Page 14 of Sadistic

"Like we're robbing a bank?"

"Emotional bank robbery, maybe."

Everly clears her throat. "Why don't you both go to the club together? The gods know you'll need each other in the coming weeks."

An hour later, we’re heading to the clubhouse.

Dalla's driving because my hands won't stop shaking.

She puts on our old roadtrip playlist—the one from high school, full of terrible pop songs we know every word to.

"Remember when we drove to Pensacola?" she asks as Taylor Swift croons about teenage heartbreak. "Senior year, told Dad we were at Sarah's house?"

"You threw up on the beach from too many margaritas."

"You made out with that surfer who turned out to be sixteen."

"He said he was in college!"

We're laughing now, the tension breaking like a fever.

This is what we do—fight hard, forgive harder.

"I've been seeing someone," she admits as we pass the exit for Lake City. "Nothing serious. Pre-med student named Leo. He's... nice."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I felt guilty." Her knuckles are white on the steering wheel. "You're getting married to save the club, and I'm worried about whether Leo will text me back."

"Oh, Dal." I reach over, squeeze her shoulder. "You deserve normal. You deserve Leo the pre-med student and worrying about texts and all of it."

"While you deserve Doran Volkolv?"

"I deserve..." I trail off because what do I deserve?

Choice? Love? A law degree? "I deserve to keep my family safe. Everything else is secondary."

"Bullshit."

"No more secrets between us," I say instead of arguing. "Ever. Promise?"

"Promise." She glances at me. "So. Njal."

"Njal." I sigh. "It's been two years of 'complicated.' Started at that club party?—"

"I remember. You came home with your lipstick smeared and this look on your face."

"We said we'd keep it casual. No labels, no pressure. Just... us."

"And now?"

"Now I have to say goodbye." My phone buzzes.

Doran, because of course it is:

Safe travels, little wolf

"He's tracking my car," I realize. "That's how he knows I'm heading to the club."

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