Page 112 of Die for You

I walk toward her, and seeing her this way, I feel nothing.

I don’t feel guilty.

I don’t feel bad.

I reach down, and with my finger, I swipe the blood from her cheek.

Placing it into my mouth, I say, “The infamous Gianna Ricci is human after all.”

Her eyes are filled with pure hatred. “I’ll always be a part of you. You can kill me a hundred times, but that doesn’t erase who you really are. You’re my blood. You’re rotten on the inside…just like me. And deep down, you know, even in happiness, you’ll forever feel solace in the darkness.”

“You’re right,” I reply, watching as she struggles to hold up her weight. “But I’ll do my damnedest to try to stay in the light. If not for me, then for my daughter…something you’ll never understand.

“You kidnapped your own granddaughter and used her as bait. You left me here to rot. You are the true monster in this story, Gianna, and whatever your backstory is, if perhaps you didn’t get cuddled enough as a child, or maybe your parents were as heartless as you are, I really don’t care.

“You had a choice to do better, but you chose to be a fucking cunt.”

I hear commotion behind me, but I’m transfixed on the sight before me.

“You need me. That’s why you keep coming back. You’re nothing without me!”

“You arrogant woman. You came into this thinking you had won. Why? What ace do you have up your sleeve? I thought it was Lettie…but it’s something else, isn’t it?”

“You clever girl.” She grins, revealing her missing tooth.

I yank her up, pressing us nose to nose. “Tell me what it is.”

She instead laughs manically. “You can’t kill me.”

The small, slow-burning fire creeps closer and closer to the end of the altar, giving me a wonderful idea. I turn to walk into the sacristy, wishing to retrieve the consecrated wine, but am knocked to my ass when a loud pop rocks the chapel’s walls.

Spinning, I see Lenny tackling Bria, who has a gun.

My bad for not checking if she was armed. Her ball gown allows ample space to hide a piece.

The gunshot throws me off, and Gianna uses that to her advantage as she rams something sharp into my ankle. Peering down, I find her jeweled hair clip sticking out of my Achilles.

And the bitch, just like Jesus Christ, has arisen.

Gianna gets a second wind as the playing field is somewhat leveled because an Achilles tendon injury is one of the worst to have.

She slams my head onto the altar, holding me down.

I drive my elbow backward, connecting with her stomach, winding her.

She releases me, but when I hear another gunshot, I know Bria didn’t miss this time.

She hit the back of my shoulder.

A flesh wound, but Gianna jams her fingers inside and twists.

A scream rips through me because that fucking hurts.

“Bria, please, don’t let it end this way.”

“You’re the one who made that choice! And now, deal with the consequences.”

I’m trying to ensure Lenny is okay, but Gianna is punching me in the back. I can’t fight her off because my arm doesn’t work, and putting pressure on my left foot is excruciating.