Levi doesn’t flinch. “Does that mean she’s yours? Or that she belongs to all three of us now?”
That hits me in the gut, sharp and raw. “Don’t start this shit. You saw how she was with me. It’s not the same.”
He turns to face me fully, voice low but edged. “You think she didn’t look at me the same way? Or Nico? You’re not the only one who wants her. You’re not special.”
I step closer, anger flaring. “So what? We just take turns and pretend it doesn’t matter? You really think she’s gonna pick all of us?”
Levi meets my stare, not backing down. “Maybe it’s not about picking. Maybe she needs all of us. Or maybe you just can’t stand the idea of sharing.”
I clench my fists, trying to swallow my frustration. The urge to hit something—anything—buzzes under my skin. “I don’t want to share her. I want her to want me. Only me.”
Levi’s eyes narrow, his voice dropping to a cold, steady accusation. “You’re so selfish, you know that? Last night you were ready to leave my brother behind, and now you’re pulling this shit over Carrie?”
I round on him, bristling. “That’s not fair. You don’t know what was going through my head.”
He steps closer, not backing down. “No? Looked pretty damn clear from where I was standing. You wanted out. Hell you would have left me behind if you could.”
“Stop that,” I say. “That’s a lie.” My jaw clenches. Shame flashes through me, hot and ugly, but I shove it down, unwilling to show weakness. “We all made it out, didn’t we?”
“That’s not the point,” Levi bites out. “You put yourself first. Again.”
I open my mouth, anger flaring, when I hear the creak of the door behind us. Nico steps out, freezing halfway through the motion when he hears Levi’s words.
He blinks, confusion turning fast to suspicion. “Leave me behind? What are you talking about?”
“It’s nothing,” Levi says even though he’s still pissed, his jaw taut.
“Nothing?” Nico says, flying toward us. “What the fuck? That didn’t sound like nothing.” He turns toward me. “You were ready to abandon me? For real?” His voice is sharp. “So if Carrie hadn’t pulled up, you were ready to leave me behind. I’d be getting my ass kicked in solitary, or worse—because you broke out without me?”
I bristle. “That’s not how it was. You got there just before Carrie pulled up with the truck. You know that.”
“Bullshit. You would’ve run. You were halfway to the fence before I made it. Don’t lie to me, Jace.”
Levi tries to step in, voice calm. “Not now, you two. We need to stick together.”
But Nico just pushes him aside. “No, let him talk. I want to hear him say it.”
I feel the frustration boil over. “What do you want me to say, huh? That I’m a coward. That I’m selfish for even entertaining the thought that I could finally escape that hellhole for good?”
“Oh fuck you,” Nico growls.
I shove him right back. “You have no idea what I would’ve done. Don’t talk like you know what was in my head.”
Nico swings. I duck, but he clips my jaw. I grab his jacket, dragging him down. We roll in the cold grass, fists flying, teeth gritted, all the fear and adrenaline of the escape coming out in every punch.
Levi’s voice is in my ear, trying to break us apart. “Knock it off! Both of you! Come on—stop!”
But I can’t stop. Nico’s got my arms pinned, we’re both swearing, wrestling in the mud and frost.
Carrie’s voice cuts through the chaos, sharper than the cold. “Stop! Stop it, both of you!”
She comes running, hair wild, breath billowing in the frosty air. She throws herself between us, grabbing my shoulder, shoving Nico back with her other hand. “What the hell are you doing?” Her eyes are blazing, her cheeks flushed with anger and worry.
For a second, Nico and I just stand there, chest to chest, arms still half-raised. Levi is behind us, hands out, but it’s Carrie who everyone listens to.
She looks at me, then at Nico. “You’re going to ruin everything we’ve worked for because you can’t let go of your pride?” She shakes her head, voice trembling. “We just escaped a prison. We need each other. All of us. This isn’t the time for this.”
Nico backs off, rubbing his jaw, not quite meeting my eyes. I drop my fists, breathing hard, the anger draining out of me as quick as it flared.
