Page 94 of Entombed In Sin

“What’s wrong?” I ask, my tongue feels swollen and heavy.

“Nothing, you’re going to be fine. Everything is going to be just fine,” he assures me quickly before lowering me to the floor. I lay before him on my back, wondering at the pain that’s starting to override my excitement. “Let me get myself free, and I’ll get you off out here. Just hold on, ok?”

“Knox,” I gasp out as my chest clenches in pain. “What’s?—?”

I can’t bear it anymore. Something is happening to me. Lifting my head, I look up to find blood pouring out of a wound in my gut, another in my side, and there’s a shard of ceramic still lodged in my abdomen.

“Oh, no!” I gasp. When had Shannon…? Why hadn’t I felt…? My shock and horror cause my brain to cut off each question as a wordless fear snakes through me. There’s so much blood. So much ofmyblood.

“Hey, it’s ok,” Knox assures, his voice light but his face pinched with determination. He’s going through each key, inserting them into the lock of the shackles around his ankles to find the one that will free him. “I’ll get you some help. Just hang on, ok?”

I gape at the wounds, then up at him. There’s no way I’ll survive this. My bottom lip trembles as my new fate flashes before my eyes. It’s a short one. Where darkness encompassesme and I’ll be alone again, to suffer whatever is on the other side by myself. At least here in the basement, I had company. I had someone worth fighting for.

But what happens now? What happens after this life? It’s a question my clients back at Bright Starr would ask me. Most of them were sure that God would be waiting for them. I nodded along, but I never wondered about what happened after death. I didn’t particularly care then. But that’s because I had no attachment here in the world of the living and I certainly didn’t care for the people who were already dead.

I’m not going to make it.

The realization stuns me. It’s a shame that my life will end this way, but it’s not all that surprising. My life was full of violence before. Why not go out in a blaze of it? Before I do, though, there’s something I need to get off my chest. The emotions that override the shock and disappointment drive me to open my mouth.

“Knox,” I bite out as my body begins to tremble and pain flares through me. “I have t-to tell you something.”

“Yes!” he cries out in success as his ankles are freed. Immediately, he starts through the seven keys again to find the one to free his wrists. “Save it, Beatrix. Tell me later when we pop open a bottle of champagne to toast our epic escape.”

“No, Knox.” I reach out to wrap my fingers around his ankle. His eyes are locked on his task, but I can see the tick of his jaw. I know it’s not from my touch. We’re past that now. My heart hammers in my throat, but I swallow it down so that I can speak. “Thank you for coming into my life. For being my friend. For being yourself and allowing me to see all your layers. You're incredible, Knox.”

Knox bares his teeth as he snarls, “Shut up.”

I stare at his face, wanting it to be the last thing I see if I’m going to die down here.

“I love you,” I tell him, allowing all my insecurities to fall away. Death is coming, and I don’t have time to question my truths. I just know this is how I feel and I need him to know it. To carry it with him out of this basement. “And I love the twins. Tell them that, ok?”

“Got it!” Knox cries out as the shackles around his wrists fall away.

I smile as my eyelids flutter. “Good, go.”

“Not without you,” Knox growls.

He gets to his feet, then bends down to scoop me up. The jostling hurts. The adrenaline from my kill has passed, leaving me to deal with the consequences of being so careless. I hiss in pain. His mouth sets in a tight line and he hurries to carry me across the basement.

“No, Knox.” I shake my head and lift a bloody hand to rest in the middle of Knox’s bare chest to push at him weakly. “Ronald can’t use me anymore, but he can still hurt you. Put me down andrun.”

Knox ignores me. Instead, he says, “I’m going to say something knowing the twins are going to punish me for it if they ever find out I told you, so listen closely because I’m not going to repeat myself.”

We make it to the bottom of the steps. I look up to find the door still open. My heart leaps with hope—momentarily forgetting that even if we get out of the basement, I may not make it to see the outside of the house. Knox’s hold tightens around me as he starts up the stairs.

“You know two out of the three rules now: Don’t trespass on other’s privacy and communicateeverything. But you know what the third rule is?”

My tongue feels too heavy to move, so I simply stare up at Knox. There's an ethereal glow beneath his skin that I couldn’t look away from, even if I wanted to. My heart stutters painfully.I’ve gotten to kiss those perfect lips, I’ve caressed those cheeks and I’ve stared into that remaining stunning pale blue eye. I wish I’d done all of that more, but I’m thankful for the moments I’ve had with Knox.

I wish I could look at twins one last time.

They saved me more times than I could count. First from my mother and the man she’d dragged into my life. Then from bullies who were committed to making my life hell. One held me in the shower while I fell apart after being buried, showing me love and affection that I’ve never had before. And the other had gifted me with the power to take control over my life.

I’ve had a beautiful life with my stepbrothers, as short as it was. If only I could thank them for it and tell them how much I love them for such a wonderful gift.

“Beatrix,” Knox snaps, shaking me slightly. “I’m talking to you, woman.”

“Hm?” I manage, still staring up at him. My heart is brimming with so much love that I think it might burst with it.

---