Page 97 of Tear Me Down
Two men run up to me, and I don’t hesitate. Withdrawing a knife, I plunge it into one’s arm as he swings, and I barely catch how the blade makes a clean entry and exit, gleaming red as it pokes through the other side. I twist his limb and draw it under, pulling him in front of me to shield me from the incoming bullets. Using my left hand and allowing my gun to hang by the strap,I withdraw a pistol instead, quickly switching to a closer ranged weapon. My captive’s shoulder serves as a mount for my outstretched arm, providing some stability as I pull the trigger and shoot the second man between the eyes. I then turn the gun to the man in my grasp and blow his head off without flinching. The blood that spatters across my face only serves as a coolant, something to keep my focus in check while I feel the desperation climbing to new extremes.
An opening presents itself, leaving the exposed doorway unguarded, and I take off in a sprint, not wasting a moment or allowing my body to feel the strain it’s under. My physical form will have to suffer along with my mind, but not until the mission is done and my Queen is safely returned. Then I can feel it, and I’ll add her turmoil on as repercussion for my negligence.
I’m not two steps inside before I'm greeted by a sharp stabbing in my stomach, caused by a man almost as large as I am. He pushes me into the wall, shoving his blade in deep as my head bounces against the hard surface. His head is tucked and his shoulder pushes against my chest, knocking the breath from me for only a moment. I inhale my karma and allow the pain to seep in like I deserve before I retaliate. Once the momentum reaches a motion I can manipulate, I wrap my arm around and under his neck, and pull up as I twist, feeling the pleasure ripple down my spine as the snapping sound practically echoes through the enclosed space.
He drops to the floor, and as my gaze follows him down, I see his knife protruding from my abdomen. It sticks out like a sore thumb, but as of right now, it’s nothing but an aggravation—a bump in my crusade that I can’t dwell on. So I yank it out, ensuring it can’t be used against me again, and continue on my way—ignoring the feeling of my quickly dampening clothing and pushing forward.
The moment I turn the corner into the main area, I see two bright lights shining from the window of what looks to be an office on the exposed second floor. There’s nothing but walkways and balconies that overlook the working floor, so I won’t have any coverage as I make my way up, but I won’t be needing it.
I immediately pull the pin and throw another grenade, aiming right in the middle to clear a path. The moment it goes off and more screams echo between the walls, I bolt, not wasting any time. The smoke and dust sting my eyes, but I don’t bother trying to blink it away. I stay focused, taking the steps three at a time until I turn on the walkway and cover the distance in only a few strides. The doors have no friction as I burst through them, but I freeze the moment my eyes find her.
She’s bloodied, bruised, and barely conscious—seemingly in much more agony than the video portrayed, and the thought of that rips my heart out. Blood-mixed tears stain her face, and even though her features are covered in red, I can see the exhaustion. The fear and pain that’s buried their way inside her body. Her head is being held up by his hand that’s entangled in her hair, and even though he has a gun pointed at her head, I can still see the relief in her eyes the moment she sees me, making me melt in the most condemnatory way—making me hate myself even more.
“Damien…” she weakly calls out, and the pleading in her voice hits me like a freight train. So relieved, yet so meek, like she feels she didn’t deserve to say it out loud. It’s me who doesn’t deserve to lay my eyes upon her, an unworthy pest who doesn’t merit the crumbs he’s begging for.
“I'm right here, baby girl. I'm going to take you home.” I reach out for her and go to take a step, but Hugo tightens the grip in her strands and flinches, pushing the gun further into her temple. His eyes are wide, and his jaw is clenched so harshly that his teeth clearly grind together. Sweat shines on his forehead, and the mess that covers his clothing is clearly adding to his jitters. He looks like a mad man, someone willing to do anything and everything to prevail.
Just like me.
“PUT DOWN YOUR FUCKING WEAPONS OR I'LL BLOW HER HEAD OFF!” he demands, and I don’t hesitate, immediately dropping my knife and pulling out my other weapons before tossing them to the side. He’s lost everything now, and either he’ll take her with him, or he’ll try to scramble something up. Either way, it doesn’t end well for her. To solidify my surrender, I raise my hands to show I yield…
I can’t lose them...
“Call them off and remove the com!” he screams.
“Damien, don’t…” her sweet, weak voice squeaks out.
“SHUT UP!” He pushes the gun into her head more, and I move my hand to my earpiece, never moving my gaze from her.
“Everyone, stand down,” I command, and chuck the earpiece across the room, hearing as it clatters just before the chaos around us stops, plummeting us into an eerie silence.
“Now get on your fucking knees,” he seethes and yanks her head back a little more, showing the seriousness in his actions, and hinting at the implications if I don’t follow his orders.
I fall to my knees without hesitation, and even as the bite of the concrete shoots up my legs, I don’t avert my gaze. My devotion to her has never reached any bounds, and it won’t now. I was willing to fall at her feet for the promise of her love, and I’ll certainly do it for her safety.
“Do. Not. Hurt. Her.” I choke out, surprising even myself with the misery and despair that coats my words.
“All I wanted was your cooperation, Damien. It didn’t have to be this way, but you've caused some huge problems! There’s no going back from here!” he yells, shaking his head back and forth to conceal the trembling in his bones. He’s afraid of something, and it’s not just me. There’s no doubt in his mind that he won’t be leaving here a free man, but the question flying through his head is if he wants to die by my hand, Avery’s hand…
Or his own.
“Let her go, and we can discuss how to change that. Perhaps there’s a way we can help each other.” The words that come out of my mouth taste like ash and sacrifice, but I’ll do anything to get her back, and in this moment, that includes bargaining with a demon in devil’s clothing.
“DON’T YOU GET IT?!” He shakes more, and I can’t help but sink my gaze onto her face. She’s struggling to stay awake, and her bottom lip quivers either in fear or chill. Each a sign that she’s barely holding on to consciousness, and my devastation grows even more. “EVERYTHING I HAVE BUILT IS LAID TO WASTE! IT’S NOT JUST YOU I'LL BE RUNNING FROM!”
“TAKE ME THEN!” I shout at him as I notice his grip on the gun tighten. I’ll die right here and now if he’ll let her go… “Take me. Let her go, hand her over to my men, and take me in her place. Offer me to Avery as a promise, use me to do his work. KILL ME! I don’t care anymore, just let her go!” I beg and plead, knowing that it won’t do any good. The failure in his eyes is apparent, and there’s only one way he’s going out.
By doing as much damage as possible.
“There’s nothing to give anymore! No chances! YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!” He lets go of her head and steps aside, letting her head fall forward to hang feebly… The gun is pointed where he wants it, right at her temple… And he’s sure to look me in the eyes as his hand tenses. “Now I'll take everything from you.”
I jump to my feet and sprint to the sound of a single gunshot…
Chapter thirty-six
Damien
“NO!” My heart plummets to my feet with the force of my movements, and I throw myself at her, wrapping my arms around her and clinging to her like a small child. Her comforting scent barely pokes through the iron stench that radiates from her, and her shallow breaths move her chest softly against mine.
