Page 135 of Tempted By Poison

“You just won’t die, will you?” some tall fucker says, pushing through the ones in front.

“I guess I am like—” Before I can finish my sentence or put on my brass knuckles, the man rushes to me with his fist. He swings, attempting to connect with my jaw, but I swiftly duck back; he continues with an array of punches like a wild animal. I block his hits until he spins around with a kick, landing in my gut. That move caught me off guard, causing me to stumble back.

Everyone stands there, watching the moment unfold like a death ring fight. I lean forward, a smirk wielding my lips, but inside I’m enraged; all I see is one man, one target with the ending result of his head smashed against the boulders of these walls.

“Pussy.” The man spits with a slimy grin, bouncing on his toes. From the corner of my eye, I can see Anita stepping toward him. I give a stiff head shake to stop her.

I don’t respond to him; my only comment will be me finishing my sentence before killing him. I put my brass knuckles on at the same time he comes back at me, but this time he won’t get the one up on me. He swings again—the same move as before. I dip, aiming at his rib before uppercutting him. The force from my metal fist spraying his blood across the room. I notice the people shifting closer.

I kick his knee back hard enough to hear his tendons snap in half; he howls out like a hyena dropping on his side to the floor. I raise my boot up near his wound and stomp down repeatedly. Each crack and scream, he hollers.

“I was. Going. To. Say. I. Am. Like. A. Roach.” I grit each word for a step, having fun seeing his bone split before me. I let out a deep breath, my energy only rising higher. I flick my head up, threading my fingers through my hair, the air becoming thicker and deadlier.

“Anyone else?” I twist my head to the group that looks astonished from the scene.

They all bark in screams, rushing to us. Three men come at me, others moving toward Anita, ready to kill. I kick one back while punching the other in the face before the one in the center can make it to me. I duck his hit, spinning to the other side, where a small table resides next to the hideous couch. I grab the piece of furniture quick enough to slam it over the man's back and head, causing it to break apart over him. He falls to the ground, leaving me with the other two. I scoop up the longer wood pieces and charge at them, slapping the wood across the man's face who swings with his fist, and jamming the other in the neck with his knife.

I glance over and catch Anita pulling her blade from a man's chest before heading to the woman who also has a knife. Two of the others come at me, both raising their fists to hit me, I duck between them. I spin, wrapping my arm around the closest man's neck; as the other guy comes for me, I swing the broken stick hitting him hard enough to send a few teeth flying and his body to cripple to the floor. The guy in my arm attempts to break free, so I snap his neck, the crack from it satisfying my ears.

A weak groan fills the room, already knowing where it’s coming from, I turn, aiming the stick behind me to throw at the tall guy's head whose leg I destroyed. It hits him with a loud thud, knocking him out.

Anita kicks the woman in the chest after jabbing her with the dagger, making her fall flat on her back.

My hands land on my waist as I tip my head back, closing my eyes. I suck in a deep breath, every bone in my body burning from the usage, my heart beating like a drum line.

“Do you think they’re in there?” Anita cuts in with a breathy voice, light thuds coming closer.

A harsh reminder adds to the vigorous beat in my chest. I open my eyes, glancing at the black door that sits dead center. There's no design, no marking, no symbol.

A simple, pitch-black door with a red knob. “I have no doubt.” I blink away from the charcoal-colored door. I look at her, ready to clean her dagger. I take it, wiping the crimson on my pants before handing it back to her.

Whimpering noises come from behind me, Anita looks over my shoulder and I follow her gesture. The two waiters from earlier stand at the door where they serve drinks, legs shaking with pale faces. One of them quivering so hard, water trickles down his leg.

I nod to the steps to exist. “Leave.”

They nearly break down rushing to the steps, almost tumbling over one another.

I release an exasperated breath, then I grab our guns off the floor, reloading the chamber. Without any other words, I hand her the weapon, walking to the door. My heart ricochets through every organ and bone in my anatomy. My skin jumps from the bones as I picture the face in my view.

Who is this person?

The one door that doesn’t need a card to enter, so I twist the knob. My heartbeat becomes louder in my ears, drowning out the sound of the door squeaking open.

Anita and I gaze at each other, knowing this moment is it. The moment after twelve years. Everything that's transpired flashes before my eyes in quick pictures.

My kidnapping, her destructive upbringing, my carnage, our meeting, the slaughters, the glorious blood. Everysinglemoment that was shared with her. She breathed life into me that I didn't know I was dying for.

My very own dark angel. Mine.

And now we step into the unknown, knowing whatever or whoever might be in there, will either be the end to it all or the very beginning.

I cock the gun, my breath stilling. I pierce right into her sienna eyes. “Now or never,meu amor.”Mylove.

Her eyes dim, a gleam passing over sweetly. “Now or never.”

The door opens.

CREEEAAK...

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