Page 57 of Corrupted

For so long, I hadn't thought myself capable of love, or worthy of being loved. They taught me how wrong I was. They showed me what it was to give everything and live every day to the fullest. For that, I'd always be grateful. Their love was what I'd hold on to when I was back where Kurt put me. For however much longer I lived, I'd hold on to that. It might be the only thing that kept me sane.

I pressed my ear against Gianni's chest and listened to his heart racing. I never knew anyone could have a heart as big as his. He'd contradict me, but I didn't deserve him. That was an argument we'd never get to have.

"I love you," I whispered. "All of you."

Before they could respond, I tore myself away from them and headed towards the living room.

"Mina." Reuben's whisper sounded devastated.

I had to force myself not to look back. If I did, I might change my mind.

I couldn't. People would die.

I stepped through the cased opening, into the living room.

At that moment, the lights came back on. I squinted against the glare.

Rose was in the same place she was sitting when I saw her on that phone.

How long ago was that? It felt like hours. Weeks.

It couldn't have been more than an hour.

She conveyed a dozen thoughts with her eyes. Frustration at having been taken. Anger at Kurt. Heartbreak that I'd consider giving myself up for her. Fear for me. And an insistence that she would also have offered herself in my place. She would have died for me.

All I could give her was conviction that I wouldn't let her. The world had lived without Mina DiMarco for five years. It could live without me again. It couldn't live without her.

My brothers would mourn her loss, while they went on thinking I was happily married, off in the suburbs somewhere.

They say ignorance is bliss. Never knowing what happened to me, could be theirs.

Caleb's eyes were also on me, his irritation clear. Not at me specifically, just in general. He tried so hard to be like his oldest brother, even now. He hated being bound and powerless. Just like Reuben would.

I hoped he'd find his own way at some point. He needed to step out of Reuben's shadow and be his own man. Maybe then, he'd be happy. Or at least, less unhappy.

Angelina and Enzo sat close together, their shoulders touching. Both looked as though they could shoot daggers out of their eyes if anyone touched either of them.

Angelina was as protective of Enzo as he was of her. If anyone doubted their feelings for each other, they wouldn't if they saw them like this. At least now they may get a chance at a happily ever after.

Finally, my gaze slid to Kurt. He'd lost weight since I saw him last, but he was still the same smug, hateful asshole I'd known for so long. He'd forced us to play his game and now we were at Checkmate.

Knight takes queen.

"You're looking well," he said smoothly. "Hand over all your knives." He nodded to one of his minions to step over and take them from me. "If she tries anything, kill her sister first."

Of course he'd plan for what would happen if I threw a knife and embedded it in his loathsome head. I considered doing it anyway, but several of his minions moved closer to Rose, ready to carry out his orders. I could kill him and a couple of them, but not before they got to her.

She growled in the back of her throat and gave Kurt a death glare, which he ignored. His gaze was fixed on me. Waiting for me to act.

I sighed and reached for my knives, handing them to the closest asshole, hilt end first.

I contemplated using one on myself, stabbing one into my own heart. Ending the pain before it began all over again.

If I did that, Kurt would kill everyone here. The only way they walked away from this was if I left with him. He knew I knew that. It increased his smugness level by at least double.

Asshole.

"That's all of them," I said finally.

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