I release one arm and growl. “You really think that little of me?”
“I know he caused problems you don’t need, but he was hurt. We’ve all done stupid shit when we’re hurt. He doesn’t deserve to die because of it.”
I release her other arm. “And what, in your opinion, is enough to pull the trigger?”
London frowns. “I don’t know.”
I lean back to study her. “What if he had told you he had done it on purpose? Would you have been okay with killing him?”
London winces and looks away. “Well, no. But I don’t believe in violence—”
“That right there is the problem, Pigeon,” I interrupt. “My world is surrounded by it. It is violence, and I’ve told you that it’s the only way to survive.”
London swallows audibly. “I know that, but—”
“But what? You expected me to make an exception because of your history? I made it clear that I wouldn’t.”
London clears her throat. “There’s got to be some other way to clean up this mess.”
“Noah needs to learn to keep his fucking mouth shut.”
“I know.”
Abruptly, I lean away from her and run a hand through my hair. “Katia will make sure he gets the point.”
London loses a sharp breath. “I know that you need to make a point. I understand…”
“She’s not going to kill him.”
“Won’t it just cause more problems if… wait, did you just say she’s not going to kill him?”
The relief in London’s eyes makes me want to hurry out of the car and hunt Noah down.
He doesn’t deserve her sympathy.
“I just said I wouldn’t,” I snap. “Contrary to what you might think, I’m not fueled by bloodlust and impulsive decisions. As much as I would love to put Noah in the ground, I know better than to invite more scrutiny. His dad is a mayor.”
London exhales, and her shoulders sag. “Oh.”
“He still loves you,” I tell her flatly. “The fact that he’s the mayor’s son gets him a pass this time. Next time, he won’t be so lucky.”
I already know I will regret this.
You were going to find a loophole anyway, and you know it. London can forgive an interrogation, but she would have never looked at you the same way if you had killed her ex.
Fuck.
When did I turn into a pathetic sap who agonizes over feelings?
When did London dull my sharp edges?
“Mason, I… thank you. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry you ignored the fact that I told you to stay away, or sorry that you still care about him?”
“I never lied to you about my history with Noah,” London replies. “I won’t hide the fact that I still care about him. I’m always going to care about him. He was in my life for years…”
“Do you still love him?”
