Page 13 of Reaper
Letting out a primal scream, I drive the knife in any part of his body I can reach until he lets me go. He drops to the brown carpeted floor, then blood starts to pool around his large body, soaking into the carpet.
I should hate myself for what I’ve done. But that hate never comes. All I feel is exhilaration and relief. It’s almost over. I just have to get out of here without getting caught. “I’m almost free.”
With the small knife still gripped as tightly in my hand as I can hold it, I rush to the door. I can’t leave any evidence behind, especially the weapon even though I’m sure everyone will know I did this when they can’t find me. Or maybe they’ll think someone killed him then took me. I’m not worth anything to them. Hopefully they don’t search for me and assume someone kidnapped me.
I don’t care if he’s dead or not, as long as I get away from him. I’ll deal with the consequences later.
I place my ear against the door, but I don’t hear anything except the noise from the crowd gathering for the fight. He sent his men away earlier, hopefully none of them will return before I can get out of here. I close my eyes, take a deep breath then let it out.
“Here goes nothing.”
I swipe at his blood on my face, slip off my heels, then twist the doorknob, inch the door open, then peek out. The hallway is empty.
Thank God.
We came in through the back exit. That’s the only way I can get out of here without anyone noticing me covered in blood.
I step out in the hallway, then softly close the door behind me. Hopefully, Nikita won’t be found until I’m far enough away to hide from the Petrovs. Even though I don’t know how far that’ll be and how I’ll get there.
One step at a time Paris. Get out of the building then worry about the next steps.
I sprint in the opposite direction, away from the arena. I glimpse over my shoulder just to make sure no one’s following, before turning back to run toward the exit at the back of the building. At full speed I collide with someone. I stumble and without thinking I push the knife forward.
I have to get away!
A hand grasps my wrist. Not tight, but hard enough for the knife to fall out of my hand. Strong arms wrap around me as I struggle, trying to get the person to loosen their hold.
“No! Let me go!”
“Calm the fuck, down!” His arms tighten instead of loosening. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
Although eerily calm, his voice holds a stern edge.
“Please let me go.” I stop struggling, but plea, looking into the eyes of the man Nikita stopped in the hallway earlier. “They can’t find me. They’ll kill me.”
He looks over my shoulder like he sees someone coming and fear rises in me. The longer I stay in this building, the closer I am to getting caught. Then there will definitely be no freedom for me. The Pakhan will kill me but not before he makes my death as painful as it can be.
The hallway is still empty, but it won’t be that way much longer. Nikita’s men will come back and when they find him dead, they’ll come after me. All the Petrovs will.
I’m going to die.
He stares back at me, then lets me go like he’s touched something hot, like he’s just now really seeing me. Then he looks down at his clothes.
“Shit!” he says, surprise in voice. “What the hell did you do?”
“Nothing.” Tears fill my eyes. “I… I’ve got to go.”
I try to push past him, but he grips my arm like a vice, refusing to let me go.
“Please, I can’t stay here. I have to get out of here before they find me.”
After a moment, he picks up his gym bag sitting at his feet and the knife I dropped. “Come with me.”
He doesn’t give me time to tell him hell no before he’s pulling me out the back exit with both of us covered in the evidence of my crime.
I should feel remorse and disgust for what I’ve done. But I don’t. Nikita has taken everything from me. My life. My body. My soul. It’s only fitting I take his life.
Reaper
