Nate stands behind me, his presence looming and reassuring, his hands resting lightly on my shoulders.
Dominic’s name hangs between us like a curse.
"We take him out, we take out his entire operation," Kai says."Clean sweep. No survivors."
Enzo's blade spins between his fingers, a wicked grin tugging at his lips. "And no evidence."
I nod, steeling myself. “We have to make them all disappear.”
Nate grins, sharp and feral. “We make it a slow, gruesome, painful.”
“Obviously. And I assume you already know how to do that Mr Death?” I arch an eyebrow at him.
Nate’s eyes glint with the promise of violence. “I’ve got some ideas for that. Nothing like a little theatre to drive the point home.”
I feel a grim satisfaction settling in my chest. “Tell me what I need to do.”
Nate kneels in front of me, his face inches from mine. “You with me, Princess?”
I nod, no hesitation. “To the end.”
His lips curl into a dark smile. “Good. Then let’s make them all bleed.”
37
I Love You
Hypothetical Question: If you had to eat a body to survive, what part would you start with, and how would you mask the taste? Would you seasonit to make it more palatable or eat it raw to keep the experience real?
Carina
It'sbeentwodayssince Lucian died. Since I killed him.
The media grew bored when they didn’t see any movement, eventually giving up and going home.
The weight of it all presses down on me. Not the guilt. Not exactly. It's knowing my body still hums with the memory of the moment—the way the blade sank in, the way the light drained from his eyes.
Arms wrap around me from behind, and I flinch instinctively.
But the scent grounds me.
Nate.
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” he whispers softly, his breath warm against my neck as he rests his chin on my shoulder.
I exhale. “I’m just… jumpy,” I murmur, trying to shake off the tension that lingers in my body.
He turns me gently, his hands light but firm. His expression is soft, familiar, and safe. A small smile plays at his lips—not cocky, not teasing, just for me.
"I bought you something," he says, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice.
My brows pull together. "What?"
He places a bag in my hands, his gaze never leaving mine. “Open it.”
Inside, I find the dye, the bleach, the pink.
It’s the exact same set I use every time.
