Page 116 of Kings Against the World

Zoe maneuvers herself fast, trying to trap Boone in another one of her special chokeholds. She uses her limbs smartly, locking her long legs around him and fighting to keep him from breaking free.

It takes everything she has. Every ounce of strength as she stubbornly holds on, gritting her teeth. He bucks against her, refusing to be trapped, fighting for leverage. It’s a power struggle that goes on for several seconds ’til he slips out of her grasp and flips them.

My stomach plummets.

Boone slams Zoe down, pinning her with his weight. His bloody smile stretches wide as he grips the same switchblade she stabbed him with—and rams it into her stomach.

Zoe’s cry is sharp, a breathless gasp of pain.

Boone’s laughter is brittle and loud as he laughs and spits blood.

“ZOE!” I scream her name as I hold up my rifle to take a shot, then somebody spears into me from the side. We tumble to the ground as I find myself in yet another fight.

I’m a man who’s losing his mind. I’m screaming as adrenaline surges through me and I slam the asshole’s skull into a rock. Scrambling to my feet, I charge toward them.

Zoe’s still refusing to give up. With the last bit of strength she has, she headbutts Boone. He’s sent reeling, knocked backward from the direct blow. She wraps shaking hands around the switchblade buried in her stomach and fucking yanks it free.

Just like Boone had done before he came for her.

She crawls toward him, operating on fumes.

“For…” she pants, wincing in pain. “This is for Zani.”

She manages to plunge the blade into his chest a second, then third time as I finally make it to them.

Boone’s dark shades have finally been knocked off his face. His only good eye widens, the other shut like it always is. His one real insecurity.

Blood bubbles from his lips as he struggles to hold onto life.

Zoe slumps next to him, fighting the same battle.

“Zoe! Fuck—no, no, no!” I drop beside her, pulling her away from Boone. Her head lolls to the side, her lashes fluttering weakly. She really is barely holding on.

I press my hand against her stomach, soaking in her blood.

“Stay with me, babe,” I beg, throat sore. “Fucking stay with me, alright? Special Agent! Look at me!”

She blinks slowly, like she’s on the verge of losing it. Her lips part like she wants to say something, but no sound comes out.

Behind us, I sense movement. More than just the others scrambling in the middle of the gunfight.

Boone’s back up again. The fucking bastard’slaughing.

He’s summoned enough strength to push himself up and start toward us, clutching the same blade that’s been rammed into him several times. Even now, he refuses to go down without the last word.

I ease Zoe down as gently as possible, then rise to my feet. Boone staggers toward me, an unhinged rage flickering in his one eye.

But I’m fucking ready for him. As he launches himself at me, I slam my fist into his jaw and grab his hand with the blade by the wrist. I follow up with a haymaker to his body, then I’m muscling the blade from him altogether.

He drops to his knees, unable to withstand the blows. I’m not done with him yet—I’m gonna make him suffer in the same way he’s made Zoe.

I drive the blade straight into his gut and watch as his features contort in deep pain. Then I do it all over again, ramming the blade into his gut several times. It returns to his chest, even his fucking cheek as his mouth drops open for either a howl of agony or howl of laughter. Knowing this sick, egotistical fuck… maybe both.

He eventually slips flat on his back, finally succumbing to his wounds. I’m the one looking him in the eye as all life vanishes.

I’d enjoy the moment more if I wasn’t wrecked by panic.

I spin back to Zoe and rush toward her.

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