The High School Reunion From Hell - Saranna DeWylde Page 0,56

I struggled to pull the sticky shadows away from me, but they tightened their hold, wrapping around my throat.

“Light,” I hissed.

Ryder got her phone and Marc’s while he aimed again and took out another henchman. Suddenly, I was free, and I only had a single second of reprieve until I saw the shadow go for Ryder.

They wrapped around her, closing off her airway and as she kicked and fought like a pissed off mountain lion, my choices were suddenly super clear.

I was reminded that this weekend had been about facing my worst fears, and this took the shit sundae.

Marc continued to fire on the goons, and we shared a look, knowing that if he could get the numbers down to just us and the shadows, we had a chance.

But Ryder didn’t.

Her time was short and her air was running out.

“You win,” I said and stopped fighting. The three goons that were left grabbed hold of me, and Marc got one more shot off, taking the third one out so it dropped just behind me.

“Nasty, nasty, Miracle Majors. Put it down, or I’ll let your daughter drown in the dark. It hurts more than you’d think.”

Marc grit his teeth, his jaw squared, and he placed the Beretta on the floor.

“Ah, Margie. You’re so predictable. Didn’t I tell you it was time to cut your losses?” he hissed through the black, gaping maw of his mouth.

“Let her go,” I demanded. “Let them both go.”

“Margie,” Marc began.

“How touching. You’d still die for him, wouldn’t you?”

Emotion choked me and it had a tighter grip than even Gabe’s shadow. “I’ve already lived for him. That’s the hard part. Shut up and get on with it.”

His shadow crept over me, wrapping around me like a snake in a shroud, squeezing ever tighter. “Let me in, Margie.”

“Let them go first.”

“Mama, no,” Ryder cried. “No.”

I met her eyes, and I hoped she could feel the searing fire of all the love in my heart. “It’s okay, baby. You go on. I’ll be right behind you.”

“She’s too old for pretty lies. You should tell her.” He cackled. “She should know what’s going to happen to you. And it’s all for her and the daddy that doesn’t want you anymore.”

I realized then he was feeding on misery and sorrow. Well, I wasn’t going to let him glut on my family.

“Remember the Reveal? I was right behind you. I crawled out from under a building, but I did make it. I’ll survive this, too. Go.”

“You’ll pray you didn’t, blood slave. You’re going to let me in. I won’t let them go until you do. I’m going to drink you down, and then you’ll spend your days as a blood bag,” Gabe hissed.

“Goddamnit, will you fucking bite, or are you going to bark me to death,” I taunted him and then I managed to turn my head to Marc. “Get her the fuck out of here. Follow through with the plan. Make sure you don’t forget Vlad’s leash.” I hoped against hope he understood what I was telling him.

Vlad would find me, no matter what. Even if he got his darkness into my veins, Vlad would tear his fucking head off. And then we could all escape to Brazil.

Or Thailand.

Or Jamaica.

“Come on,” Marc said to Ryder.

“What the fuck,” she screamed. “You can’t just leave her here. He’s going to kill her. I won’t lose another mom to these fucks.” She dove for the gun.

Two of the shadows wrapped around her again and blocked her air, squeezed her chest so hard I was surprised I didn’t hear the snapping of bones.

“I was content to let you go, but now that I can see you’re going to be a problem, I’ll just have to keep you.” Gabe turned back to me, his fangs dripping. “You’ll open your veins to me now just to let her live. You’ll let me inside if you want me to let her go.”

Chapter Sixteen

“I don’t want her to see,” I asked. “Please, give me that.”

“But she cries so prettily.” He licked the side of my face. “Your pain tastes very real, Margie. It’s aged so finely. It’s like a good whisky. It burns all the way down. Give me a taste, first.”

“No.”

He tsked. “Then how can I know you’ll keep your end of the bargain?”

“Your shadow shits know how to hunt her down if I don’t.”

“Mama,” Ryder cried again.

“Go on, baby. I love you. I’ll see you soon,” I promised.

And I meant every damn word. I wasn’t just being