Page 118 of Word to the Wise

I refuse to listen to this—to allow Mason to listen to this.

My feet move without thinking because I’ve had enough.

Sienna was sexually assaulted, and Carter was one of the men responsible. If Carter shoots me, at least it will give Mason the opening he needs to hand Carter what he deserves.

I owe him that after all he’s done.

“I wouldn’t do that, Reed.” Carter’s grip tightens on the gun.

“Why not?” I yell, tears streaming down my cheeks, but I keep walking toward him. “You killed her.”

Carter shakes his head. “I never said that. You read the articles. Shejumped.”

“No.” I rake my fingers through my hair. “She didn’t.”

Carter shrugs one shoulder, the smallest, most venomous smile lighting the corner of his mouth.

It’s all the answer I need. Sienna’s death wasn’t a suicide after all.

“Stop, Reed,” Carter says as I continue walking toward him.

But I can’t. I won’t.

I refuse to let him get away with this regardless of what that means for me.

I’m staring down the barrel of his gun, and it’s all too familiar. But this time, I stand up. I refuse to back down and do what Carter says. This time I find my spine, my strength, and my legs.

We’re ending this here, once and for all.

Movement from my left catches my attention, and I realize that with Carter’s attention on me, Mason seized the opportunity to move in. He steps between me and Carter, and only then do I stop.

The gun goes off before it falls from Carter’s hand, and dust kicks up at the edge of the roof, telling me it didn’t hit anyone.

“You piece of shit.” Mason shoves Carter back.

But Carter doesn’t go down easily. He takes one punch and comes right back up. It’s his ego or his arrogance giving him strength.

“Just you and me Mason,” Carter taunts him. “I’m going to enjoy reminding Reed who she belongs to when we get home. Bitches always submit eventually.”

At that, Mason lunges for him, and they’re at the edge of the building. The ridge stops them from going over, but with every hit against it, I jump.

Carter lands a punch on Mason’s jaw, but he doesn’t seem to feel the pain as he retaliates. One hit and then another as they wrestle each other until Carter gets Mason with a jab that has him stumbling.

Carter uses the advantage to go for the gun. Darkevil gleams in his gaze as he moves to where it’s sitting between us.

“You’re going to owe me for this, Reed.”

It’s the last thing Carter says as Mason comes up behind him, pushing him away from me in a final scuffle by the ledge. Mason lands a punch on the side of Carter’s face, and his jaw cracks as it sends his body backward over the side of the building.

In one swift movement, Carter falls to the pavement below, and Mason spins to bury me against his chest so I don’t have to see it.

A thud on the ground below us is the last thing I hear. And then it’s just silence.

The most sickening quiet that also somehow manages to scream in my ears.

Or maybe I’m the one screaming now. Because Mason’s holding me to him, but I’m shaking so hard my bones feel like they’re clattering against each other.

The world is caving in on itself.

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