Her eyes pinned him in place; her elegant throat poised with defiance. “I’ll tell you something you don’t know, Mr. Weaver. And then we’ll see if you’ll do what you’re told.”
V snorted but Jaz ignored him.
“Your sister has survived my family for almost six months. She’s the one who stood up to us. She’s the one who helped my brother all because she believed in him. She had the power to destroy him, but she didn’t. And if anyone deserves to kill those who deserve to die, it’s her.” She swallowed hard, forcing herself to continue. “Seeing you together is hard. You both look so similar. Twins in every sense. My brothers and I might not be the same age, butwe share something in common. We share a desire for freedom. And I won’t let you take that away from us.”
Her eyes fell on me. “Have you told him, Nila? Have you told him who Jethro is to you? Or did you continue to let him slander his name in social media when you left us?”
I flinched.
She’s right.
While trapped at Hawksridge, I lived in truth far more than I ever did in London. I hadn’t had the guts to look my father or twin in their eyes and tell them that I was in love with a Hawk. That I belonged to him and him to me. That I was a traitor to my family name.
“What is she talking about, Threads?” Anger glazed V’s eyes along with a faint hint of fear. “Tell me.”
“V, I—”
How could I tell him that I loved Jethro as much as I loved him? How could I tell him that it was no longer simple between us?
“She took him from me, Vaughn,” Jaz said quietly. “She fell in love with my brother, and overnight, I became second in his life.” She gave me a twisted smile—half-accepting, half-unwilling. “He doesn’t belong to me anymore, just like she doesn’t belong to you.”
Vaughn shifted, running a hand through his dark hair. The beard he’d sported in London had been shorn, but a few day’s growth shadowed his jaw. “I don’t—I don’t understand.”
“One day, you’ll end up belonging to someone you love. But for now, you belong to me.I’mthe one who’s come to rescue you.I’mthe one who holds your life in my hands. And I’m the one who says you’ll do what I ask.”
My shoulders hunched. “Probably not the best way to make him help you.”
She glared at me.
I shrugged.
I’d been on the receiving end of Jasmine’s willpower—her perfect deception. She could spin any tale—give life to any lie. She’d completely fooled me at the meeting, and I’d never underestimate her again. I still couldn’t shake the hatred I’d felt. But she didn’t know my brother or how pig-headed he could be whentoldto do something.
V turned to me. “Threads...is that true? You fell in love with that bastard?” His face fell. “Is that why you slept with him?”
Jaz sucked in a breath, watching us like some soap opera.
I moved to stand in front of my brother. “What she says is true. I love him, V. And he doesn’t have much time. Jasmine needs your help.” Laying a hand on his chest, I murmured, “Iwantyou to help her. For me. Please...”
His heart thundered under my touch; his eyes dove into mine. “This is for real? You love the bastard who’s going to kill you?” His face contorted. “Could you be any more stupid?”
“He would never have been able to do it.” Jasmine rolled forward. “He fell for her before she fell for him. I knew even when he didn’t.”
She locked her brakes, staring up at V. “If you won’t help me because I’m telling you to, help me because I’m asking. Don’t let him die. Don’t destroy your sister or condemn my brother when he’s the only one who can stop all of this for good.”
For the longest moment, we all held our breaths, waiting for V to accept defeat and agree to help. But then his shoulders stiffened, and he shook his head. “I don’t believe either of you. I think you’re both fucked in the head, and we need to get the hell out of this shithole.”
Snatching my wrist, he jerked me toward the door.
For someone who’d been in a fight and locked in a chiller, he moved quickly.
“V! Let me go.” I stumbled after him, vertigo teasing with the outskirts of my vision.
“Vaughn, listen to her.” Jaz spun around, her knuckles white on her wheels. “You can’t leave.”
V ignored her and reached for the door. “Oh, really? Funny, this is me leaving.”
I breathed hard. “Vaughn, I’m not going anywhere with you. If you won’t help us, fine. But I’m not going to leave him—”
