Page 243 of The Carnage We Keep

“And I should warn you, a person needs the entire shot. Half a shot, in case you were thinking about sharing, won’t do a thing.”

He stands as my pulse thuds in my ears.

“So, for giving me this piece of shit?” He nods at Sorel’s body, then gestures at the pen in my hand. “But for killing my son…” He spreads his hands and opens them, empty. “You showed me back at Sofra that you were willing to die for your wife.”

He squares his shoulders and adjusts his leather jacket.

“Now you get to find out if you really meant that.”

Kodra looks at his men and nods stiffly. They all turn and start to walk away as he hangs back and glances at me one last time.

“Good luck with your choice, Mr. Barone.”

Then he’s gone, too.

I hear car engines revving and tires squealing away. Then, it’s silent.

I huff out a breath through my nose.

I don’t need any luck. There’s no choice to make here at all.

I grit my teeth. My legs, arms, and half my chest are already numb. I can feel my lungs straining too, like it’s getting harder to fill them with air.

But they only have to keep working for another few seconds.

I roll onto my side, facing Bella. Her face is tilted toward me, but her eyes are closed. With whatever strength I have left, I raise my hand and touch the backs of two fingers to her lips.

She's breathing.

Not much, and it’s very shallow.

But I can still save her.

The cap to the pen pops easily with my thumb. There’s no dramatic preamble. No swelling orchestra or cinematic fade out.

I just stick the pen against her neck and push the plunger down.

The pen drops from my hand and then clatters away across the pavement as my arm goes limp.