[1] Midnight Lips | Ghost

𝐂𝐇. 59

VALENTINA
༻❁༺

There were too many weapons involved around me. One hanging on my torso, one in front, beside, and behind. The cold tip of the gun dug into the back of my head in a warning. Still, Simon Riley kept his gun aiming high at the man behind me refusing to back down even when death was in front to greet us. Or more like to greet me.

"Drop your weapon or she dies."

I saw the moment Riley panicked, his eyes widened ever so slightly that only I was the one who caught the way he hesitated. Was he scared for me? I held my breath as the gun dug deeper, the pain shot down my spine and I closed my eyes, accepting defeat, but nothing came.

"Don't shoot," I heard his raspy voice. I opened my eyes and saw Riley's gun down and his hands raised above his head. Pleading. He was pleading.

"On your knees," the man barked behind me. "If you both want to stay alive."

"You'll kill us anyway," I said, refusing to give up.

"No, I need you two little birds alive."

"Why?"

He ignored me, kicking the back of my leg until I was crouched down. "You, skull man, on your knees. Now or I will fire!"

That, I knew, was something impossible. Simon the Ghost Riley on his knees? I almost laughed, because I knew that was it. We were dead. And I would die knowing I was betrayed after opening my heart again. I would die with the worst heartache I had ever had and I would die knowing that no matter how hurt I was, I still didn't regret a single thing I experienced with Simon.

Simon.
Oh, God.
Simon.

Simon who was now staring at me as he was bending one knee. And then the other until both were pressed on the ground. I couldn't believe my eyes. Simon was on his knees, pleading with his hands in the air, all because he was trying to save me? My whole body melted and turned into something stronger, the adrenaline rushing into my veins.

This can't be the end of us.

I hoped Simon understood what I was trying to tell him as we held eye contact. No words, no movements, just our eyes and hearts. He looked down at my hand hovering over the knife he gifted me weeks ago attached to my thigh, and I blinked at him, glancing at the man who was approaching him.

A small tilt of his head.
A small smile on my face.
Got it.

With my heart in my throat, I moved to the side right as the gun behind my head went off, the bullet making a hole in the floor. Taking the knife in my hand, I thrusted it into the man's thigh and hit his head when he bent over screaming in pain, followed by replacing my fist in his jaw with the knife. His body fell to the ground, lifeless, and suddenly everything was too quiet when I got to my feet. I spun around, not sure what I would find. But Simon Riley did not disappoint. The second man was laying at his feet, dead too.

I smiled. "Nice."

"Are you hurt?" he was quick to ask, stalking toward me but stopping right before he could touch me. The worst thing was, I wanted him to touch me. To take me into his arms and make sure for himself that I was in one whole piece. But he didn't, and I hated myself for wanting it.

"No," I exhaled. "You?"

"No." He was breathing so hard it felt like it hurt. I didn't understand why. Was he not okay? Did he get shot? Was he dying? Panic settled into my stomach, and I stepped closer until the tip of our shoes were touching. The palms of his hands hovered over my shoulder but he still didn't dare to touch me. Even worse, he took a step back. "Valentina, I..."