“Wyatt,” she says softly. Firmly. “This is how it had to happen.”
I still, breathing heavily.
“If one thing had gone differently,” she whispers, “I wouldn’t have gone to that auction. I wouldn’t have ended up at Havenridge. I wouldn’t have met you.”
God.
Her voice trembles. “The universe didn’t save me from everything. It led me to where I was meant to be.”
My chest crumples, and I tighten my hold on her.
The door creaks open behind us.
We instantly snap into motion, weapons raised, muscles coiled.
Two men enter, badges out.
“Federal agents!” one calls quickly. “We’re backup.”
Too late to matter.
The tension lingers for a beat longer, then slowly bleeds away as everyone lowers their weapons.
Harry clears his throat. “Uh… I’ll need statements?—”
I glare at him.
“—later,” he finishes quickly.
Tex snorts. “Good call, genius.”
Harry groans, clutching his shoulder.
One of the agents moves fast, crouching to assess him. “Let’s get you out of here before you bleed on the intel,” he mutters, helping him up with practiced efficiency.
Henry, Tex, and Tank follow them out.
Clarissa’s icy gaze lands on Sadie as the other agent cuffs her.“You really think this place will keep you safe?”
Sadie meets her eyes unflinchingly.“No.Iwill.”
For a second, something flickers across Clarissa’s face. It’s not fear or anger. It’s something colder. Sharper.
Grudging respect.
Because despite all her poison, Clarissa knows what it takes to survive.
And now, so does Sadie.
Clarissa doesn’t look back as the agent takes her away.
The room falls quiet again, leaving only Sadie and me and the smoldering remnants of terror.
I pull her against me, burying my face in her hair. She clings back, arms around my waist.
“I love you,” I say, my voice hoarse. “God, Sadie. I love you.”
She trembles, whispering into my chest, “I love you, Wyatt. I think I did from the moment you raised that paddle.”
