Page 93 of Until Death or Defeat

“You. Are. The. Fucking. Bastard!”

Each word emphasized as she takes the abandoned construction hammer that must have been laying on the ground and smashes into his skull.

I’m in awe as I watch her. The hammer coming down relentlessly until it’s painfully obvious he’s long gone.

I lied before.

Thisis my Giselle.

The one full of rage and determination. She might have lost it before the wedding, but it’s back.

“That’s enoughmoya, you did so good,” I say as I bear hug her from behind, lifting her from the ground and placing her on the tall metal counter. My hands roam over her face, checking her for injuries. “Tell me you’re okay, please,” I beg.

I have never begged in my fucking life.

“You’re the one that’s hurt,” she points out, looking at my arm.

“No, I’m fine. I feel fucking invincible right now,” I say as I grab her head and smash our lips together.

Her tongue swirls in my mouth before they move into hers, the sound of heavy breath and her light moans filling my mind.

“Woah, now this is what I call a fucking party!” I hear Maxim’s voice and pull back. “No way, was this you, little G?” he asks, squatting down to check out Leo’s caved in skull. “Brutal. I like it.”

“Not the time for your gore obsession, Maxim, we need to get the fuck out of here.”

“Where is my brother?” Her voice is small, but hopeful.

“Oh, him? Nah, he’s fine. I mean, he’ll probably be fine. Roman took him to the hospital already.”

Her hand goes to her mouth as the sobs finally flow freely, relieved. I hoist her up into my arms as I move to carry us out of this god-forsaken factory.

When we step into the fresh air, I look down at her, and she’s wiping her cheeks with the oversized sleeves of the sweatshirt, meeting my eyes with a small smile.

My stupid, stupid girl.

“I’m leashing you to my bed after this,solnishko. You’re never leaving my home again.”

“I don’t want to leave again,” she admits, and I set her in my passenger seat.

It’s a long drive until we get to the hospital that Roman took her brother to, and she rushes inside. She has to wait for the surgeons to finish their attempt at removing the bone fragments, and she’s a ball of anxiety.

“You should really have them check your arm,” she says between her pacing.

“My arm is fine, I only need a Band-Aid.”

“I highly doubt that’s true,” she deadpans.

“I’ll clean it at home, I don’t need their help.”

“You should go back, shouldn’t you? I might be stuck here all night,” she says, stopping her panic so she can look at me.

“I don’t want to leave you,” I say, taking her hand.

“I’m fine. Max said he’d stay around and...maybe you can bring me some clothes, so I can sleep once I get into his room. And...I kind of need some time to myself after that,”

I nod, sighing as I pull her toward me. “I’ll be back. I’ll clean myself up and bring you both something to eat and change into.”

“I’m really sorry,” she says softly, looking up at me.