He’s holding her at gunpoint. I can’t shoot him—not without risking her. And that’s not an option.
I’ve never felt more useless, not since I was in that blue room of Hell.
Grabbing hold of the absolute ruthless urge to rip his head off his body, I replace my gun and point to a gallery behind us that’s been cleared out for viewers. “We’ll go to the Yellow Room.”
“Lead the way,” he replies, sweetly. But I know it’s a trick. By putting me in front, I can’t grab Collins—not without that gun going off. If I didn’t hate my brother so much, I’d be impressed with his foresight.
Winking at Collins, I soothe, “Forever and a day.”
She shakes her head, lost. “What?”
“It’s my promise to you.” I glance back at Roman but he’s looking at the crowd, keeping the gun down but still snug against her spine. “I get forever and a day with you. When this is over.” A promise that doesn't end with Roman. That it’ll end after we’ve had our forever plus one more day.
I’ve come too far not to have that much with her.
Licking her lips, she hears my unvoiced explanation. “Okay. Forever and a day.”
Carefully, we weave our way through the people, under the archway and into the courtyard. The skies are darkening, a cool air ruffling a few of my fallen strands as we walk the middle. The sweet scent of hanging nasturtiums hovers in the air and I inhale, glancing back to my viper.
She coiled like a snake, not letting Roman have more than he has. If she had my blade, she’d slice from his neck to his gut for daring to touch her.
We reach the Yellow Room, the exhibit empty. The bright, flowered wallpaper and the hanging portraits catch my eye before I’m spinning, catching Collins as she’s shoved into my arms.
Clinging to me, I hold tight as Roman levels his gun on us, snarling, “Shedid this.”
Tucking her behind my back, I slip her my knife. I keep my brother in my sights, feeling Collins heat behind me. If I go down, I don’t want her defenseless.
“Who did what, Roman?” I look from his shaking hands to his sweaty brow. His eyes dance between us, to the door and back.Something’s off.My brother is an idiot on his best day, but he’s calmer than this. This reeks of insanity and desperation.
“She went after my money.” His dark eyes glint—the same way our father’s would before he’d send a new man into my room. “Was it part of your little bitch Captain’s Games?”
“Innovation,” I smirk. Hey, if he wants to wave a gun around, maybe I can piss him off enough to get the upper hand. “Going after your storehouses and money without any tools. We all had to think on our feet.” Pulling up my pant leg, I show him the bandage, a drop of red bleeding through. “Took a bullet for it.”
“You’re going forsecond?” he asks, narrowing his eyes. “My own blood coming after whatIbuilt?”
“Blood?” I snort. “Blood doesn’t do what you did to me—whatourfather did to me. You’re lucky I’m playing by Ace’s rules, otherwise I’d cut every single one of you like the fish of the day.”
“And let’s be honest,” Collins comments from my side, voice strong. “You didn’t buildanything. Your family did. You were just handed the keys because your father was put in jail.”
I can’t stop the smile.Witness tampering.It was as pathetic as the man behind bars.
Roman glowers down at her, and I step in front. “Nuhuh. Don’t look at her.”
“It’s your bitch Captain’s fault he’s even in there.” He seethes, gesturing with his Glock. “I can’t fucking prove it, but I know it. She set him up.”
I scoff. Maeve would never go to the cops—even to off an enemy.
“What do you want, Roman?” I ask, edging one step closer. He’s so incensed, mad with anger, he doesn’t see me move.He is losing it.“You came all this way for something. What is it?”
I take another step as he laughs, a strangled noise.
“She took out anentirefucking unit.”
“Shouldn’t have gone after her family.”
“You’re going to sign the contract,” he says, pointing at Collins behind my back. To give her credit, she doesn’t wither under the weapon, but stands taller. “You’re going to agree to this and get that fucking psycho off my back.”
If he can force the alliance, by shoving a gun in Collins’ face, he can keep Maeve from wrecking destruction as the Games progress. He gets Maeve and the clan—he gets Collins.
