Page 239 of The Carnage We Keep

Because suddenly, the extra slack in Bella’s chain from her being so much shorter than me pulls tight, and with a scream that rips my heart in half, Bella is abruptly yanked off the catwalk by the meat hook through her body. She swings out over the blood as well, sobbing and screaming as I desperately try to swing myself closer to her.

It’s no use. I simply can't.

“I have to say…” Sorel’s creepy southern dandy accent floats through my consciousness, ripping my gaze to him, still standing by that control panel. “It has been a genuine pleasure meeting the two of you. The serious hardship it’s caused me notwithstanding, I’ve admired your work.” He clucks his teeth. “But I’m afraid this is a friendship we’ll have to explore in another life.”

“In any other life, I’m finding you,” I snarl at him. “And cutting you into very, very tiny pieces.”

He smiles. “I’m sure you will, Mr. Barone. I’m sure you will. In the meantime, however…” He turns and punches a button on the panel.

Suddenly, the chains we’re dangling from slowly begin to lower.

“Y’all have a blessed day now.”

Without another word, Sorel and his men follow the catwalk the rest of the way around the perimeter of the room before they leave via a side door.

“Dame…”

I jerk my gaze back to Bella when she says my name. The motorized winch above hums and turns. The chains rattle and clink, and the sensation of the hook grating against my fucking collarbone sends waves of nausea and agony thrumming through my body as blood flows freely from the hole through me.

But all I can focus on right now is the fact that Bella isn’t screaming anymore.

When she said my name just now, it was barely a whisper.

My haunted eyes find hers.

“Bella—”

“I…” Her eyes close and then open again. “Dame, my legs are numb,” she mumbles. Her brow pinches. “So are my arms.”

Fuck.

FUCK.

The tank below us is easily eight feet deep and filled to the fucking brim.

If we’re paralyzed when we plunge into it, we’re going to drown.

Through the pain, my brain flickers back to what Sorel said about Bella and I being different sizes.

“That same dose will work much slower on you.”

My pulse jumps as I realize that my legs aren’t numb. None of me is.

Not yet, anyway.

“Bella!” I yell. “Look at me! Look at me, baby! Open your fucking eyes, little nightmare!!”

They barely crack open. A weak, lazy smile lifts one corner of her mouth.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore,” she murmurs sleepily.

“Open your eyes!!” I scream. “Fight it!! Fucking FIGHT IT, BELLA!!”

She smiles at me. Then her eyes close, and her body goes limp.

No no no fucking NO.

I start to twist my body, ignoring the incinerating pain exploding through my shoulder with every movement as I try to extricate myself from the hook. But the fucking thing is curved, the point of it curling up to the ceiling.