Page 52 of Revenge (Corrupt Empire 3)

We stared at each other for several seconds. Tristan’s face morphed into something monstrous. His mud brown eyes darkened and he snarled.

“You fucking bitch.”

He backhanded me across the face. My head snapped back. He tugged my dress up, fumbling with his own trousers as he tried to rip my underwear off my body at the same time. I was frozen for all of ten seconds.

I palmed the knife and lashed out, screaming at him. I brought the knife up and it plunged into his neck. I felt the blade pierce his flesh. I pulled my hand back and the blood poured out of the wound, dripping down onto my face.

He stared down at me, shock flittering across his features before he put his hand to his throat, trying to stem the bleeding. It was too much, it flowed faster, covering me in it. I couldn’t believe I’d just done that.

I stared at him as the blood got in my hair and face and on my dress. He couldn’t stop it. I was pretty sure I’d just nicked his carotid artery. He was going to bleed out all over me.

I pushed him off me. He fell back against the covers, the blood still flowing and seeping into the bedding. I scrambled back, falling off the bed and crawling backwards with the knife still clutched in my hand.

I got to my feet, staring at the bed in shock. Tristan gurgled and shook before he went still. Very, very still. And I knew in that moment, he was dead.

I’d killed him.

It had been self-defence, but I’d killed him.

I couldn’t believe it. None of it made any sense. I’d actually killed another human being. Guilt flooded me, coursing through my veins.

“Oh god,” I whispered.

I could feel his blood all over me. My stomach roiled. I heard footsteps outside the door and then it opened. On the threshold stood my husband, his eyes going wide as he looked over the scene.

I dropped the knife, tears falling down my cheeks as I fell to my knees and wailed.

“Avery?”

“I killed him,” I sobbed. “I didn’t mean to, but he’s dead.”

He strode towards me but I put a hand up, stopping him in his tracks.

“Don’t, I’m covered in blood, his blood. You’ll make it worse. Oh my god, there’s blood everywhere.”

He looked over at the bed where Tristan lay unmoving.

“Princess… it’s okay. I’m here. Did he hurt you?”

“Yes and no. He didn’t… I didn’t let him… Oh god, Aiden. I killed him.”

His silver eyes burnt with compassion and it broke me further. Aiden knew what it was like to take someone else’s life but I didn’t. I had no idea how much it would destroy me inside. I trembled, feeling everything crashing down on me at once.

“I need you to stand up for me, princess. Can you do that?”

His voice was so calm. I didn’t know how he could be so calm about this situation. I’d killed another person. I’d stabbed Tristan in the neck and he’d bled all over me.

I nodded slowly. I could get up off the floor. Staying here in this room would only make it worse for me. I rose, picking the knife up with me. He put his hand out. I walked towards him and dropped it into his outstretched palm.

“I know you’re in shock right now, Avery, but I’m going to need you to take a shower. You need to wash away all the blood, okay? I’m going to sort this out.”

I stared up at my husband. I trusted him. Aiden would make this right. He was the only one who could. His expression softened. He reached up, cupping my face and stroking my cheek.

“It’s okay, princess. I promise.”

I let him lead me away into the en-suite and help me out of my blood-soaked clothes. He turned the shower on and made me get in. I watched him wash his hands in the sink as well as the knife, which he left on the counter. He gave me one sharp nod, pointing at the toiletries before slipping out of the room.

I looked at the shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. These were all Tristan’s. It made me sick to think I had to use a dead man’s products. A man I’d killed. I dissolved into tears again, putting my face in my hands as the water rushed over me. I could see it turn red as it flowed down me through my fingers. The sight of it was awful. Knowing what I’d done cut me to the core.

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