Page 106 of Run, Little Rabbit

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Me:

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There’s a quiet tension in the car as we head out to the Abbey Ruins. Angel is driving, Max is in the front, and I’m sitting inthe back with Niki. My head is all over the place, and my fingers tap in rapid patterns against my thigh. I fear that when I face my father as the Six Minute Killer, he will still have power over me. What if he strips me down to the child buried deep within me? The one who continues to seek her father's attention and approval. What if I crumble and falter? What if—

Niki slides into the middle seat and wraps his hand around my fingers. He draws them up to his mouth and then slowly—oh, so slowly—sucks my index finger. His eyes lock on mine as he curls his tongue around my digit, sucking it to the back of his throat and wrapping his tongue around it before removing it from his mouth.

“What was that for?”

“Just trying to distract you. Did it work?”His blue eyes spark with amusement as he returns my hand to my thigh. My fingers aren’t tapping away anymore, so it looks like his distraction worked.

“I’m… I’m not…” My voice trembles in the quiet space, and I can’t seem to get the words out.

“You’re not what, Rabbit?”Niki strokes my hair and tucks a strand behind my ear. His touch is gentle and soft as his fingers trail against my skin.

“I’m not sure I can do this,” I whisper, but the confession feels loud. My chest vibrates with tension, and the nervous energy has my body all jittery. “I don’t know if I can face my father.”

Niki cups my face and presses his lips against my forehead before looking back at me with a warmth in his eyes that I can feel all the way in my soul. “Now, you listen to me. You are badass. You can bring men to their fucking knees to worship at the altar that is you, and if you stumble or fall, we will be there to support you. You’re not on your own, Precious Rabbit, and you never will be.”

My heart soars at his words, and a tear falls from the corner of my eye as all kinds of emotions ricochet around my chest.

“I know I can’t love you back; I’m just not wired that way, but you are the most precious thing in my life, and I will treasure you. Always. Of that you can be certain, and do you know what else?”

“What?” I say with a sniffle.

“I believe in you, Echo. I believe you can achieve anything you set your mind to, and if that’s taking down your father, then I know you can do it.”

I launch myself at him and capture his mouth with mine, pouring all my emotions into the kiss. I can’t even begin to put how I’m feeling into words, but I hope he can feel it in my kiss. I hope he can tell how much I love him and want him, and how much his belief in me means.

My heart tightens in my chest at the thought of how much these three men have come to mean to me. Like a force I couldn’t stop, even if I wanted to. I bring the kiss to a stop, and there’s something possessive burning in Niki’s eyes, something that fires me up with determination and power. I will take my father down, and with these three at my back, I’ll be fucking unstoppable.

The car slows down, and I know we’re here. This is it. The finale. The epic showdown. The—

Fucking hell. When did Sphinx start rubbing off on me?

The engine cuts out, and the ruined abbey looms on the hill in front of us. It looks ominous, with the floodlights backlighting it and making it look like the set of a thriller.

Please don’t let me die today.

I take a deep breath and then step out of the car. The evening is cool, and there’s a slight breeze tugging at the wisps of my hair. I’d put it in two Dutch braids again, which Max approved of, but that wasn’t the only reason. If I have to defend myself inany way, it’s just easier to do that with my hair out of the way. Besides, I don’t want anyone ruining it. Took me forever to get my hair looking as good as it does; I don’t want some handsy thug thinking he can touch it. No fucking way, and if he does, I’ll cut his damn hand off.

I systematically check my gear and make sure that everything is in place. I’ve already done it four times before getting in the car, but doing it again won’t hurt, right?

I sigh internally at myself. I’m buying time because the abbey ruins are calling to me like a damn death toll, luring me to my demise.

“Pet,” Max snaps sharply, and my eyes instantly find his. They're fierce and bright, like thunderstorms about to strike. “You’ve got this. He’s just a man, Echo. Remember that.”

I nod, but the movement is jittery. I’ve never really been one to suffer self-doubt, but this is different. I’m not just murdering a monster to help someone else. This is my father. The man who murdered my mother. The man who raised me and made me pancakes when I was sad. I’m struggling to reconcile the two versions of him in my head.

Angel takes my hands in his, his skin warm and soft against mine. “Remember, sugar. You don’t have to kill him. That’s not our only option here.”

“We’ve got some lovely shitholes we can hide him in, Rabbit.”Niki grins, and I huff a laugh at his words. I'll bet Niki knows of some places in remote corners of the world that would break even the strongest of men.

Angel squeezes my hands. “You’ve got this.”

I nod again, but this time it’s more believable. Even I’m starting to believe I can take down the infamous Rory Quinn.

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