Page 44 of Demon's Savior
"Old friend, you know how I operate. No one is left alive, and that includes you. This is for my blood, my family."
He grips the young man tighter by his hair and pulls his head back, exposing his neck. Abasi places the machete across the man’s neck, sliding it from left to right as the young man struggles against Abasi's hold, until he takes his last breath.
"I send my condolences old friend. I’ll see you soon." Abasi ends the call and releases the young man’s body as he falls back to the floor.
Turning to us, Abasi wipes the blood off his hands on his shirt. "I’ll finish killing the Koshenko. You take care of my niece. Burn this shit down!"
He walks out of the room.
Akira
"Dani...Dani, let me in." After a few minutes with no answers, I slowly turn the knob and push the door open.
I look over to the bed and see her small frame curled up, facing the window with only the moonlight casting a dim light through the window.
I approach the bed. "Dani..." I call out with no response.
Sighing, I kick my shoes off and slide in the bed, moving up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist as her body tenses. My heart is completely breaking because, if it weren't for me, my sister would not be hurting. I blink and tears begin to fall. I pull her closer to me.
"Kira..." She calls my name through tears, but I cut her off.
"Ssshhh...Dani, you don't have to say anything. Just know Austin took care of him."
With that information, she turns to face me and begins to sob. I gasp at the sight of her bruised face and bandaged neck, and I wrap my arms around her tighter as we both cry until we have no more tears to shed.
"I love you, sis,” I tell her. “Don't you ever forget that. You literally are the reason I am breathing. You saved me, your brother saved me, and I’ll be forever grateful."
"I love you too, sis. I... I didn't mean those things I said. I would never walk away from you."
"I know, Dani. You were upset, and there was a little truth in what you were saying. But I need for you to understand that I love him. With all my heart."
She wipes the tears from my face. "I know. I... I just know this life, and I know Austin. There is no doubt in my mind my brother loves you with all his heart. I just can't say if the time comes, and trust me it will, that he will put you first when it comes to this life."
Would he put me first?
"Dani, we just have to cross that bridge when we’re faced with it, but now, my concern is you.” I push the unwanted thoughts from my head.
Wiping the tears from her face, she takes a deep breath. "Kira, he was evil." She closes her eyes and shakes her head, placing her hands over her face. "I can't imagine dealing with him for as long as you did."
"I had you. You kept me sane. You made me strong enough to keep living. There were times I would sit and contemplate my death." When I open up about my suicidal thoughts, I can see the pity and surprise in Dani's eyes.
"Kira—”
"No, I need to say this." I shake my head. Tears stream down my face, and I confess my darkest secrets. "Many days, I would think about how great it would be to leave this earth, and then I would think of you. I didn't want to leave you alone. You kept me alive."
"Kira, I can't imagine what I would have done without you."
Dani is the closest thing to family that I have. I couldn't leave her.
"Austin told me you haven't spoken since they rescued you. You got me through a lot of shit, Dani, and I just want to be here for you now."
Taking a deep breath, Dani closes her eyes and slowly opens them. I nod my head to assure her I'm here to listen to anything she has to say.
"You can't tell Austin. This is something I have to tell him on my own. That is, if I have the courage to." Dani cries as I nod my head. "I was extremely pissed about our blowup and just needed to be alone. Not thinking Avery would be scoping out my condo, I left here and went straight there." She closes her eyes. Tears slide down her cheeks. Her body trembles. "They took me from there. Two large men with accents pulled me out of my bed and took me to him. I fought, sis. I tried so hard."
"Dani, I'm right here. Take your time, sweetie. You can tell me, or you can wait until you feel you’re ready."
I wipe away my tears, wipe her tears away. My heart breaks for her.
