Page 163 of The Contract

I step close enough to feel the heat off his skin. To spit the words right in his face. “Fuck. You.”

“Look around, Pom. I couldn’t shoot my way out of here if I tried—and for the record, I won’t. I warned you. Over and over. So many times, my damn arm hurts from playing whack-a-mole with your stubborn-ass skull.”

Frustration and tears burn so hot, I swallow the sting in my throat. He’s right. And I fucking hate him for being right. “But you could’ve said something. Warned all of us.”

“You keep chasing demons expecting halos. There are no saints here. Just monsters in thousand-dollar suits to cover the blood.”

I stare, as he rips the world out from under my feet. He’s just going to stand there, and do nothing. Hands shoved in his pockets and helpless while the room fills with fire.

“Help us,” I whisper, every word scraped raw, torn from the edge of begging. Because by this point, I am begging.

Tears streak down my face, unnoticed.

His eyes dim. A light switch flips off in cruel, practiced retreat. “No.”

I turn away—done. Drained. So fucking over him, I’m ready to torch the whole place to the ground.

But his hand shoots out—fingers clamp around my arm, hard. The pressure bites, cutting off the blood flow, forcing me still.

“If you’re leaving, you need to go now.”

Stunned, I look at him. Eyes burning, throat thick.

“I won’t leave her.”

“Then you’ll die with her.”

That’s it.

That’s the fucking line that breaks me.

I snap.

My hand flies before my brain can catch up—a full-force slap that cracks against his cheek like a gunshot.

Which stings like hell. My palm throbs from the pain, but I soak it in and wake the fuck up.

No breath. No words. Just the sick, electric silence after a nuclear impact.

His hand falls from my arm.

Then, I see the glint.

Da’s blade.

Half-tucked in his jacket, like it’s been waiting for me.

My body moves before I think—fingers curling around the handle.

I rip it free and I run.

CHAPTER 56

Dante

Riley storms off.

And with her, my heart. Tears the fucker right out of my chest.

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