Inject Me Sweetly / Dusk Until Dawn

:Inject Me Sweetly: Chapter Thirty-Seven

“How did you get Joel to be on your side?”

“It’s easy to convince someone who needs money to do something for money,” he explained, shrugging. “He’s actually a pretty good actor. Sometimes he was so happy I thought he was double-timing me. It’s good to know he’s always been on my side though.”

I glared at him. So Ashton was the type of person to use another person’s weakness against them. How fitting. “I hope you enjoy the next few minutes because it’s the last few minutes you’ll have in this world.”

He laughed loudly. “What? You think you, a scraggily, weak human girl such as yourself can kill me?”

“I don’t think. I know,” I corrected him, narrowing my eyes.

“Wait!”

The abrupt cry from Joel made both Ashton and I turn in his direction. Vincent had him pinned against a tree, the stake placed at his chest. Joel was struggling, trying to push him way, but Vincent wasn’t having any of it.

“Please don’t kill me,” Joel pleaded.

Vincent scoffed. “Begging for your life? After what you did? Please. For a man, you sure do lack dignity.”

“Vincent, please.”

Ashton shook his head. “Well, if he doesn’t kill Joel now, I’ll do it myself later. What a pathetic excuse for a vampire.”

“My family needs me,” Joel continued desperately.

I stared at them, forgetting to breathe for the moment. It was strange to see someone begging for their life. Sebastian hadn’t done it. Sebastian had faced death calmly. Sebastian… I clenched my teeth. It hurt too much to think of him right now. I needed to focus at the moment, not wallow in guilt and pain.

Vincent pulled the stake back, ready to bring it forward and pierce Joel’s heart. I sucked in a breath, ready to shout and tell him to stop, but his hand was too quick. I closed my eyes, unable to watch another death. Joel cried out, but stopped instantly as I heard a dull thud echo through the open space.

Slowly I opened my eyes, relief filling me when I realized the stake had been stuck into the tree, and not the blonde.

“I won’t kill you,” Vincent started, his face close to Joel’s, “because I considered you a best friend. Even if you acted the part, and I seemed like a horrible friend, I still appreciated it. And for that, I’ll spare your life.”

“Vivi, thank—”

“In return, never speak to me again,” Vincent finished in a growl, punching Joel straight in the face. “And that’s what you get for betraying us.”

Joel’s eyes snapped open and his hand went to his nose, which was bleeding profusely. The stupefied expression on his face almost caused me to laugh. Almost. Ashton’s next words gained my full attention. “Luca, kill Vincent.”

“No!”

Ashton switched his gaze to Joel, who was staring at him in disbelief. “What, Joel?”

“You told me you wouldn’t kill Vincent! You promised!”

“Just like I promised not to kill Sebastian,” Ashton responded, shrugging. “If I lied about one, why not the other?”

My eyes shot to Joel. He didn’t know Ashton was going to kill Sebastian?

“You can’t kill Vincent!”

He rolled his eyes. “Please, Joel. Why would I throw away the chance of killing both Rutherfords while I had the chance?”