Page 4 of Beautifully Broken
My feet move rapidly down the stairs, but I barely make it halfway when a wave of people rushes up from the bottom, trying to escape the room that is now filling with smoke.
No matter how hard I try to push past the crowd, I only end up getting shoved further up the stairs.
The sounds of screaming, more gunshots, and the thick, quickly growing smoke cause a slight panic to rise in my chest, but I push it down.
I will get to my Ivy today, even if I die trying.
After what feels like hours, I reach the bottom of the stairs.
Instantly, my lungs fill with smoke, and I cover my face with the bottom of my shirt.
Not wanting to get hit with a stray bullet, I slide my body along the wall, my hand feeling for anything while trying to listen for any recognizable voices.
“GET BACK OR I’LL KILL HER!”
“FUCK YOU!”
My blood boils as Carson’s voice filters through the smoke-filled basement.
I must be close because his voice sounds no more than a few feet away.
A gunshot rings and I wince, the shot causing my ears to scream in pain. But I still don’t stop.
My hand finds a slightly cracked door and I’m just about to push through when voices sound from behind the door, making me pause.
“Get the hell out of here, boss! I will take care of the pawn.”
“No, you won’t. She is my pawn. Mine to dispose of. Now go find out if there are more. NOW!”
Taking a big step to the side, I plaster myself against the wall and wait for the man to run out the door.
Perfect.I will have Carson all to myself and get my Ivy out of here in one clean sweep.
“On it, Boss. Find a way out of here fast. I’ll cover you.”
CRACK!
A light shines somewhere across the room, and the sound of wood splitting echoes throughout the basement. “FIRE DEPARTMENT. ANYONE IN HERE?”
Shit.Now I can’t wait. It'sgetIvy out now or deal with the police and firefighters.
The door flies open, and a body moves, carrying a limp girl in his arms. “Help. My sister won’t wake up. I think she’s—cough—dead. Please—cough—help me.”
Ice fills my veins as Carson rushes towards the firefighters.
If my girl is dead, if this piece of shit killed her seconds before I was going to reclaim what is rightfully mine, hell will look like a damn playground for what I plan to do to him.
Not wanting to let my girl out of my sight, I sneak out of the house and back into the shadows, watching from a distance as the paramedics work on a lifeless Ivy before they drive away.
I want to stay. I want to put an end to Carson’s pathetic life, but Ivy’s protection means more than revenge.
Plus, you know what they say, revenge is a dish best served cold. Or in Carson’s case, his body will be cold once I drain every ounce of blood from his sad, pathetic body.
Chapter 3
Blaire
“Where is she?”
