The perfect husband. The perfect life.
I shoved the drawer shut harder than I meant to.
Where was the damn thing?
“What are you doing in here?”
I jumped back, my fangs extended, my fists up.
Selena stepped into the moonlight.
I immediately lowered my fists. “Did you follow me?”
“You left me at the dance.” She grabbed her keys off the desk. “And stole these from me. Why?” Her voice cracked. “I want to know why?”
Moonlight shone in her eyes—the hurt, the pain, the betrayal.
“Is this why you asked me out?”
The words hit me like a blade between the ribs. Because the answer was yes. That was exactly why I’d asked her out. And seeing the hurt in her eyes—knowing I’d put it in there, again—made me want to tear myself apart.
But I couldn’t tell her the truth. Not without signing my mother’s death warrant.
I looked away and stared out the window. From here I could see Crimson Stakes, and my fingers ached to strangle Angelo’s neck.
“Rocco, answer me.” Selena stepped in front of me, blocking my view. “Look at me. Tell me the truth.”
She deserved an answer. “I’m sorry. I didn’t have a choice.”
She stared at me then folded her arms across her chest. “Angelo Santi?”
I didn’t want to pull her down that rabbit hole. The less she knew, the better.
But she was holding the keys I’d stolen from her purse, staring at me with eyes that demanded an answer. There was nolie good enough to explain this away. She’d caught me. I owed her something real.
“I need to find theLapis Umbrae.”
Her anger shifted—replaced by something sharper. Alarm. “You mean the sacred shard?”
I sighed. “If that’s what you want to call it.”
She put her hand on her chest. “That’s not what I call it, jerk—it’s what Costin calls it. The shard protects Julienne. If you steal it...” She shoved me hard. “He’ll fucking kill you, idiot.”
“If I don’t steal it, Angelo will send Enzo to murder my mother.”
She gasped and put her hand over her mouth. “You’re not serious?”
“Yeah, I am.” I met her eyes, letting her see everything—the fear, the desperation, the rage. “Do you think I really want to work for that fucking asshole? I don’t have a choice, Selena. This is the only way I can save my mom.”
The anger drained out of her face, replaced by something worse. Understanding. Her lips parted, her eyes widening as the pieces fell into place. She looked at me the way you look at someone who’s drowning—desperate to help, terrified you can’t.
“We could tell Costin and Julienne. They could?—“
“Start a war.” I cut her off. “Why do you think I’m here, Selena? Angelo knows that. He couldn’t get his paws dirty. He needed a patsy to go in.” I slammed my palm against my chest. “Me. Someone who had nothing to lose. Someone who was labeled a traitor. Someone who was expendable.”
She gritted her teeth. “The bastard...”
“Do you know where the shard is?”
