A cold, blue morning shone through the window, bright yet dewy with night. I didn’t want that to be the only thing we shared.
I wanted a future.
Life.
I hopped out of bed, not bothering to change, and went downstairs. The hardwood floor was gelid beneath my bare feet. This couldn’t happen. I wouldn’tletit happen. We couldn’t have gotten this close. That was?—
“Bullshit!” I came to a stuttering halt just outside the kitchen. That sounded like Lock. I pressed a palm against the scratchy, antique wallpaper, listening.
“We didn’t go through all this just for you to play fucking martyr at the end,” Lock continued.
“You act like you forced us into this,” Raze said. “We’re just as invested in this as you. The beginning might be fucked, but we built this together. People depend on us.”
“That’s what I’m trying to help,” Grim said.
“Feels lazy,” Wraith said, apathetic.
“We don’t have a fucking choice,” Grim said, voice sandpaper. “He’s not going to leave us alone. If we don’t give him what he wants, he’ll force it. He’ll come for Gemma. Or Zabby.”
Silence.
The sound of a chair squeaking on the marble, like someone getting up.
“It’s the only way?—”
I walked into the kitchen, cutting Grim off. “Let’s fucking kill him.” I was going on zero sleep, my hair needed a comb, and I wore an old shirt of Grim’s. I must haveseemed unhinged, but this was the most certain I’d been of anything.
Lock blinked. “Damn, princess.”
I met Grim’s stare across the kitchen. He leaned against the wall, a mixture of emotions shadowing his features as he studied me. Surprise in his parted lips, concern in his cinched brow. Raze sat at the kitchen table next to Wraith, who ate cereal with a book open. A single chair was shoved away from the table. Lock leaned against the fridge.
“I mean, it’s kind of what you guysdo,” I said. “I don’t know why?—”
“You don’t think we’ve thought of that?” Grim closed the distance between us until I had to crane my neck to meet his gaze. “He’s never alone, always surrounded by ten to twenty plainclothes guards. He’s always one step ahead.” He stroked his hand down my cheek.
I ached with the softness of his touch, leaning into it.
“This is the only way,” he said.
Always surrounded. Never alone.
Except…an idea began to form.
“The party tomorrow,” I said, stepping back from his touch. His hand lingered a moment in the air, before dropping to his side. “The big Crowne anniversary party culminates in the hedge maze. My mom will make everyone go through, but he can’t take ten people into a maze.”
They shared a look.
“We can isolate him,” I said, telling myself their silence meant interest. “He won’t expect it. You can pretend that you’re giving in. He’ll think he’s won.”
I found Grim, pleading with my eyes.
Grim stared back at me, brows drawn, features unreadable.
“If so many people are in the maze, won’t a murder be obvious?” Raze drawled.
“The maze is bigger than a football field. My mom will outline the quickest way to the center, so that no oneactuallyhas to use their brain. Grim, while you make him think he’s won, you can lead him in a different direction. I know that maze by heart. This time,we’llbe one step ahead of him.”
The room fell silent. Nerves twitched up and down my spine. Theyhadto listen.
