Page 79 of Angel

“Oh yeah? And you expect to just walk out of here? My guys will be on you before your pretty little cunt can even make it out of the building.”

“I don’t fucking care what happens to me after. Seeing you dead is all the satisfaction I need.”

He snarls and inches toward me. “I don’t think you can actually kill me.” He continues to step forward, and I subconsciously walk back.

Do it. Kill him. “S-stop! Don’t come any closer, or I swear to God I’ll pull this trigger.”

“You won’t do it. You don’t have what it takes to shoot me.”

My hands start to tremble and a cold shiver runs through me. I keep the end of the barrel pointed dead center, but my breathing picks up and the room spins. No. I can do this. I can fucking do this! Pull the trigger. Pull the fucking trigger!

“Why don’t you agree to be mine. Be by my side, huh?”

My hands shake violently, the pistol vibrating beneath my grip. I break out into a cold sweat, and my hands clam up. I try to control my breathing with deep intakes of air, but I can’t.

I can’t do it. I can’t kill him.

I didn’t even realize he was so close. He takes my hand, the one holding the piece, and lowers it. NO! No. No.

“That a girl. Let me take this.” He sets my pistol on his desk, and all I can do is stare.

Tears threaten my eyes, and I shake my head. “N-no,” I mouth the words, because I can’t seem to get them out.

He stalks toward me, his eyes dark. I walk back until I hit the wall. “Now…” He takes a final step and grabs my face, lifting it to peer into his evil eyes. I cry. I’m so fucking weak I cry. My shoulders shudder. “You are mine. You will always be mine.” He squeezes tighter, and the pain travels to my skull.

I close my eyes and the tears fall. I failed.

A click from another gun sounds, but what… who?

“Correction: she’s mine. Now get your fucking hands off her, or I’ll put a bullet in your head.”

My eyes fly open. Victor freezes. And Venom stands there, a gun to the son of a bitch’s head. The veins in his forearm bulge as his grip gets tighter, his finger resting on the trigger.

“I mean it, motherfucker.” Venom sinks the metal into Victor’s temple. He releases me, and I just stare. “Hey, babe, sorry I’m late.” Venom keeps his aim at Victor, but glances at me with a smile.

I wanted to be the one to end Victor Galiente’s life. It was supposed to be me. But I failed. I wasn’t strong enough. I couldn’t do it. Why the hell couldn’t I pull the trigger, after everything he’s done to me?

“Listen, put the gun down and we can talk.”

Venom’s laugh is lethal. “Talk? I know it was you. Putting your hands on her. All the fucked-up shit she’s gone through. Because of you. And you want to talk? Nah, I am going to fully enjoy watching you die.”

Just as Venom is about to shoot him dead, a man barrels into the room, and I yell, “Look out!” Venom dodges the intruder as he lunges forward, and the two wrestle to the ground. Amidst the chaos, Victor sees his chance to escape.

Oh no, you don’t. I push off the wall and make it to him before he can flee out the door. I pick up my pistol along the way, and this time… This time, I don’t hesitate. I aim and fire.

BAM.

I squeeze again.

BAM.

And again.

BAM.

I keep shooting, even though his body lies there dead. Lifeless. I keep firing, even though I have no more bullets. I keep clicking, even though my body trembles. And I cry, but I cry from relief. I cry because I am finally free.

“Hey, it’s okay. Angel, it’s okay. He’s gone.” Blood outlines Victor’s dead body, and I hear Venom. I feel his warm breath against my cheek. I feel him as he presses up behind me, lowering my wrists with his hand. I feel him as I start to sob uncontrollably. I feel him as he sinks to the floor, wrapping his arms around me. And I feel him as I lie limp against his chest, crying as he holds me. “Shh… I got you.”

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