Page 128 of Emperor of Lust

Nothing personal, but she’s not who I’m here for, and she knows it. She’s on her own—at least until I can get Hana to safety.

I look back at Hana, unconscious, suspended on that thin, blood-slicked rope. The knot holding her gives a little, and my heart leaps into my throat as she slips down an inch.

There’s only one choice here, only one thing I can do. I tighten my grip, gritting my teeth as I look back up the rope, looped over the beam.

Go. Go fucking now.

My entire body feels like it’s on fire as I start to pull both my weight and Hana’s up, my grip digging into the rope to fight the slickness of the blood coating my hands. I groan, muscling my way up inch by torturous inch, knowing damn well that any second, I could feel the weight go slack behind me when her knot gives way.

Iwon’tlet that happen.

Every pull feels like hell, pain ripping through the bullet wound in my side. Blood flows from me, thick and steady, dripping down toward Hana hanging below. The rope is so wet it’s almost impossible to hold on, but I push through, clawing my way back to the beam by sheer force of will.

“Hana,” I grit out, voice raw, pain blinding. She’s the only thing keeping me focused.

My vision blurs again as I reach the beam, chest heaving with the effort. I brace myself, my grip starting to slip, but I tighten my hold even more, pulling her up inch by precious inch. She’s so close now, so damn close—but the knot around her waist loosens, slipping, the blood making it slick and dangerous.

“No,” I seethe to myself, my pulse roaring in my ears.

I won’t let go. Ican’t. She’s everything—my only reason for doing any of this.

But I’m fading, my head swimming with exhaustion, the blood loss sapping my strength. My muscles shake and my hands are numb as I pull her the last few inches, dragging her onto the beam. Just as the knot gives way, I grab her under the arms, yanking her to safety.

“Hana,” I whisper, my fingers desperately brushing her cheek. Her eyes flutter open, hazy with confusion, and relief floods through me, wild and overwhelming.

“Damian?” she murmurs, her voice so soft it’s almost lost in the chaos.

“I love you,” I groan, the words like a final confession. The last thing I have to give.

And then the world tilts, my vision darkening. My body slumps, the strength seeping from me as everything slips away, and the last thing I see—the last thing I’ll ever see—is her face, alive and safe, as I descend into darkness.

41

HANA

Damian falls over the edge,and my world shatters.

“NO!” I scream, my voice raw as I watch him plummet. The rope catches him, jerking his body violently as it stretches taut. His limp form dangles above the darkness, and a searing, gut-wrenching fear takes hold of me.

“Damian!” I scream again, reaching for the rope, slippery and thick with his blood. I can barely hold on. The rope slides through my hands, burning my palms. My muscles strain, fighting to pull him up, but it’s like dragging dead weight out of a black hole.

“Please,” I sob, gasping as he slips inch by inch. The knot at his waist loosens a little more, and I know he’ll run out of rope soon.

And when he does, he’ll fall, and I’ll lose him forever.

“Wake up!” I shout, my voice breaking. “Fucking wake UP!” The scream wrenches from my throat. “PLEASE!” I beg, sobbing. “Wake up, Damian! Fight! I love you—just fight,please!”

Don’t die.

You can’t die, because I’m in love with you.

Suddenly, the rope jerks taut across the top of the beam. I look down, eyes wide as I watch the other girl use her now-freed legs to swing out and then in, crashing both her and the chair the rope is tied to into Damian’s limp body. I scream, but then I see her grab him with her free arm, looping her elbow under his armpit and gritting her teeth.

She glances up, her gaze fierce as she nods at me, silently telling me to hold on.

I choke out a sob, my words tumbling out in a rush. “Thank you, thank you!”

The knot is still slipping. The girl clings to him with everything she has, but all she’s going to be able to do is delay the inevitable.

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