Page 1 of Bloody Seven

Prologue

Poppy - Six years ago

What if I give him a blowjob and let him finish in my mouth for once?The thought floods my mind as I try to figure out the perfect way to thank the man sitting across the table.

Fiancée. Light catches the oval diamond set on the perfectly sized white band on my left hand, and I can't help the smile that creeps across my face. While it was something I wished would happen, I never expected it to be today. Look at us, a Valentine’s Day love story.

Drew catches the glint in my eyes, and he knows, without a word, that it’s time to get out of here. The sooner we get back to the hotel, the better for both of us. Not that dinner was bad. I just have my thoughts set on how to reward my new fiancé and the fact that I get to call him that now.

He pulled the classic “put the ring in the dessert” before getting down on one knee and asking me to spend forever with him. Obviously, I said yes before promptly scarfing down the most delicious tiramisu. Can’t let it go to waste.

My eyes land on Drew again as he flags down the server to get our bill while nudging his foot against mine under the table. “Are you ready to get out of here?”

“I think you know I am.” I smirk devilishly.

“You’re happy then?” His brows raise, and I shake my head at the ridiculous question.

“I can show you exactly how happy I am at the hotel,” I tease, making him laugh under his breath.

He finishes paying the server, who gives us another congratulations before helping me slip into my jacket and taking my hand. After making it outside, he leads me down the snow-covered sidewalk rather than stopping to hail a cab. It’s cold, but we can still enjoy the short walk through the streets of New York City.

“Tonight's been perfect. I don’t want it to end,” he says with a faint hint of sadness, stopping me in my tracks.

While glancing up at him, I smile and say, "You and me, love."

A hand reaches up to cup my cheek as he leans down, pressing his lips to mine. This is exactly what I want. As I push up on my tiptoes to deepen the kiss, surprise fills me when he pulls back and shakes a finger in my face.

"Poppy, if I kiss you like that right now, they may get more of a show than they deserve." He points to some of the other couples walking across the street toward the subway.

I giggle and grab his hand, interlocking his fingers with mine again. "Guess we better get to that hotel. I have a busy night planned with my fiancé."

As we stroll forward, thoughts of our future wedding fill my mind. Maybe we can find a small barn with horses and a lake. I can picture him standing at our makeshift altar, waiting for me to walk down the aisle with a smile. I'm quickly brought back to reality when I remember it will just be the two of us.

A pang of sadness over my lack of family suddenly fills me, and I make the mental decision to talk to Drew about going to the courthouse for the wedding. Since he doesn’t have family either, it may be the best option for us. We could probably even go next week. Sure, we just got engaged, but why wait?

With my thoughts on our impending nuptials, I don't have time to react to the strange man lunging at us with a knife as we walk past a dark alley. He knocks Drew down with one swing and drags him into the shadows, leaving me startled and alone on the sidewalk.

When I finally step into the alley to find them, the stranger is on top of the love of my life, holding a knife above his chest.

“Stop!” I cry out as the man stutters through a string of sentences that don't make much sense.

He starts calling Drew a sinner, saying how this will cleanse him and how he was chosen for this favor. The stranger plunges the knife into Drew's chest while calling out 'gluttony,’ and I let out a gut-wrenching scream.

Shock has me immobile. I shake my head, blinking my eyes rapidly before eventually gathering enough brain power to try and shove the mystery assailant off of Drew.

You know how to protect yourself. Get your shit together.

It’s all for nothing, though, because I'm too weak for it to make any sort of difference. The stranger shoves me with minimal effort, forcing me backward. My butt hits the snow-covered pavement before my back does, and then my head, knocking the wind out of me.

“WAIT YOUR TURN!” he yells before telling Drew he’ll be able to enter the gates of Heaven soon with God’s widespread arms welcoming him.

Tears begin to flood my eyes as the man rapidly plunges the knife in and out of Drew's chest six more times while rattling off each of the remaining seven deadly sins.

No, this isn’t happening!I scramble to my feet.No. No. No. I have to stop him. I can't live without Drew. I can still save him.When I step forward again, the bloodied man turns his attention to me.

He moves slowly in my direction and away from Drew’s limp body. I scream at the top of my lungs while scrambling backward. Luckily, I manage to make enough of a scene for people to finally notice there’s a man holding a fucking knife, covered in blood, and chasing a helpless woman.

A bald man comes to my rescue, knocking the knife out of my assailant's hand with ease before propping him up in a seated position against a storefront. The attacker rocks back and forth, hugging his knees and muttering some kind of prayer in a hushed breath.

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