Rage filled my line of vision, bloody rage, a rage I could barely control as I finally stumbled into my car, started it, and sped toward Jac’s house.

I would end her.

And I would do it slowly.

The clock on my dash blinked back at me, and I prayed, I prayed that Maya would be strong, that she would fight back, but most of all I prayed I’d have time to save her life, even if it meant sending her away so the reminder of whose blood pulsed through my body didn’t haunt her every breath.

One does not look for good, from good.—Russian Proverb

STAY ALIVE, STAY ALIVE, STAY ALIVE. I was singing the mantra in my head, actually singing it, hoping that if I just kept singing then it would be true and Jac wouldn’t use the knife she was currently holding over my head.

I closed my eyes and prayed just as the knife sliced across my hand. I screamed as loud as I could—which, thanks to the drugs, still wasn’t very loud.

“Just checking to see if the medication has worn off.” Jac gave me a freakish smile. “You know, I didn’t choose this life. It chose me.” She wiped my blood across her hand then lifted it to her mouth. “If it wasn’t for me, Nik wouldn’t have the career he does, nor the success. It is up to him to continue the family name, or birth a female who is stronger, who can do it for him.”

“You’re sick!” I yelled. “You’re going to get caught.”

Jac burst out laughing. “We haven’t been caught for over a century. Grandmother was married to a surgeon, she aided in all of his research. She was more brilliant than he any day of the week. We’ve always been a family of medicine, and those who practice medicine may as well be gods as we hold lives in the palms of our hands.” My blood dripped off her fingertips, she rubbed them together, examining it. “I grew tired of killing prostitutes… tired of killing the sick. Where’s the fun in killing those who are already knocking on death’s door?” Her gaze met mine. “But killing the pure? That’s a challenge. It takes finesse, finding the right people, snuffing their lives out at the very last moment.” She leaned over her breath fanned over my face. “You will scream. It will hurt, and then?” She shrugged. “You will be no more. I’m sorry it has to be this way, but I can’t afford to let him develop a conscience. I can’t afford to lose my grandson just because he thinks himself in love with you.”

“He’ll kill you,” I said, my voice filled with tremors.

“Hah!” Jac waved the knife over my body. “He adores me. I raised him to be what he is today… I’ve saved him, and you’ve done nothing but confuse him.” Her eyes narrowed. “And for that, you will die.”

Light flickered off the knife as she raised it above her head. “One cut, slightly to the left of the navel, and then, I’ll open you up, and remove every last female organ you have… I do this first, in honor of my family, in honor of my grandmother, and then. I kill you.”

The knife dove toward my skin and then hovered as she leaned over and sliced across my stomach. Unbearable pain washed over me. I wanted to thrash, instead I screamed until my voice was hoarse as the burning, tearing sensation got worse.

“Drop the knife.” Nik’s authoritative voice sounded from the door. “Now.”

Jac turned, bloody knife in hand. “Oh, good! You’re just in time. I needed an assistant, if you’ll just grab an apron so you don’t get blood on your clothes I’ll—”

Nik lunged for Jac shoving her against the gurney and pulling the knife from her hands then turning it on her.

Her expression was one of shock, disbelief. “You don’t mean to harm me, do you?”

“Not at all.” He said in an empty voice, confirming my worst fear, that he wanted me dead, that maybe he was just as bad as he’d said. He leaned in then ran the knife very slowly along her neck and said in a low voice. “I mean to kill you.”

Her eyes widened and then one slit to her neck, it was quick too quick for Jac to do anything but gurgle out a bloody. “Nik…” Before falling to the floor as she choked to death.

I couldn’t see, but I could hear, and those sounds would probably haunt my dreams for an eternity.

Nik stepped over her and turned his eyes to me.

“No!” I yelled. “Don’t hurt me please don’t hurt me!”

His face fell. “Maya, I love you, I would never hurt you.”

Panicked, my eyes filled with tears. “You said this morning….” I couldn’t get the words out. “You would kill me, you said!”

Nik cursed, cupping my face with both hands. “I said I was going to kill her—Jac—not you. I wouldn’t harm a hair on your head. I love you.”

Tears made it nearly impossible to make out his face. “But, you said her past and—”

“I imagine she told you enough about her past for you to know how crazy she was… how crazy my bloodline is.” He swallowed. “But that’s my burden, not yours. My father…” He licked his lips and slowly started undoing the straps around my body. “He was… sickened by what our family did, he joined the mafia in hopes that it would protect us when Jac went insane, when she went after us. We also needed protection from the feds, from the police if they ever discovered the truth. A trade was made, but my father, he knew too much, he was killed leaving me to pick up the pieces to make a deal with the devil in order to protect the woman who’d helped raise me. I never believed it, believed she would go crazy.”

My body was free from its restraints but I still couldn’t move anything. Nik lifted me into his arms and carried me out of the building, I was able to see more, see the large barn next to the house and Nik’s waiting Audi.

The minute I was safely laid across the back seat, he reached for my stomach, his hands came back bloody. “It’s not deep, superficial, probably hurt like hell.”

My teeth started to chatter. “Y-yes.”

“Shhhh.” He kissed my forehead. “You’re going into shock, just listen to my voice. I want to take you away from here, somewhere safe, it’s best I treat you… understand?”

I couldn’t nod but I managed a weak whimper.

He kissed my mouth. “Just stay awake, talk with me.”

Falling in love is like falling into a swimming pool.—Russian Proverb

I MADE HER TALK ABOUT FRIVOLOUS things like her favorite restaurants in Seattle, all the places she wished to visit—anything to keep her talking and coherent. I’d already sent a text to Phoenix that we were on our way back to the apartment. I kept emergency supplies, enough to be able to stitch her up without having to worry about her having scars or being in pain.

It took me a good fifteen minutes to finally get her into the apartment and over to the couch.

“No!” She gasped. “It’s white. Not the couch.”

Guilt slammed me in the chest, stealing my breath away. “Maya, it’s fine… I need to lay you down now.”

“You hate red on white.”

“I also hate butterflies.”

“What?” She gasped.

“It was a joke.” I smiled. “Now lie down.”

“But—”

“Don’t argue with your doctor.”

“Horrible bedside manner.” She shivered.

“Now, Maya.” I set her down carefully while Phoenix shared a look with me and left the room. “You know that’s not true.”

Her teeth wouldn’t stop chattering.

“Maya.” I grabbed a syringe of morphine. “I’m just going to give you a little bit to numb the pain while I stitch, it will also relax you.”

Without waiting for her answer, I injected her.