Not him.
But that monster’s voice from the Order had already sunk its claws into my brain, wrapping around my thoughts, whispering like poison.
That’s right. You were made for this.
No.
Use it.
NO.
Silas leaned forward, dragging a lazy hand down his chest, his muscles tense, his smirk knowing. “You’re thinking too much, Angel.”
Theo’s breath ghosted over the back of my neck. “She’s always thinking. Always calculating. She’s a liar after all, isn’t she? A goddamn beautiful liar.”
His fingers gripped my hair, yanking me back, exposing my throat. I let out a sharp gasp, but not from fear. Because my body—traitorous, filthy broken—responded to it.
Theo’s chuckle was dark, knowing. “See? She likes it.”
Silas’s smirk deepened. “Of course she does.”
They were toying with me. Playing with their prey.
But I was playing too, wasn’t I?
I was destroying them more than they realised, picking apart the seams of this family until there is nothing but utter devastation left behind.
But I could use this.
I had to.
“Last chance, little liar.” Silas murmured, his dark eyes sparkling. “You want out, wanna run again?”
Theo’s fingers curled around the strands of my hair. I let him manhandle me, allowing my lips to part and an inhuman sound escape my chest. One that sounded like surrender.
“I thought so,” Silas gripped my throat, driving my chin upwards until the tendons in my neck stretched taut. “You are a liar, Angelica. A cruel, fucking, beautiful liar.”
My breath hitched. Something twisted in my chest, something dangerous.
He knew.
Not just about this. Not just about my games, my tricks, my body.
He knew what I was hiding.
The flash of memory hit me like a gunshot.
BOOM.
There was a gun in my hand and my father’s blood on my skin, my mother screaming, no, not screaming—begging me.
NOOOO! What have you done, Angel? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
But then a flicker moved through my head and instead of the mother I loved in front of me, there was nothing but red and silence.
I shuddered, bile rising in my throat.
Theo felt it.