Page 94 of Veil of Dust

“You had a choice. And you chose her.”

“I chose to keep you alive.”

“And when was I gonna find out? After she burned us from the inside out?”

His face hardens. “You think I’d let that happen?”

I don’t answer.

My breathing is loud in my ears.

Tomas. The guy who’s been behind the bar since I inherited the place. Who stocked the shelves. Who fixed the jukebox. Who found the good tequila when we couldn’t afford shit.

I trusted him.

And he cracked.

I reach for the knife.

He sees it.

“You gonna stab me?” he asks, voice low.

“I’m thinking about it.”

His lips part. “Then do it.”

I don’t.

I lower the blade an inch, but don’t put it down.

“You get one chance, Tomas. One.”

He nods slowly.

“You’re gonna tell me everything you gave her. Names. Times. Every lie. Every thread. And then you’re gonna help me gut it from the root.”

He nods again.

“And if I think for one second you’re still feeding her—”

“I’m not.”

“I said if.”

I step closer. Our chests almost touch.

My voice is steel.

“If I catch even the scent of betrayal again, I won’t hesitate. You’ll die in this room.”

He nods once more. “Understood.”

I stare at him for a beat longer.

Then, I finally step back.

He breathes. Just once. Deeply. Like he’d been holding it the whole time.

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