“When the truck hit, I knew it was a moment I’d never be able to take back. But when I saw you in the wreckage, heard your screams as the light faded from your eyes, I knew it was the day I died inside. The dare wasn’t meant to scar someone else, but my own soul.”
“You killed my mother.”
He avoids meeting my gaze for a few seconds. When he finally does, the agony in his voice grates along my heart. “I’m so sorry. If I could change it, I would’ve never accepted the invitation. And then we would’ve never met. I can’t imagine a world where I don’t know you anymore, but at least that choice wouldn’t have ripped your mother away from you.” Luca clings to my wrist as he utters, “And now that same decision that brought you into my life will rip you away from me.”
The chain releases off of me, but I feel weighted down by a ton of bricks. Standing, I punch and hammer against Luca’s chest as he takes the hits until my legs give out and I collapse to the floor.I can’t do this.
“Ivy, please—” Luca grips my shoulders, his touch making me sick to my stomach.
“Get your hands off of me.” I shove away from him, stumbling to my feet. Bile rises in my throat as I run out of thetomb and through the mausoleum until the night air hits me. It doesn’t help me catch my breath though, and a wave of nausea fills me, but I keep running, my eyes blurry with tears as I cry.
I have to get as far away from here as I can.
This can’t be happening.
It’s not true.
Because if it is, real life just surpassed my nightmares.
78
LUCA
I stand frozen, aching to go after her but understanding that I can’t after what I just confessed to her. When I look at the Decider, I flatly state, “I will kill you. One day, every one of you motherfuckers will pay for what you’ve done.”
“Whatwe’vedone?” He sounds amused. “You play the game; you pay the price.”
“It just cost me everything.” I charge at him.
My life. My soul. Her. Everything.
The hooded bastards hold me back, preventing me from reaching Decider as I struggle. A sharp pain strikes the back of my leg as I’m forced to kneel on the ground.
“If you value her life, you won’t make another mistake that will have grave consequences,” Decider states then they walk out, leaving me alone. I can’t move. I can’t walk out of this tomb. Because when I do, everything will be different. She’ll never forgive me. And I wouldn’t blame her. What I did is unforgivable. I blew up her whole life to play Mercy, and now I have to pay with my soul.
I’m not sure how much time passes before I hear Micah shouting, “I said get back here now.”
When I step to the doorway, I see the Decider exit out of the crypt opposite of mine, followed by his two minions.
Micah appears in the corridor, his panic fixated on me. Whatever happened has him more shaken than I’ve ever seen before.
Mercy is killing us all. I don’t want to play anymore.
I walk out of the mausoleum as Micah follows behind me, and I confess to my brother, “She knows. It was my truth. They forced me to tell her.” I lurch over, the blackish liquid coming up as I cough. “It was my truth. And it just cost me gravely.”
“You told her the truth because of Mercy?”
I wipe my mouth before I turn and grip his shirt. “I don’t care about the game. I lost her. I’ve already lost everything.”
Micah’s shock is evident as he says, “There’s still the final round left.”
“I’m done. You win.” I walk away. I don’t care about anything other than her. I will beg for her forgiveness until the day I die. Because if she won’t forgive me, I might as well be dead.
79
IVY
I shove clothes and some toiletries into a bag. I need to go. I have to leave. I need to get out of here.
