Page 183 of Knox

“Finnian saw you stab Leo,” I remind him. “He’s probably already told the twins everything, so they’ll know every word you say is bullshit… even if you show up with all those shitty superficial cuts.”

Julian bursts out laughing. “That little bitch is dead by now. I sent a cleanup crew into that suite the second we left.”

My body shudders with grief.

I want to slap him, to stab this fucking asshole, to curl into a ball and sob until my chest caves in.

But I can’t.

I refuse to give this monster the pleasure of breaking me.

Julian straddles my body and lifts the knife with both hands, aiming at my heart, and smiles.

“Sorry, little cousin. Too bad you won’t be around to see this year’s gala finale. It’s going to be a masterpiece.”

I close my eyes, and in the darkness, I don’t see Julian.

I see Knox.

I see his gorgeous green eyes, his dark skin, his smile, the memory of how his lips feel on mine, how he touches me.

And just like that, I am not alone.

I feel him with me.

He is in my memories, my mind, and my heart.

I am going to die, but at least I’m leaving this world feeling full, cherished, and in love.

My only regret is never telling him those three words out loud.

Goodbye, Knox…

I love you.

THWACK!

Something wet spills on my neck.

I open my eyes and see Julian screaming, holding his bleeding hands.

What the…

Then I see it… a bullet hole in his left hand.

I turn my head toward the left and see my man and Björn moving terrifyingly fast.

A wave of relief washes over me, followed by fear.

There are seven armed mercenaries here, and it's just the two of them.

I panic.

A panic that lasts less than a minute because within seconds, Björn hurls a machete the size of my arm straight into the chest of the nearest mercenary, pinning him to a tree.

To a fucking tree.

At the same time, Knox fires twice, hitting two more mercenaries before they can even lift their rifles.