Page 55 of Sinners Reunion

There’s no way for me to help him. My target has regained his wind and is getting to his feet. I have a small window of time to properly set myself up for this kill, and I can’t miss it. I can only hope King is still the badass he was five years ago.

As my Cattle rises to his full height, I leap onto his back, keeping an ironclad grip on the stiff rope around his neck. He turns his attention to getting me off his back instead of removing the rope from around his neck, which is currently slack. Idiot. If he’d pushed his fingers beneath the bound fibers, it would have prevented what comes next.

Gripping both ends of the rope, I leap again and sink my feet into the depressions above each of his hips. Growing up in a family of circus performers has its benefits. All the years of trick riding pay off as I balance myself and lean backward. My weight pulls the rope taut, and the ride of a lifetime begins.

The man realizes what’s happening, so he turns in circles and thrashes his arms. He’s too panicked to think. I exert very little energy in this position, so I can strangle him as long as he stays upright and away from my lower half. He could easily rip me off if he only grabbed my legs.

I close my eyes and tip back my head and laugh as the crowd lets out a cheer.

But the moment of joy doesn’t last. A gasp silences the spectators, and as I turn my head, I see why. King’s Cattle currently brandishes a pistol.

“No!” I scream, but I can’t let go of the rope.

The last thing King needs is yet another angry brute to contend with. I have to do my part and keep this one occupied.

My heart picks up its rhythm as King freezes, hands held out. He’s still too far away to close the gap and take the gun, but a bullet at that distance would be fatal for him. He’s at a serious disadvantage, and as the man below me spins around, my line of sight disappears.

I’ll just have to get this finished as quickly as possible.

I tighten my grip and jump off this asshole’s hips. My feet slam against his spine. Pain shoots up my shins. With everything I am, I lean back and tighten the rope. He finally reaches for the rough fibers, and as he begins to lose consciousness, he goes to his knees.

Fuck.

That takes away my leverage.

Frantic, I ram my slender arm beneath his neck and put him in a proper choke. He’s weak enough that I can finish him this way so long as he gets no air. Even a sip of oxygen would be enough to power him on again.

We’re still facing away from King, so I’m forced to use my ears to understand what’s happening behind me. I don’t dare let go.

The crowd gasps again, and I close my eyes. A loud bang rings out, followed by a scream. My arm renews its hold. I can’t lose focus, no matter what’s happening behind me.

“Would you hurry up and die so I can help him?” I scream into the Cattle’s ear.

His feet kick behind him, dragging deep tracks through the sawdust. Blood fills the whites of his eyes—proof of my desperation. He looks up at me, but he doesn’t see me anymore.

The crowd shouts, and I don’t know if it’s for me or King. God, I hope they’re cheering for him.

The Cattle finally stills beneath me, but I don’t let go. King taught me that you can’t. The body keeps trying to live for several minutes, and it’s important I don’t give out before his heart does. My arms ache and my hands quiver, but I tighten my fucking hold and grit my teeth against the pain.

I don’t let go until his chest stops tensing for a breath I won’t allow him to take.

As soon as I’m certain he’s dead, I scramble off my target and turn to run for King. I stop in my tracks and heave a sigh of relief. Instead of lying in a pool of blood, he’s straddling his Cattle and choking the life out of him with his bare hands.

Beside him lies the pistol. A flag sticks from the barrel, with BANG written across it in all caps.

I hurry over and land a solid kick into the side of the struggling man’s skull. His arms fall to his sides, making King’s job a bit easier. A few minutes pass, and it’s done.

Drenched in sweat, the two of us turn toward the cheering crowd. King takes my hand in his and raises both into the air. We smile and take a bow as staff members hurry into the arena to clean up the mess and get things set up for the next duo.

But as I smile up at King and he looks down at me, chest heaving, I don’t think we’ll stick around to see the rest of the show. That gleam in his eye tells me we won’t even make it to dinner.

The ache between my legs only solidifies my certainty.

We exit the main arena at a leisurely pace, but as soon as we hit the shadows, we run toward the farmhouse without looking back.

Chapter Seventeen

King