Page 186 of Untamed

“You don’t belong there, either.”

Her voice echoes in my skull, soft and defiant, the way only she can be.

You don’t belong in the dark. She couldn’t be more wrong.

I was raised in it. Forged by it. There’s no light left in me, just fury and instinct and blood.

And right now, I can taste that blood again. Not from a fight. Not from a kill.

But from what’s coming.

The taste always shows up before the fall. The taste hits me before the thought does. Metallic and sharp.

Blood in the air.

It’s not real, not yet, but I’ve learned to trust it. That phantom taste, the prickling at the back of my neck, the pressure behind my eyes like something is about to snap.

Something’s coming. I just don’t know from which direction it’ll hit first, Nicolai… or my own fucking blood.

I pace the living room slowly, lift the burning cigarette and take a long pull, boots echoing off the marble floor in tight, measured strides. The curtains are drawn. The lights low. The whole house feels like it’s holding its breath.

Dante sits slouched on the couch, watching me like he’s waiting for a bomb to go off.

“You’re making me dizzy, man,” he mutters, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Then leave,” I snap, too fast. He lifts his brows but doesn’t move. Doesn’t argue either.

I press my palms to the back of the leather couch, trying to breathe through it. Trying to fight the urge to break something just to bleed the tension out.

White roses.

An unknown tail in town.

Luciano playing chess while I burn for her.

I stare at the wall, but all I see is Jordyn, that flash of fear in her eyes when she saw me with the gun, the way her hands shookwhen she thought I didn’t notice. She’s not built for this world. But she’s in it now.

Because of me.

“We need to move her,” I say aloud, voice low, more to myself than Dante.

“Where?” he asks. “Do you think she will leave. Especially without Bianca.”

“No, she won’t.” I hiss through gritted teeth. “Then we find a way to keep eyes on her. Double the guards, rotate them so she doesn’t notice. Anyone steps too close, I want them in the ground before they take a second breath.”

“And Nicolai?”

My spine stiffens.

“If he wants to play games…” I grab my jacket, sliding it on in one smooth motion. “I’ll play along. I send him another message, one that’s louder.”

Dante watches me, serious now. “Where are you going?”

“To have a little chat with the Don.” I utter darkly, already halfway to the front door.

I walk through the front doors of the Russo manor like a quiet fucking storm.

No greetings. No glances.

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