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He dropsto the elevator, but when I spot the exit stairs just three steps away, I sprint over, grab the door handle, and jerk hard, trying to open it, yelling at it, "Come on, come on!" But it’s jaate open and angry bellows behindcunt!"

Which is when the door I’s open, outward, and I’iant step forward--only to find there are no stairs, only a five-story fall, ness as I hear the , desperate call I’ve ever heard in my life--"NO! PRINCESS!"--and I crash into blackness

TWENTY-FIVE

FALLEN

Greyson

My world botto hole of the open door So one e for the eainst the wall, grabbing un I overpower hiht in the center of his rib cage

BOOM!

He howls, and I drop his writhing body to the ground and drop the gun as I run to the eht I can’t breathe Five stories below, I see a pool of golden hair

"MELANIE!"

No response

Derek steps out of the elevator and is instantly bya piece of rope as I bark, "Lower rab one end of the rope as he slowly lowers me one floor, and then two, until there’s noto the ground with a curse "Call an ambulance!" I yell at Derek

"Princess" I roll to the side and crawl over to her "Princess"

She’s pale and lifeless Streaks of blood cover her cheeks, streaible

"Baby," I say as I reach out to touch her neck for a pulse

I feel it, fluttering faintly underbad For the first time in my life, I feel iing But holy shit, she can’t leaveleave me

I check the back of her neck; it’s not broken, but I’ her I don’t dare I siht I’d never see this fking face again and I stare at it And stare at it Her eyes closed, her s from her lips Before I know it I duckher bloodied lips, , "Baby, I told you to stay away fro I can’t breathe

The roo breathe "Melanie, look at what I’ve done to you" I brush her hair back with loves off, shoving them into the back ofthe strands into a braid so that she won’t have to worry about her hair on her face

I feel like I’ will ever holdher hand to ain Stay with reen eyes Holy shit I need to see her sh at me Call me an assle Tell me she loveswith rage as I look up to watch Derek shovekill hie across the room to where Wyatt stands, ar out He’s hurt, but it does nothing to cal up his limbs, bit by bit I want to hear him scream, I want to spill his blood, I want REVENGE FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO HER

Raging in pain, I smash my fists into his face "Why’d you take her? Why? You motherfucker, WHY HER?!"

"To fk YOU!" he yells back, spitting out blood from his mouth

"What did she say?" I shake hiain "Her last words before she fell, what did she say?"

He grins a bloodied grin, and I sla from his mouth "What did she say, assle?" I demand, the pain so deep I feel like an aniinside

I’m inadequate for her but it can’t stop ht I was dead before

No

I was only dor happens to her, I’ain

"You o?"

Wyatt sucks in a breath "Yeah, assle, I ?"

"Look, I was angry"

"How long did she beg for her life? Did she say please? Did she?"

"Minutes Only minutes!"

"Did she tell you I would kill you? Did she tell you I would skin you alive for harain and he groans and rolls unco the chair with his "I was just keeping her to keep you fro cunt, didn’t you?"

"YES! I grabbed her tits, I wanted to piss you off!"

I slaratulations, I’m pissed And now You’re DEAD!"

I pu the life out of him