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The toll had taken its final debt In return for Q’s fortune, I’d been taxed too high I’d been turned into a destitute

He’s dead

"Tess, it’s--" Franco gatheredme into his muscular bulk I wanted to attack hi, storry Then weak Then furious

Shoving Franco away, I snarled, "Don’t touchway to the watery pink light of a new day A new day without Q A lifeti fro it out "He ive you this if…"

My body stiffened

"If what? He thought he’d die? He planned for his death?"

Why did he --it’s all yours He’d bequeathed everything to ainst ti it open, I sed bubbles of rageful tears

Tess,

If you’re reading this, then I guess…well, I don’t need to put it into words You knohat’s happened Please don’t hate ht to ask this of you--but you can’t undo , esclave Promise me you’ll stay alive Franco knohat to do Frederick alk you through the future plans when you’re ready

There really isn’t et that Never forget the connection we shared, or the knowledge I’rave; toi--

I scrunched the letter up, throwing it on the floor in a fit of temper There was more More pro devotions

But I couldn’t read anyhts to ht to ht to askwithout him I couldn’t I wouldn’t I can’t

It’s not over

My eyes narrowed, staring dry and tearless at the passing vieas dead I’d paid my unpayable debt and noanted interest I wanted what they’d stolen froer filled the car interior with swirling silver rage "I want tothey deserve"

I’ to show them how it feels to die slowly How it feels to be soulless

Franco took a while to reply, picking up Q’s letter and placing it on the seat beside us The presence of Q’s pen the vehicle with hisfroive him for that

"We’ll make them pay," he muttered "You have ht inside to reood and pure disappeared I threw ed forever I had no intention of staying alive without him

I would follow Q It was the only option Die or live an eternity locked in a tower unfeeling I couldn’t survive this unsurrief I couldn’t let it consume me because if I did I would be washed away forever

I had work to do before I died

I had vengeance to deliver

Violence Blood Screae him

You stole him from ry I was catatonic with rage Tears had no place in the black void I existed in Only greed--greed for killing I would steal more than their lives in return

I would steal their athered ranks outside the high hedges ringing the hellhole where my maître had died

It didn’tthe world into a better place All I saas darkness All I lived was darkness All I wanted was death

He’s gone But I’le-er wanted to live

Grabbingme hard, his face shone with ruthlessness and pain His injuries drained him, but he survived on bloodlust--same as me

"Promise me, whatever happens in there You come out alive Don’t be reckless He wouldn’t want that"

I pro Q wants because he leftThere would be no happiness

Why would I agree to survive in a Q-less world?

I was done fighting I was ready to join my master in a place that wouldn’t tear us apart I was done living in fear and terror--expecting the worst I was done living

But first--I would paint the sprawling villa in blood

"I pro like a filthy cloud Franco scowled

I hefted the weight of the weapon, counting the victiht, too He’d killed on my behalf Noas ed Scar

All of them dead at his hand Lynx wasI’d taken his soul I no longer had any aversion to killing This was right They deserved to die And I would gladly buy a ticket to hell in order to grant closure to one

But soon, I would join hio in first I’ve assigned Vincent to go in with you, seeing as I’ll be hobbling" Pinchingmy vacant eyes to meet his, he added, "I’ll protect your life with my own--just like I did him But you have to stay alive in order for me to do that He wouldn’t want you to--"

My stomach churned "Don’t tell ht because he’s dead"

Franco blanched "Tess--you can’t let this--"

"Can’t let it what? Kill me? Ruin me? You expecttold what I can and can’t do Stay out of my way, Franco Let me find peace my way Otherwise I won’t be held responsible for what I’ll do" Clutching un, I snapped, "Leavecrossed his features "I know the rage you’re feeling I know it’s sing you whole But, Tess--don’t run in the opposite direction of who you are"

I growled low and long "Shut up Just shut up!"

You knoouldn’t want this

I shut hts or doubts I wanted to stay in the clean clarity of vengeance