NERO: Chapter 82

Nero’s voice echoes down the hall, the background of gunfire making it all the more ominous.

The guy who came running in right before the explosion, takes this opportunity to sprint back out the open door, running in the opposite direction of Nero’s bellow.

“Pussy!” Mikhail spits.

I’m looking toward the door, waiting for Nero to appear, so I don’t notice Mikhail approaching until he’s almost on me.

I try to get away, but I’m too slow, and he gets a handful of my hair.

“No you don’t.” He doesn’t give me time to stand, just pulls me off the couch.

I cry out. The extreme pain of being dragged by my hair fills my eyes with tears.

I thought I was done with crying. Figured a person can only have so many teardrops inside them. But I think I’ve proven that number does not exist.

My feet struggle to stay underneath me, and I get just enough purchase to stumble along.

This seems like the perfect moment for that woman, Nikki, to strike at me, but when Mikhail stops in front of his desk, spinning us to face the door, I see her inching along the far wall, sneaking toward the exit.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Mikhail sneers at Nikki.

She stops, caught, but keeps the bitchy expression on her face. “I’m leaving! You said you’d kill the cow and make Nero pay!”

“That’s what I’m doing!” Mikhail screeches, that polished insanity bouncing against the surface.

Nikki flings an arm toward the open door. “Don’t you hear that? He’s killing everyone! And he’s going to kill you––”

A loud crack, so close to my ear it rattles my brain, fills the room.

I stare, uncomprehending, as blood blooms across Nikki’s chest. Her fancy silk shirt soaking through in half a second. The pretty cream turning a deep red.

She stumbles, falling against the wall, then just sort of crumples to the ground, disappearing behind the couch, like she was never there at all.

My body starts to shake.

Every muscle. Every tendon. Every cell vibrates with dread.

I’m going to die.

My lungs start to contract. Not releasing. Not sucking in air.

I’m going to die.

A sob lodges against the oxygen trapped in my throat.

I don’t want to die.

I’m not ready.

A ragged sound claws out of my chest.

I’m not ready.

I can’t-

And then Nero is there.

Standing in the doorway. Surrounded by a haze of gun smoke.

He’s just standing there.

Here.

With me.

Relief releases my lungs, and I suck in a breath.

He’s here.

More tears roll down my cheeks.

The hot barrel of a gun presses against my temple.

Okay.

I focus on taking a breath.

Okay.

He’s here.

With his eyes on mine, Nero tosses his gun to the ground.

He’s with me.

He came for me.

The edges of my mouth pull up into a small smile.

I figured we’d have more time.

But if this is it, if we’re going to do this together, then I’ll be okay.

We can go now.