Page 132 of Devour

“You run from me, Saylor, and I’ll never unchain you again.” He crouches down and reaches for the cuff on my ankle.

His head is bent, and his hands are busy with the lock. The key turns. I feel the metal release from my skin, and the chain drops to the floor. My ankle is raw and swollen, but I’m finally fucking free.

Justin springs to a stand and holds his arms open wide. “Come here to me.”

I step closer and flip the knife open, then drive it into his chest before he knows what’s happening.

His eyes go wide, and his mouth opens, but he doesn’t go down. His hand clamps around my wrist that holds the knife. He squeezes so hard I think he’s going to break my bone. He’s stronger than me.

“You fucking bitch.” His face twists into the cruelest expression I’ve ever seen. A different psychotic version of my brother is in front of me.

He wrenches my wrist, and the knife turns. The blade drags across my ribs, just below my breast. The pain is instant. I scream. Blood runs down my body, mixing with his and Ryan’s blood.

I can’t give up. It doesn’t matter how much it fucking hurts. This is it. I either kill him or I’m dead. He’ll make me wish I was dead for every second I’m alive. I drive my knee into his balls as hard as I can.

His grip breaks. He doubles over, and I rip the knife free from his hand and shove him backward. He hits the floor, and I’m on top of him before he can move.

I drive the blade into his chest.

“That’s for every time you fucking drugged me.” I twist the knife, and he screams.

I rip it free from his body and drive it in again. I can’t stop stabbing him.

“That’s for the baby I lost. My baby with Axl.” My voice doesn’t sound like mine anymore. “That’s for every time you put your hands on me and I couldn’t remember.”

I’m crying and blood is everywhere—his and mine. I can’t fucking stop all of the rage that’s been pent up inside of me. I just keep stabbing him. “That’s for Kynlee. That’s for Tracy. None of us deserved your shit.”

He’s trying to speak. Blood is running from his mouth, and his hands are pawing at my arms, but there’s no strength left in them. His eyes are locked on mine, and he looks confused. He looks like he doesn’t understand why this is happening.

“That’s for Axl. If you really killed him, I hope there’s an afterlife, so you can watch me choose him over and over, then I can kill your sorry ass again, brother.”

I bring the knife down. I have both hands on the handle and can’t stop stabbing him. I don’t want to stop. Every cut of his flesh reclaims something he took from me.

He stops moving under me. His hands fall to the floor, and his head rolls to the side. His eyes are open and unmoving. My brother is dead, but I still can’t fucking stop. I’m sobbing while I keep stabbing him, freshly covered in his blood.

The door crashes open behind me, and I spin with the knife up, lunging to my feet to fight whoever is next. I don’t care who it is. I will kill every person in this building.

But my legs give out. The pain catches up, and my vision goes dark at the edges, and I hit the floor beside Justin on my knees.

“Saylor.”

I look up from the ground, and I think I’m losing my mind.

Axl is standing in the doorway. He’s covered in blood and bruises, but he’s alive. Crew is behind him with his gun drawn, but Axl’s eyes are locked on mine.

I can’t decide if he’s really there. Or is my mind playing tricks on me?

“You’re alright, little heathen.” Axl’s voice is calm as he rushes toward me. “Baby, I’m right here.”

I try to stand and I can’t. My side is on fire, and my legs won’t hold me. He catches me before I hit the floor again. His arms are around me, and I sob into his neck.

“They said you were dead.” I grip his shirt, but my voice is weak. “Everyone said you were dead.”

“I’d never leave you, baby.” His mouth is against my hair, and his arms are so tight around me that I can feel how fast his heart races. “I’ll always find you, little heathen. In this life and the next one.”

I pull back to look at his face. He’s covered in bruising and cuts. His beautiful blue eyes make a knot form in my throat. “I killed them like you taught me.”

He looks past me at Justin’s body on the floor. Then at Ryan’s on the bed. His jaw tightens, and his arms pull me back against his chest.