Page 93 of Pretty Threats

“He’s lucky she’s alive,” I say softly. “Or we’d have made a night of this.”

War and Jamie are silent. No idea if they wanted to drag things out or not. Doesn’t matter.

Zenker tries to gasp but can’t as I crush his sternum with my boot. Bulging eyes give me a pleading look. My response is to press even harder.

I watch as the life drains out of his eyes.

“Good luck in hell, mother fucker.”

RAINE

Before we get on the highway, they seal their clothes and gear into plastic and put them into a hidden compartment under the spare tire. The smell of bleach and smoke is overpowering when they climb into the truck, wearing jeans, t-shirts, and fresh socks and sneakers.

We drive back to Foxgrove with the heat blasting from every vent. Killian sits close to me on a bench seat, with his leg pressed against mine. A calm stillness has come over me.

I’m safe now. Truly safe. War and Jamie came with Killian to find me. They were all armed. If they’d wanted to kill me, any of them could have done it easily. There was even someone there to take the blame. Instead, they helped rescue me.

Killian’s hand slides over mine, and his thumb strokes my skin. We’re in the back row, in the darkness. War and Jamie are talking to each other and the radio is on, so I’m sure they don’t hear Killian when he says softly, “You’re not angry anymore, right? This fixes things?”

My head turns slowly, so I can study his profile. “I’m incredibly grateful that you are who you are. I would’ve been killed if you hadn’t found me.”

“So, we’re good again?”

I blow out a slow breath. “You still lied to me. And confided in your friends that you planned to trick me. What if I had done that? Pretended to care about you and made a game of it.”

“I wasn’t pretending.” His brows furrow and he leans close, whispering in my ear. “And it was never a game. I did what I did to protect you. And I didn’t tell anyone. War was there when I was ordered to do it. He told Jamie, not me.”

“But why didn’t you tell me? If it was the only way for me to be safe, I would’ve played along.”

“You wouldn’t have been believable. You’re not a good liar, Raine.”

“You say it like it’s a bad thing,” I say, with a dry chuckle.

“No.” His expression is serious as he stares at me. “There are no bad things about you.”

My heart squeezes. Despite all his flaws, he manages to say things that are disarmingly sweet.

“Don’t you think I want things to go back to the way they were? But how can I trust what you tell me, Killian? You should’ve confided in me. Maybe not at first, but after we spent the night together while they were gone. You should’ve?—”

He shakes his head.

“Yes,” I whisper fiercely. “You should’ve told me then.”

“And risk setting us back to when you wouldn’t stand in the same room with me? Let alone keep letting me sleep in the same bed?” He licks his lips. “No fucking way. Once I had you, I would’ve done anything to keep you. Lying is nothing compared to what I would do.”

“But it wasn’t real. Because I trusted you and now I don’t.”

“What don’t you trust? Not only would I kill for you… I’d die to protect you. Even when you weren’t talking to me, I would’ve fought with War and Jamie until they were dead or I was. That’s how committed I was to not letting anyone hurt you. Doesn’t that count for something?”

“Yes. Of course it does.” My throat is so dry it’s hard to swallow.

“No one will ever love you the way I do, Raine. No one fucking could. Can’t you see that?” His gaze is intent, his tone impatient.

My heart feels like it’ll hammer its way through my chest. “When it comes to us, I need to be the one you confide in. You can’t take anyone else’s side against me.”

“Against you?” His brows rise. “Are you fucking kidding? You’re part of me. Like the blood in my veins. Betraying you would be like cutting my own throat.”

“When I realized you were tricking me—at someone else’s suggestion—it felt like a betrayal. It hurt me.” My teeth sink into my lip, and then I whisper the truth. “You broke my heart.”

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