Page 161 of Raven

It’s pouring rain, and his words are drowned by the sound of the raindrops against the jungle leafage. But I hear the verdict.

“You are done, Raven. I have no use for you,” he says in a tone etched with disappointment.

It’s the end. I was hoping for something to stop this, but no one cares for me, nor will they trade their safety for this. Except Maddy. But that’s not an option.

“Last words? A message for Butcher?”

Skiba wants to see me beg before he pulls the trigger. But I won’t.

I don’t want to think about Butcher or him. All I see in my mind is her. I wish I’d died at her feet. I wish I kneeled for her. I wish I had a lifetime with her. No such luck. But the few months I spent with her were the happiest in my life.

“Just fucking finish him already, and let’s roll,” one of the thugs says.

I’ve always known I would die in a violent way. My life was a punishment. Then God gave me her. However little time I spent with her was a blessing, relieving me from guilt and hatred.

Wishful kindness. Or mercy. Yes, that’s it. She was the moment of mercy that the universe gave me for my shitty life.

“You get what you deserve.” The cold barrel bumps against my throbbing temple as Skiba cocks the gun.

I close my eyes, seeing only her smile.

She is love. M. Maddy. Mercy.

61

MADDY

“Let me go!” I yell, trying to break out of Nilanski’s arms as I’m being dragged through the jungle that gets darker with the downpour.

I can’t leave Raven.

I can’t lose him!

Nilanski drops me roughly and jerks me around to face him. “Stop! It’s his order! Was before we got here. I need to get you out!”

“Go-go-go!” the other guards yell. “We need to go!”

Tears stream down my face as I lunge in the opposite direction, but his grip on my arm is violent, like never before.

“We have to go back for him!” I plead. “We have to!”

“No!” he roars. “They have more men. We can’t take chances for one man unless Mr. Crone gives orders.”

“But—”

“Move!” he barks coldly, the rain suddenly too suffocating.

I can’t breathe.

I need to figure out how to fix this.

And then I hear a shot in the distance.

I whip around. All of us do, staring into the jungle darkness, my eyes widening in disbelief.

They can’t execute Raven.

Not him.

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