Page 77 of Depraved

“Ragnarök.” Like so many evil men before him, my alias is the last word he breathes.

I grasp his skull from behind and give a vicious twist. The kill is too quick, too efficient. He should suffer endlessly for what he did to Karolina.

But getting her to safety is more important.

Her life is all that matters.

I toss his dead body aside and go to her.

The lights come back on.

Thank you, Logan.

“Brandon.” She whimpers my name and reaches for me.

The movement jars her shoulder, and she falls back with a sharp cry.

“I’ve got you,” I promise thickly, blinking the haze from my eyes. “You’ll be okay.”

She’s so pale. There’s a crimson smear on her porcelain cheek where the Sokolov pinned her in the pool of her own blood.

“You’re hurt.” Her voice is faint, and her eyes are fixed on my abraded wrists.

I shush her gently. “It’s nothing. I’m fine. We’re both going to be fine.”

Her lashes flutter. “You’re safe now.”

“Don’t close your eyes. Look at me. Karolina!”

But she doesn’t obey me. Her lovely eyes slide closed. Her breathing is shallow.

There’s so much blood…

I grit my teeth and force down the panic before it can consume me.

“I’ll get us out of here,” I promise, gathering her up in my arms. “Together.”

Karolina refused to leave me, and I’ll never be parted from her again.

If she doesn’t survive the night, neither will I.

20

KAROLINA

I’m floating on a warm cloud. I let out a low hum and stretch contentedly.

Pain lances my shoulder, and I still on a soft cry.

Brandon shushes me, dropping a kiss on my forehead. “Don’t move. You’re safe now. You don’t have to fight anymore.”

Dark memories stir: Brandon’s face twisted with agony, blood oozing from my shoulder, and Sokolov’s hands on me…

My eyes fly open on a gasp, and I wince when even the smallest movement jars my injury.

“Brandon?”

His blue eyes fill my world, and I ignore the pain so I can clutch at him. “You’re hurt.”