Page 101 of Inked Desires

I force my muscles to move, dragging myself toward him like a dying shadow. A slug would be faster than me.

When I finally reach him, I stretch out my hand and gently grasp his arm.

“Stop,” I say louder.

My touch freezes him. He turns his head, dazed.

“Drop the knife, Andrew. Get off him.”

I lift the revolver to make sure he understands.

He blinks several times, as if waking from a nightmare. His eyes drop to his hands. Blood. On his arms. His sweater. Everywhere. Then he sees Jace—his mutilated body beneath him.

He recoils instantly, as if burned. The knife slips from his fingers and clatters to the floor.

“What… what did I do?” he breathes, horrified.

“You survived.”

I raise the gun and press it to Jace’s temple.

He doesn’t get to die by Andrew’s hand. That weight isn’t his to carry.

The gunshot echoes through the room.

Jace’s body jerks once, then collapses into nothing.

I remain still. I wait for the flood of memories to rise, for the ghosts of the dead to drag me down again. But nothing comes.

I’m still here. Still clear-headed.

“You’re hurt…” Andrew whispers.

His trembling hands grab my shoulders and pull me onto his lap. My chest crumples against his legs.

The gun slips from my fingers. I no longer have the strength to hold it.

“I remember…” he murmurs above me.“I remember you.”

A smile pulls at my lips. It took a bullet for him to remember me. Ironic.

“That’s… nice,” I laugh, but the sound turns into a ragged, bloody cough. Blood drips from my chin.

“Little bunny, you need to call an ambulance,” I whisper.

Not for me. I’m done. I know it. But him…

“I already called the police earlier. When I went to get a knife from the kitchen.”

Smart. But he should’ve run. Now he’s going to have to deal with this whole mess.

A flash of memory hits me. Our last conversation—before he took my money. Before he turned his back, convinced I’d betrayed him.

“I didn’t cheat on you,” I whisper.

“It doesn’t matter anymore, Ares. I know now that you want me.”

He shakes his head, refusing to let me go.