Chapter 19

nineteen

Phoebe

I walk out of the club with my heart in my throat and my face void of emotions, while on the inside, I'm dying. But this is the right decision. Seeing her arms wrapped around him and him not pushing her away, only gently trying to pry her hands off him, cemented it for me. I was already having doubts after having to remember him with Selene this morning—no thanks to my so-called father, but just now, it was a slap to the face. Even after he found out why I left, he still fucking slept around without a care in the world.

He must feel something for her to not push her away, especially with me standing right there. I wipe the lone tear that's fallen from the corner of my eye and start walking toward the subway. I need to get to my uncle's, grab my bag, and go home. I have a class in two days that I need to prepare for, and I have my heart to try and glue back together, even if I will forever be bound by him.

As I round the corner, my neck starts to tingle, and I mentally kick myself for not having my guard up and for having too much in my head because of Alex. Before I can turn, someone comes up behind me. They wrap their arm around my neck, intending to crush my windpipe, while their hand thrusts a large knife into my left side. I feel like all the air has rushed from my body. I try to push the pain away, my training kicking in, and my motivation to end this fucker comes when he speaks, "Not so cocky now, are you, you little bitch. I wonder if I can fuck that loose cunt before you die."

Mihai.

I smirk and let out a pained chuckle, making his arm tighten around my neck, choking me while he rips the knife from my side, and thrust it again, two inches lower, before pulling it out again. Fuck, that hurts. I cough, and blood spurts out of my mouth, making me flinch, knowing he's caught my lung. Dying doesn't scare me; staying in a world where the love of my life has moved on and making a family with someone else does .

I bring my right hand up and grab the throwing star in my top; he doesn't expect it. While trying to breathe through the pain, with all my might, I scream and twist, and stab the star into his neck. He lets go of mine, the knife dropping to the ground, and quickly grabs hold of the star. I fall to the ground, my legs giving out, not able to inhale a full breath. I quickly grab hold of my gun from my back, and he takes his out, and both of us fire at the same time. My bullet hits him in the neck, and he drops to his knees, choking on his own blood, dead within seconds. His bullet hits my chest. I cough again, causing blood to trickle out of my mouth as I fall onto my back. I slam my head on the concrete.

" Phoebe ," I hear someone shout, and then the next thing I know, Alex is leaning over my head. "Fuck, sweetheart, you're okay, you're going to be okay." I smile at him, then cough, and more blood comes out. My whole body has gone numb; that's good; there's not long left now.

"I-I-I lo-ove y-you."

Tears shine in his eyes, and he places his hand on my cheek, saying, "Baby, please don't give up; I need you, my malen'kaya ptitsa ," and he kisses forehead. Sergi moves into view; he's putting pressure on the knife wounds, tears falling down his cheeks.

"Keep fighting, Phoebe Pie," he rasps. I lift my right hand and hold it against his cheek.

"I-I lo-love you, b-big bro-brother."

He sobs as Damian leans over me, a phone to his ear, barking orders while keeping pressure on my bullet wound. The bullet is lodged somewhere; I swear I can feel it, so it definitely didn't go through.

"Get my fucking wife here now, and hurry with the fucking car," he orders clearly and calmly, but his eyes tell a different story. He hangs up, putting his phone in his pocket, then puts his hand on my cheek. "Come on, sweetheart, don't give up now; don't leave us. Don't leave him."

A tear trickles down his face.

"I-I'm s-s-sorry, d-don't cr-cry."

He lets out a sob before Alex leans down and kisses my forehead again, whispering, "You can't leave me, baby. I owe you a lifetime of groveling. Please, Phoebs, don't give up on me." Tears now pour from his eyes, and I try to reach up, but my arms don't want to work. He grabs my hand, realizing what I want, and places it on his cheek.

"I-I'm s-s-sor-ry for no-not trying h-harder." He sobs at my words, shaking his head. "Ssso c-c-old."

He screams out, "Where they fuck are they!"

I look at Sergi, who is covered in my blood, his body shaking with sobs, and my eyes close, my body feeling weak.

Alex rubs my cheek. "No, malen'kaya ptitsa , stay awake," he rasps.

"Sooo ti-tired," I whisper, before a car comes to a screeching halt next to us.

I hear a female scream out but can't focus.

Dimitri comes into view, and his eyes go glossy, while Sofia shoves Alex out of the way and leans over me. She puts her fingers on my neck, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Her pulse is weak; we need to go now!"

Just as Alex and Dimitri start to lift me, everything in me feels weak and cold.

Darkness descends over me before I whisper, "Alex."

I hear him roar out in pain. Then nothing—no pain, no hurt, no heartache.

Nothing.