I’m about to head toward the door when I hear shouting and running feet. The only other way out is the window, which looks out on another roof. It's not exactly safe, but I don't have any other choice.
The window casing is old, and it takes a few tries before I’m able to open it. I'm halfway through, straddling the sill and ready to duck out when a hand grabs my hair and arm and pulls me back inside with such force, it feels like my hair is going to rip from my scalp and my shoulder is going to pop out of its socket.
I'm slammed against the wall so hard, stars explode in front of my eyes from the pain in the back of my skull.Samson'sfurious face hovers mere inches from mine.
“Think you're going to escape, bitch?”
Every word drips with venom and frenzied anger. The look of homicidal rage in his eyes is so terrifying it brings instant tears to my eyes.
My sweater balled up in his fists, Samson flings me toward the bed. I can't keep my balance andfall tomy hands and knees again. It's all I can do to scramble up as he stalks after me, each footstep like a death chime. He hauls me up again and pushes me back against another wall, but this time, he wraps hishandsaround my throat.
“Samson, don't,” I manage as he cuts off part of my air. “If you kill me, you kill the twins.”
“Like I give a fuck. Genny's the one who wants kids, not me. I wanted to see the look onMatvei'sface as I forced him to watch me kill you and take everything away from him. Just like he and that fucking bastard of a father we share took everything from me.”
“Samson, don't—” I try again, but I can't speak anymore as his hands tighten, tighter and tighter, threatening to crush my windpipe. I fight against his hold, thrashing and scratching at his hands, trying desperately to pull them away. My lungs begin to burn and my ability to fight grows weaker until my vision tunnels. Everything inside me is focused on getting the air Samson is starving me of.
“I knew I should have done this from the start. You've always been too much trouble. I'll find Genny some kids somewhere else. Kids that don't look like my asshole brother, so I won’t have to stare at his face for the rest of my life after I kill him.”
My heartbeat is so loud in my ears, I can barely hear whatSamsonis saying.
Suddenly, Samson howls, his hands falling away from my throat. I begin to fall but someone catches me, and all I can do is lean on them, coughing and gasping air back into my starved lungs.
“Are you okay? Sonya! Talk to me!”
Kelly isthere, pushing my hair back from my face and stroking my head as she holds me close.
All I can do is nod and stare at the fire poker she used to spearSamsonin his shoulder. He's bleeding, but it's not severe enough to take him down for long. He straightens with a snarl, his palms red with blood,and starts toward us, reaching for the gun in his waistband. Before he gets to us, a figure in blackcrashesintohim, and they both fall in a tangleof flying limbsand thrashing bodies. Two guns skitter away across the floor.
They grapple, rolling untilMatveicomes out on top, channeling all hisrage athis brother into the blows he rains down on hishead andface.
Samson is no slouch, though. I remember when he told me he was proud of the fact that helearned to fight dirty. He grabsa shardof the porcelain lamp lying on the floor and strikes out with it, slashing his brotheracross the arm.Matvei hisses,and his blows stoplong enoughfor Samson to flip him off and go on the offense, crashing back into his brother with a rebel yell.
“We have to get out of here.” Kelly pulls me to my feet, but I don’t budge.
“I'm not leaving him.”
“He's here to get you out.Out, Sonya. Let's go.”
Asudden shriekpierces the air. None of us noticed Genevieve had woken up, and she launches herselfat Matveilike a rabid animal, screaming, biting, and clawing until it's all he can do to fendher off.
Kelly makes a noise low in her throat, and I see something in her eyes I've never seen before as she throws herself at Genevieve. She grabs her by the shirt, swings her around, and lands two quick punches—one to her jaw andone toher stomachthat doublesGenevieve over.
It’s just enough of a distraction that Samson sweeps Matvei’s leg, then falls on him, a knife in his hand. As strong asMatvei is, he’s injured, and Samson is putting his entire body weight behind the weapon, the blade growing closer and closer.
I know Matvei wants me to run, to escape while Samson and Genevieve are occupied, but I can't.I can't let Matvei die here; I need him in my life. I need him inourlives.I grab my own shard of brokenporcelainand stab it down with all my might intoSamson's back.
He bellows, arching and grabbing frantically for the thingbetweenhis shoulder blades. Matvei grabs Samson’s hand holding theknife, and with a swift scissor kick, knocks his brother off him.
There's a loudthumpas Genevieve crumples again and doesn’t get up. Kelly is holding her weapon, which she used to smash the side of Genevieve’s head.
“Matvei!”
Kelly throws the gun to Matvei, which he snatches out of the air just as Samson gets to his feet and launches himself at his brother with a roar of blind rage and pain.
Matvei fires at point-blank range, thebangso loud I scream. The impact of the bullet slams Samson backward. He’s still as soon as he hits the floor, and I jerk my head away from the fact that half his faceismissing.
And then there’s silence.