Page 31 of Die for You (Kiss or Kill #2)

That’s why I don’t bother asking if she has Lettie.

“It’s do or die…don’t let me down.” And with that, she struts off, mingling with her adorning devotees.

I didn’t think I could hate her any more than I do, but her arrogance has her believing she’s untouchable. And that’s why I know she has Lettie.

One way or another, I will get her back tonight.

The quartet finishes, and Gianna strolls to the stage like she’s the queen of England. This is where she believes she belongs—at the top, with her minions fawning over her beauty and power.

I close my eyes for a moment, composing myself because it’s not much longer.

“Friends,” Gianna commences with. “Thank you for coming this evening to support such a great cause. Children have a special place in my heart, especially those who call Saint Maria’s their home.”

Guests nod with smiles on their gullible faces while I try not to gag on this syrupy bullshit Gianna feeds them.

“Saint Maria’s needs your help. Without your generosity, children like the ones behind me cannot be fed, they cannot learn. Your donations help better these little darlings’ lives.”

I place a fist in front of my mouth to stop the vomit.

“I wish for you to see how your donations help them. So, come tomorrow, these children will be available for you to get to know them. I don’t mean adoption, but day trips, or taking them to the movies. Anything you wish.

“And perhaps the more time spent with them, some may open your hearts and homes and make them a permanent part of your lives.”

I look around, expecting to see horror. But instead, I see admiration for Gianna. And I also see the perverse faces of some because what Gianna is proposing puts the children in the hands of potential predators.

This is unethical and unheard of. Some sisters cover their mouths, their eyes wide as they too see the wrongdoing of Gianna’s scheme.

I’m about to voice my horror, but am drowned out by thunderous applause. These people are monsters.

Gianna puts on a meek front, but she is anything but. All she sees is money by venturing into new territory—pimping out orphans.

I’m so triggered.

My body threatens to shut down, just as it once did when I was a child. Every face in here is the enemy, and the urge to flee is suffocating.

This is against Gianna’s protocol, but if I don’t get out of here, I’ll lose Lettie forever.

I push my way through the crowd, which only seems to cave in on me. Someone reaches out, asking if I’m okay. On instinct, I shove them aside. The woman gasps, seeking refuge in her snooty husband, who looks down his nose at me, protecting his wife from the unhinged person.

But I feel like the only sane person in this room.

I finally break free and take slow, calming breaths as I stand in the hallway. People are looking at me, so I quickly make my way to the bathroom near the chapel, which is far enough away from anyone to see or hear me. Once inside, I lock the cubicle door and commence dry retching into the toilet.

My empty stomach has nothing to purge, but it’s the sickness I feel I wish to expel.

I don’t know how long I stay this way, but I feel a bit better after a while. I flush the toilet and come to a shaky stand. I peer at myself in the oval-shaped mirror as I wash my hands. I feel a hundred years old.

Tossing the paper towel into the waste bin, I open the door and bump straight into the last person I want to see right now.

Bria opens her mouth, but I am done with this game. This needs to end now. I am toeing the line between stability and psychosis, and I’m fearful I’ll slip and be lost for good. So, without thought, I punch Bria in the face.

She staggers back, caught off guard.

I don’t give her time to recover before I punch her again.

“Valentina!” Lenny hisses, his polished shoes skidding on the linoleum as he races toward me. “What the fuck!”

I don’t have time to sugarcoat anything. “We give her to Gianna, we get Lettie back.”

Bria wavers on her feet, fingers brushing over her bloody lip. Her eyes are flickering as she fights to stay afloat.

“Choose,” I say, prepared for anything.

Lenny wrestles with what’s right and what’s wrong. But in the end, his choice proves that no matter what, he’ll always choose me.

“Lenny, no,” Bria slurs.

But it’s too late.

“Forgive me,” he states with utter remorse, before knocking her out cold.

She collapses to the floor like a rag doll.

Lenny is broken. He peers at Bria with sadness and guilt as he grips his hair in both hands. “What have I done? I’m so sorry.”

Regret swarms me because I hate he’s been put in a predicament such as this. I would feel the same way if faced with the choice, which reminds me of Nico.

I had forgotten that he was arriving in America.

That speaks volumes.

I wonder if he’s here. If so, he would be at Lenny’s.

This shit show just won’t end.

“What now?” Lenny asks, never taking his eyes off Bria.

Again, there is no method to my madness.

Peering around for options, I refuse to think this is divine intervention, but the chapel is the closest thing we have.

Taking off my heels, I open the door without a word.

Lenny sighs before picking Bria up and tossing her over his shoulder. This place has a chokehold over me, but I ignore the imminent panic in the pit of my stomach because we need something to restrain Bria with.

Lenny produces zip ties from his inner jacket pocket.

I arch a brow.

“I thought they’d come in handy.”

And this is our life because he’s right.

We quickly tie Bria to a chair. Guilt hinders me from looking Lenny in the eye. This is so wrong.

Once she’s tied, I look down at my clean dress and then at Lenny, who doesn’t have a scratch on him. I then peer at an unconscious Bria.

Lenny understands my concerns. He takes off his jacket and bow tie, tossing them onto the altar. “Hit me.”

I flinch at his suggestion, but we’re running out of time.

So I punch him in the jaw.

His head snaps back with an awful crack. But he turns his cheek, a sinister grin tugging at his luscious lips. “Is that the best you can do?”

It’s the motivation I need as I punch him again, busting open his lip this time.

He wipes away the blood with the back of his hand. “There’s my girl.”

His hoarse voice and blood dripping down his chin turn me on. A fire begins to burn. The room closes in on us, and our frustrations explode. We charge for the other at the same time. I throw another punch, which he blocks.

A quick succession of punches and kicks is also blocked. Now, we’re fighting for real.

Just as Gianna trained us, we fight like the skilled warriors we are. He allows me to connect at times that are conflicting. I know we both need to look like we’ve just had the fight of our lives, but I’ve hurt him enough.

He needs to give as good as he gets.

He shoves me into the wall but never strikes me. That won’t work, however.

“This will be a lot more believable if we’re both bleeding.”

“I won’t hit you.”

We circle the other, eyes locked. He stands firm on his stance, so it seems I have to do the dirty work myself. I reach for a Bible from a pew and whack myself in the face with it. Instantly, blood pours from my nose.

Not broken, but effective enough.

Gripping the thin halter strap of my dress, I tear it with ease. It unravels, and Lenny’s eyes darken when the tops of my breasts are exposed. My now ruined dress is only held together by the straps at the back.

“Choke me.”

That order is one he doesn’t object to.

He grips my throat in one hand and walks me backward. My back slams into the scratchy wall. He holds me in place and yanks out the clip in my hair. My long hair tumbles free. He pulls my hair and tugs my head to the right.

Bending down, he bites over my pulse.

Gripping the collar of his shirt, I yank it apart, the buttons scattering all over the floor. He smells fucking delicious, like blood and sex.

We bite and tear at each other, intent on eating the other alive.

I can’t stand it a second longer.

I need to taste him.

Licking across his mouth in one slow sweep, I lick away the blood I spilled. I then work my way down the side of his throat, over his Adam’s apple, then down the front of his chest. I have always been a sucker for the soft dark hair that paints his chest.

I rub my face in it, inhaling deeply because he smells like home. Even in the direst of circumstances, his scent calms me.

A low growl vibrates in his chest.

He drags me up by my hair to meet his lips, where we kiss passionately, like we’re each other’s lifeline.

It’s a kiss of desperation.

A kiss of hope.

This may be the beginning…of the end.

“I love you,” he whispers against my mouth.

After everything I’ve done, to hear those words…I feel undeserving.

So all I can do is love Lennon Shepherd back for the rest of my life. “I love you too.”

We press our foreheads together, savoring this moment of peace because the next few moments will be anything but.

Eventually, we break apart, but not before I slap his cheek—just for old times’ sake.

He rubs his cheek, smirking.

Pulling up a chair beside Bria, he sits down and places his hands behind his back.

With regret, I fasten the zip ties around his wrists, ensuring they’re done up tight.

Stepping back, I take in the scene. We’re all battered and bloody, but Gianna won’t believe I was able to subdue Lenny without him submitting. He’s stronger than I am, and although it looks like I put up one hell of a fight, she’ll know something is off.

“You submitted because of Bria,” I instruct Lenny. “She won’t believe us otherwise.”

“What’s the story?”

“We fought, but I’m stronger. You surrendered because I threatened to kill Bria. It’s hardly credible, but Gianna won’t care because she has you both where she wants you.”

“You trust her?”

“No. I’ll most likely be sitting next to you soon.”

“Weapons?”

He reads my face as that would be a negative.

“Backup?” I ask him.