Mack glanced over his shoulder at me. “Go. I’ll be fine. Miranda is within her rights since I conned her.”
“I’m not leaving, Mack.” In fact, my brain had already located a weapon and had figured out a plan of attack. There was a small knife on the counter next to my car keys. I would grab them both, slide by this woman and take her out.
Jesus. Who the hell am I? Because apparently, I was no stranger to killing. Double-O-Teddi.
“I’m not asking,” Mack said.
I dropped the blanket I’d been holding around my naked body and then threw on my dark sweater and jeans, acting severely pissy about it. I walked over to the small counter, angling my body so that the woman wouldn’t see my move. I gripped the knife in my right hand with my keys, holding the blade pressed flat along the inside of my wrist to conceal it as best as possible. “Mack, I really think you should—”
“Just go!” he yelled.
“Fine. I got what I wanted anyway.” I shot him one last look for effect and slid past him. The woman was just to the right of the door and only a few feet away. She wasn’t threatened by me because she didn’t move an inch as I approached.
Lucky me.
Right as I got to her side, I made my move, swiping sideways for her neck. But faster than my eye could register, she moved out of the way just as Mack lunged. The knife hit Mack right in his neck.
I screamed.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
TEDDI
The blonde woman laughed hysterically as Mack stumbled and fell over, cupping his hand over the wound. The blood didn’t just dribble, it flowed like an open spigot.
“Mack!” I dropped the knife and jumped to his side, kneeling beside him. “Oh, God. What did I do?”
“I bet right about now, he’s wishing he hadn’t taken off that necklace,” the woman chuckled out her words. I ignored her. All I could see were colors all around Mack, black and blues, and they were fading fast. “No, no, no.” I pushed my hands over his jugular, but it was no use.
Mack just lay there, his blue, blue eyes staring at the ceiling. “It’s finally happening,” he whispered. “You kept your promise. Thank you.”
“No. I was lying! I’m not ready to let you go!” I said. “I can change things for you.” If I’d just had more time.
“I’m not worth helping, Theodora. But I love you. I always have and I always will.” He gasped for air. “Tell King…” His voice dropped so low I could barely hear him. It sounded like he’d said he wanted to be warm or put somewhere warm or…
Fuck! This can’t be happening! “I love you, too! I love you, too! Don’t go.” The life faded from his eyes right before mine. “No. No. No, Mack,” I yelled. “I won’t let you leave me.” But he was already gone. Just like that. And I felt a part of my soul go with him. How could this have happened? How could I have done this horrible thing to this beautiful man just as King said I would?
I sobbed over his body, wishing I could somehow turn back the clock or use these “gifts” I supposedly had.
“What a shithead,” the woman behind me said. “Now I’m going to have to find the chalice the hard way. As for you, little girl, I don’t take kindly to attempts on my life.”
I grabbed the knife from the floor beside me and, in one fluid motion, threw it at her. The tip lodged into her right eye, and she dropped to the floor like a bag of wet sand. Where and how had I come up with such a skill? I didn’t know and I didn’t care.
I turned back to Mack and watched in despair as his features faded back to the man I’d first met—dirty blond hair, light golden skin, honey brown stubble. Meaning, the Mack I’d first met, the man I’d fallen in love with so long ago, his soul was gone from this body.
“No,” I heard a deep voice gasp from the doorway. I glanced over my shoulder, and King just stood there staring at his dead brother in disbelief. Mia instantly had tears falling down her cheeks.
“You fucking bitch!” King roared at me. “I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.” He stepped toward me, but Mia pulled him back.
“King, no.”
He turned his rage toward her, shaking his finger in her face. “This is your fault. I shouldn’t have listened to you.”
I saw the wounded look in her eyes.
“It was an accident,” I muttered, wiping away the stream of tears in my eyes. “I was taking a swipe at that woman, but Mack rushed in and…” I couldn’t finish my words.
“Do you really think it fucking matters?” King growled, looking like a savage predator despite his finely tailored black suit. “I can’t bring him back this time!”
He began reaching for me, and once again Mia interceded. “You can’t kill her, King. Mack wouldn’t have wanted it and neither do I.”
He looked at her, and all I could see was a red light glowing all around him. Rage, I thought. It was the color of rage.