They move me toward her.
“My Lilac,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Someone planted those on me.”
She flinches.
“Please… just go,” she says quietly. Her words stab me straight through the heart.
“I will never put myself in a position to be apart from you. I…” I pause. “I love you, Lilac. I would die for you. I’ll do anything to keep you safe.”
She finally looks at me. Hate brims in her eyes. My heart sinks further.
“Snow… take him away.”
“Time’s up,” Snow says.
They drag me toward the car owned by the American Billionaire Club.
The real threat is still out there, and I can’t protect her. She thinks she’s safe—but she’s not. I feel completely powerless. My hands go numb. My jaw locks. I grind my teeth.
I exhale. I didn’t show her the extent of how much I love her. I didn’t prove it enough. I need a plan. I need to get back to her. Who can I ask for help? I can’t get out alone.
When we pull up to Tartarus, I swallow thickly. The metal building looms—windowless, cold.
One guard opens the door. I step out. The harsh rain slams into my face.
“I need to make a phone call.”
Lilac
Iwatch Irvin leave with Snow. My head throbs, and my chest is hollow, like someone tore out a piece of me—my heart.
What do I do with my life now? How do I go on? The mansion feels too big. I can’t stay and wait for Irvin’s execution. I made the right choice in turning him in, even though the pain won’t go away.
I walk into the closet.
I toss clothes into a suitcase. I can’t stay here. If people find out I was connected to the murderer, they’ll think I had something to do with it. Then everyone in town will know who I am. What about Lyrical and Raven? They won’t look at me the same.
I contacted Snow on Instagram to tell him what I found. I gave him my number, and he called while I was in the kitchen making popcorn. He said he wasn’t surprised Irvin was the killer—reminded me how violent Irvin could be during assignments. I don’t know if Snow’s deep-rooted hatred for him blinded him,but I was shocked. I wanted to believe Irvin. But the evidence doesn’t lie.
I need to stop falling in love with crazy men. I attract too many monsters.
I finish packing. I look around the bedroom—too many memories here. I remember the—
Footsteps.
I freeze. Maybe it’s Lyrical. Snow must have told her everything.
I look up.
My eyes widen. I blink once. Twice.
The room spins. My hand goes numb.
Emerson.
His eyes lock on me.
This isn’t real. My mind is playing tricks on me. My vision blurs—the smell of iron, burnt flesh, firecrackers. My mother on the ground. A hole in her stomach.
