Page 69 of F*ck Steal Kill

The door opened again, and we both stilled. If it was my father, none of this would matter. He’d find us in a compromising position, shoot Lukas, and let the other guards have me without asking.

“Time’s up, Lukas. The party’s winding down. You got one more minute to say goodbye,” Theo whisper-hissed, his eyes narrowing at our position. But like the good man he was, he didn’t say anything.

“Yes, Dad.”

I hugged Lukas tighter, breathing him in one last time and deciding to take a chance on fate. “I sent word to the XOXO killer. Maybe this will be over before it goes too far, and we’re still the people we are right now.”

Lukas squeezed me harder, nestling his nose against my neck and sending shivers through me. After a few seconds of feeling him breathe me in, he placed a feather of a kiss on my collarbone.

“And you say you’re not an angel, Ava.” Lukas shook his head, smiling at me. I giggled, the feeling lifting me and helping me to hold onto the hope he so desperately desired.

“I love you, Lukas.”

“I love you, Ava.”

He kissed me quickly, then stood and set me on my feet, turning to march out of my room. My heart dropped to my stomach, a sense of foreboding hitting me, and I grabbed my mother’s angel pin off my vanity and rushed to him before he exited the door.

“Wait. Take this. That way, I know you have to return to me.”

Lukas’s hand wrapped around the delicate silver pin, nodding as he placed it into his pocket and slipped out the door, the lock engaging a second later.

The noise beyond had quieted, and I prayed we hadn’t been too careless and used too much time. As much as I cherished every second of it, I’d hate it if it cost Lukas his life.

I just had to believe that Theo would’ve said something sooner.

Feeling brave and full of love, I ducked into my closet and shut the door as I pulled out the burner phone. I’d make one more plea for the XOXO killer to save me… us.

Opening the app, I almost dropped the phone when I saw that I actually had a reply. Sucking in a breath, I sent out a prayer to whoever would listen that it was good news and not bad.

Dear Hopeless Savage,

We’re coming.

Hold on for a few more days, and your nightmare will be over.

We’ve gone over everything you’ve sent and formed a plan, but there might be little to no notice we can access the compound, so any other information you can provide will be helpful. We’re going to send one of our team into the Savage Garden as a stripper; if you have any allies that could help, now is the time to have them prepared.

Be ready to go, as there might not be time to grab anything, so always keep whatever you need on you.

Don’t give up hope, Ava.

XOXO

I sucked in a breath as tingles raced down my spine. It was happening. I would finally be free. I quickly responded with Lukas’s name and Theo, and that they were the only two I trusted. The rest were too addicted to drugs or so far up my father’s butthole they wouldn’t be helpful. I gave a brief outline of the schedule and guard routine, hoping it would be enough.

Deleting the messages, I cleared out my history and tucked it back into my hiding spot when my closet door was wrenched open.

Jumping back, I gasped as the silhouette of my father stood at the door, his hateful and evil eyes glaring at me.

“What are you doing in here?”

“Um, chan-ng-ing,” I stuttered, my body shaking as nerves and fear took over. His lip sneered in disgust, my stuttering an insult to him.

“Your future husband’s here. Put on something else and meet me in the foyer in ten minutes. Don’t make me have to come back in here, Ava.”

“Yes, Papi,” I mumbled, dropping my head in respect.

He sniffed, and I tensed, praying I didn’t smell like Lukas. “Why does it smell like a man in here?” he growled, stepping forward.

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