Page 27 of Say It's Forever

"Now…" I turn to fully face Joseph, my arms open in an invitation. He casts a quick glance through the kitchen toward the back door. His skinny ass had wiggled in through the dog door. I'll need to investigate the possibility of installing a sensor on Bear's collar to restrict its opening to him alone. I haven't worried about it before now. I didn't think anyone was stupid enough to try and get into my home.

“You’ll never make it,” I warn.

“I’ve got money, lots of it.”

“Don’t give a shit.” I step toward him. He steps back, bumping into the couch. There is nowhere for him to go. He’s a caged, scared little rabbit, and I’m enjoying every second of it. I want him to feel fear.

“Girls? We have lots of them.”

I backhand him, sending him tumbling over the couch to the other side. It takes Joseph a minute to get back to his feet. “What do you want then?” he pleads, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth, making me think I knocked a few teeth loose. I clearly didn’t knock any sense into him.

“Already got everything I need.” I glance over to Snow to make it clear what I mean.

“I can get your sister!” Joseph rushes to say as I come around the couch to clear the space between us.

“Stop!” Snow shouts, halting me in my tracks.

“Ican get your sister,” I tell Snow. “We don’t trust lying, fake prophets.” My words get the reaction I was hoping for. Joseph charges me. Perhaps he thought he would surprise me or that I was unaware of the blade he was concealing in his hand.

I shift, allowing him to pass me in his charge, but I still grab him from behind. I wrap my arm around him, gripping his hand. I squeeze, making him cry out. I feel a bone or maybe two crack; his hold on the knife releases, and I take it from him. I wrap my other hand around the front of his throat and bring the blade up against it. It sinks in, making blood trickle down his neck.

“Please,” Joseph starts to beg.

Snow suddenly speaks. “Did Carla plead with you before you killed her?” She steps in front of him. I love that I’m able to give her this. That she gets to take back some of the power he stole from her.

“What are you talking about?”

I press the knife in deeper. “Don’t play games with her,” I warn him. “Answer the question.” I feel him swallow.

“She broke our vows,” Joseph admits. “Lay in our bed with Nora.” He spits the last part. “Then tried to run away.”

“That’s what happened to Nora?” Snow’s eyes fill with tears.

“It was sinful!”

“Sinful!” Snow shouts right back at him. “You fuck other women in that married bed too, and don’t say they're your wives so it doesn’t matter.”

If looks could kill, Joseph would be done for. I have never seen this level of anger from Snow. Normally, it’s all sadness. Now a fire is lit inside of her, and I fucking love to see it.

"It's the way of things."

"No, it's the way you forced upon us. Gave us no choice because we both know that in the real world, you'd be nothing. No woman would want to be your wife."

"You bitch! I'm—" The slide of my blade over an inch has his words cutting off.

"You're no one. That's who you are," Snow tells him.

“I have a feeling you’re not going where you think you are,” I tell Joseph, letting go of the knife. “Don’t want your blood on her.” With that, I snap his neck. His body hits the floor.

Snow stares at me with wide eyes for a long moment before she flings herself at me. I catch her easily, pulling her into me.

“I was so worried you were hurt or something.” She rains kisses down on my face. There is no disgust in her expression. It’s as though Joseph’s lifeless body isn’t even lying on the floor.

“You think I’d leave you to these fuckers?”

“No.” She gives me a watery smile.

“Don’t cry on me.”

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