Page 77 of Deep Within Me

Carreon sagged to the side. He struggled to speak.

The woman kept her attention on Kele.

“Kill her,” Carreon breathed.

Kele swung her weapon’s muzzle at the other man. He didn’t move.

“You’re safe now,” Kele said to the young woman, gesturing her over, away from Carreon. “I’m Kele, from Neekoma’s clan. I’ll get you out of here, I promise.”

The young woman regarded Kele’s weapon then Carreon. At last, she left the sofa, her movements shaky and cautious as she made certain not to pass anywhere near him.

“Kill the bitch,” Carreon cried, his words gargled with blood. More poured from his mouth. He coughed, choking on it.

“It’s okay,” Kele murmured. She slipped her arm around the woman’s narrow shoulders and made certain the other man still hadn’t moved. “What’s your name?”

“Trinidad.”

“Do you have a safe place to go tonight?” Kele asked. “Relatives you can stay with who’ll protect you?”

“No…I’m all alone.”

“Shhh,” Kele said to Trinidad’s whimper. “It’s okay. I’ll bring you to our stronghold. No one will harm you there.”

“How can you say that? Carreon will—”

“He won’t hurt you. He won’t hurt anyone ever again.”

“Yes, he will.” Trinidad shivered violently. Her naked breast pressed into Kele’s side. “He told me that Liz and her father can reanimate. Even after he dies, all they’ll have to do is—”

“They won’t with him,” Kele insisted. “Even if they wanted to, I’ll make certain that doesn’t happen.”

“How can you stop it?”

Kele hugged the young woman reassuringly, not wanting her to become hysterical. “Fire,” she said, seeing the solution in her mind. “By the time the authorities get here, his body will have burned beyond recognition or the possibility of reanimation.”

“Oh God.” Trinidad bent at the waist as though she were going to be sick.

Kele swallowed, fighting her own nausea. When she’d decided to come here tonight, she hadn’t thought past killing Carreon. She’d needed to make certain he never harmed another of her clan again or anyone else. Now that he was down, helpless and writhing on the floor, she wasn’t certain she could go further.

You have to.

If she didn’t destroy his body completely, there was always the chance someone in his clan would reanimate him, and then he’d—

Abruptly, Trinidad straightened.

Kele’s thoughts stalled with the movement. She inhaled sharply at the sudden sting in her gut, Trinidad hitting her in the belly. Why?

Kele looked down, not understanding the blood spreading over her tee, Trinidad’s hand fisted around the handle of a knife. Where had it come from? Her boot? Yes. Kele saw the small sleeve inside of it. Why was she doing this?

Trinidad twisted the knife sharply then jerked it up.

Kele gasped at the intense pain, still not understanding. She tried to fight but wasn’t able. Already she was lightheaded from loss of blood.

“I’ll take that,” Trinidad said, grabbing Kele’s assault rifle. After another forceful jab, she removed her knife.

Like Carreon, Kele fell to her knees. Tears welled in her eyes. “Jacob,” she whispered, her bloody fingers growing slack.

She’d only wanted him to love her. Was that so wrong? She tried to say his name again but was unable.