Page 65 of Golden Burn

“I disagree,” Cerbera drawls. “If she is to be your ruin, I want to see how well she does it.” He lifts the knife in the air and brings the tip so close to my face I don’t realize it’s touching me until I feel the sharp kiss of cold metal on my skin.

Odin moves to stand.

“Ah ah.” Cerbera wags a finger in his direction. I watch, silent and horrified, as one of Cerbera’s henchmen points a gun to the back of Odin’s head. I frantically find Ford’s gaze, hoping he’ll step in and savehim. His face is harsh, fists clenched. He wants to fight—I know he does—but Odin lifts a hand in his direction, stopping him.

“You cut my bride and I’ll destroy you,” Odin growls.

“Be a good boy and sit,” Cerbera mocks.

My hand shakes, my body tense with the force of everyone’s attention. I fight for every breath I take. He offers me the knife again. I take it with my right hand, my heart galloping painfully, and place down my left like Cerbera did, spreading my fingers. I beg my body and my mind to focus, to shut everything out and concentrate.

You have done much harder things. You can play this silly game for a madman’s entertainment.

I curl my fingers loosely around the wooden handle and map the route in my mind, squaring my shoulders.

“I’ve changed my mind,” Cerbera announces. My insides pop like a balloon. “You cannot hurt yourself with the wedding so soon.” He sticks his hand out in front of me. “You do it to me instead.”He’s got to be fucking joking.“But, if you nick my skin, even the tiniest bit, I shoot your lawyer.”

The bodyguard with the gun to Odin’s head shifts it to Dom’s.

My eyesight swims.

No.

I can’t think, I can’t speak. I only blink, my mouth so dry and so numb.

Martise grabs my thigh from underneath the table. Her fingers hold me steady when the room starts to spin.

I sense Ford’s horrified vibrations from across the table. He wants to protect his husband, but if he betrays any sort of affection, Cerbera will use it. I’m almost positive. Although since he seems to know so much about us, I’m going to assume he already knows. And he’s delighted.

Despite this, Ford remains still, but manages to mouth the words, “You can do it.” I almost burst into tears right then and there.

Odin’s gaze opposite me is an exact copy of Fords—Full of more trust than I deserve.

I exhale.

I shake my working hand, rid myself of the jitters that want to seize control. My shoulders shrug, making me look stupid in front of these strangers. But I don’t care. It’s just like surgery. I had an even steadier hand than my mother. This is a piece of cake.

I can’t wait another second, so I dive in. Starting slow, and then gaining speed. Cerbera’s hands, like the rest of him, are thick and powerful, covered in light hairs and protruding veins. For such a small part of him, they become staggeringly intimidating.

Shutting out any thought, I focus on rhythm, on steadiness. The sweat on my palms makes for an uncomfortable grip, but I keep my movements light, my breaths even.

“Faster,” Cerbera demands.

I do as he asks and speed up. It almost becomes meditative the way my hand and the knife move as one. Up and down and up and down. I come precariously close to cutting his thumb at the end of a loop, but I manage to right my flow and finish without any damage.

He jerks his fingers suddenly, curling them like a corpse-turned zombie seeking purchase on soggy earth. I gasp and flinch away, lifting the knife in the air so as not to hurt him.

Cerbera retreats his hand, a small, impressed smile curving across his crude face. I hate him so much at this moment. He nods at his bodyguard, and they drop the gun from Dom’s skull.

We all wilt with relief. None more so than Ford. When I glance at him, he sends me a quick, grateful wink. I take my first deep breath in minutesand hand Cerbera back his knife, trying not to fidget when I feel Odin’s eye bore into my skin. I take my glass of wine and throw it down in two gulps.

“You must be a popular doctor.”

“Veterinarian,” I clarify. “I care for animals.”

“Ah yes. I heard about the clinic. Such terrible news.”

It’s like being sucker punched, how quickly I’m made hollow after a tiny high. I flick my head between Odin and Dom. Dom’s brows are furrowed in confusion, his brow dotted with nervous sweat from his near death experience, while Odin appears like he wants to set the room on fire.

---