lolling against a wide chest. The black material was warm and wet against my cheek, a coppery twang invading my senses. Pain filled my body, leaving my limbs weak and useless.

Opening my eyes proved difficult, barely a slice of vision available. My headache intensified as I looked over a broad shoulder.

‘Don’t look,’ Phoenix said softly.

But I wanted to look.

I’d blacked out, and I needed to see for myself that Massimo was truly dead.

Orange flames hungrily consumed Massimo. Massimo’s limp form dangled in the middle of the room, the giant hook protruding through his back. His face gawped like a dead fish, guts spilling out through the large hole left from the hook impaling him.

His body turned slowly above the greedy flames, roasting the devil. It was like watching hell welcome him.

Relief swept through me, leaving me sobbing against Phoenix.

‘I didn’t mean any of it,’ I whispered, keeping my eyes on Massimo as the flames grasped at him.

‘I know, I heard you after.’ Phoenix stroked a thumb over my thigh, right where his arms supported me.

‘He’s really dead?’ I asked.

‘One hundred percent. The fucker’s gone.’

‘Thank you.’ My words came out pained, and I finally dragged my eyes from Massimo as we left the room. ‘I thought you were dead, too.’

‘Not this time,’ he assured me, his breath crackled in his chest.

‘We need to get to a hospital,’ I murmured, my vision blurring as we stepped out into the night.

The cold night air greeted us, in the distance a siren wailed.

‘Later, I need to get us out of here,’ Phoenix said, his voice soothing. His motorbike sat around the corner, and he fixed a helmet over both of our heads. I winced as he settled me over the seat and climbed on behind me.

‘It’s going to hurt, but we need to put some distance between us and the building.’

I nodded, shivering as he wrapped his arms around me.

‘I love you,’ I whispered into the interior of my helmet, my head swimming with the increased pain as he kicked the bike into gear.

I could have sworn I heard I love you drifting on the air right back to me .

Pain took over as we moved, my entire focus taken by trying not to vomit. My balance was off, my ability to grip the bike with my injured legs impaired.

We limped our way back toward Scotland.

Toward home.