Chapter 48

“You never did learn to stop loving the person you hate, did you?”

A sickening crack echoes across the room as the gun is fired, time slowing down. I scream as Slater’s eyes widen in surprise and pain. My heart feels like it’s being ripped out of my chest as I watch my love collapse to the ground, blood pooling around him.

I’m frozen in terror, unable to move as I watch, Sean’s maniacal laughter filling the room. He turns his attention back to me, his gaze softening slightly.

His words hang in the air, a cruel reminder of the twisted relationship Slater and I share. I try to break free from my bonds, but they’re too tight, and my efforts are futile. I’m powerless, stuck in this horror show my life has become.

Sean steps closer to me, a sadistic smile on his face. He reaches down and picks up the gun, chuckling at the sight of Slater’s lifeless body.

“It’s too late, Slater. Your little game is over.” He kicks him and I wince. “I won. And now it’s time for me to finally claim my prize.”

He laughs, the sound grating on my nerves. I feel sick to my stomach, knowing that I’ve lost Slater forever. Our complicated, twisted relationship is finally coming to an end, and it’s all his father’s doing.

Tears stream down my face as I realize, too late, that I don’t even care that he was the masked man. I didn’t get the chance to tell him how much I love him. And now it’s too late, now he’ll never know.

Sean moves back to me, staring into my eyes with a mixture of anger and lust. He raises the gun to my temple, and I close my eyes, bracing myself for the shot. It’s better than the alternative. At least he hasn’t touched me yet. I’d rather die than have his touch seared into my skin for all eternity.

Do it. Pull the trigger. Send me off to be with my love.

But before he can pull the trigger, there’s a loud crash from upstairs. My stepfather’s head snaps up, his eyes widening in surprise. He stumbles toward the stairs, pausing to give me a look that’s loaded with longing. Bile rises to my mouth, and I choke as I’m forced by the gag to swallow it back down.

“Soon. I’ve waited this long, another couple of minutes won’t kill me.”

The second he vanishes from sight, I break down. Silent sobs wrack my body as I cry for Slater. He didn’t hesitate to come for me. Didn’t care that I ran off on him, that my last words were said in anger. He came for me. He fought for me. He died for me.

A low pained groan makes me freeze.

It’s Slater.

He’s alive.

Just.

I choke on my sobs, a mix of relief and fear. What if Sean comes back? What if Slater doesn’t make it in time? I try to get Slater’s attention, but all I can do is move my head around, as my entire body is still restrained.

Slater groans and rolls onto his side. I didn’t imagine the bullet hitting him, his T-shirt is stained with blood. It seems to take a lifetime, his movements pained and slow, as he forces himself to his knees. I can see the effort it takes for him to stand, to put one foot in front of the other. I watch as he looks at me, love and concern in his eyes. He mouths something, but the fear pounding in my ears keeps me from understanding him. He reaches out his hand, trying to touch my face, and I eagerly lean into his touch.

His hands slide behind my head and he unfastens the gag from my mouth. “You have to get away,” he whispers hoarsely, his voice filled with intensity as he grabs a knife from the tray of tools Sean was planning to use on me and starts to cut my bonds free. “He’s going to come back. You have to leave.”

My eyes widen in shock, tears streaming down my face. I shake my head, unable to fathom leaving Slater behind. The bond between us is undeniable, and I can’t imagine a life without him.

But Slater insists, his face contorted with pain and fear. “Please, Cora. I can’t lose you.”

My heart is torn between my love for Slater and my desire to protect him from the danger that looms in the shape of his own damn father. I take a deep breath and nod, swallowing back the tears that threaten to overwhelm me.

“I’ll get help. You need to go to hospital. Do you have your phone on you? Mine’s at the apartment.”

Slater nods again, his eyes never leaving mine. Once I’m untied, he helps me to my feet. I don’t know where my clothes are. I shiver and Slater tries to remove his shirt - I think to give it to me, but I stop him.

“Don’t. Stretching will make your wound worse. I’ll be fine.”

He nods. His breathing is labored, and I’m worried that I’m going to lose him for good if we don’t act fast. “My car…keys…hoodie…here…phone.”

Slater pushes his phone into my hands, but there’s no signal down here in the basement. I bite my lip. I need to get out of this house, to get Slater help, without Sean finding me.

He beat me when he found me in his office, and every bone in my body hurts, but I push that to one side. Surviving is more important. For Slater’s sake.

“Come with me,” I beg, but Slater just shakes his head.

“Too slow.”

“Slater—” I plead, crying once again.

“Go, Cora.” His words are harsh, firm, commanding. My feet stumble to obey him, even as my heart screams at me to stop.

“I love you,” I whisper, before darting up the stairs.