She flinches, and her voice hitches higher. “You’re the one who suggested running away together. Why would you ever even consider going back to your old life?”
Because he’s still my father, even if not by blood, and I can’t just walk away.
I rake my hands through my hair again in an effort to stop seeing red. “I’m trying to get us both out of this mess. But to do that, I need to handle Declan in a certain way.”
Despite the fury that burns through me, part of me wonders how long I can keep doing this. Carrying out my father’s every wish, no matter the personal cost.
“You have to handle Declan by lying to us both?” With fire in her eyes, she invades my space. “I don’t believe this is about our freedom. In fact, I don’t believe you at all!”
“Well, I can’t believeyou. I go out to do something nice and come back to?—”
“To what? A woman with a brain? Isn’t this what you want? Someone to push you around and tell you what’s what? Isn’t that what Declan does?”
Right now, I want to drive my fists through these damn walls. “Don’t talk about what I do like it’s anything but a job. You know the life!”
She shoves my chest with enough force that I stumble back. “What I know is you’re throwing my family to the wolves for a pat on the back from a man who doesn’t give a shit about you.”
I grab her by the shoulders. “Where is this coming from? Two hours ago, you wanted out. You wanted to live a normal life with me, away from all this organized crime bullshit. Where did that woman go? She’s the one I thought I was fucking. The one I thought I was making plans with.”
I search her face for even a hint that she still believes I hung the moon. Instead, I find anger rolling off her in waves.
No, not anger.
Disappointment.
I immediately bristle. I won’t stand for two people looking at me that way. I can’t.
She reaches for my pocket. “Give me my hard drive.”
I step back, my heart hammering in my chest. “No.”
The drive is my only leverage, with her and with Declan. If I lose that, I lose everything.
“It’s mine, and I’m not staying here with you.” She lunges at me, her arms wild as she dives for my pocket a second time.
I don’t understand what the hell’s going through her head. She’s watched me take down several guys at once, and that was just the opening act.
I ensnare both her wrists. “What the fuck, Trinity?”
She tries to wiggle free. When she can’t, she kicks at me. “Give me the hard drive so that I can get the hell away from you!”
Her foot connects with my shin. Grunting, I push her against the wall. “That hurt.”
She squirms in my hold. “Let go of me or I’ll scream!”
“You’re already screaming.” But I release her anyway and back away, breathing heavily.
I don’t understand why this happened. Things were so perfect.
Then I had to leave my damn phone behind.
The iron sphere in my stomach lurches into my chest, like a wrecking ball to my heart.
Trinity rubs her wrists while blinking back tears. “The drive.” She thrusts out her palm, calmer but still trembling. “It’s mine.”
I cross my arms over my chest, as if the action will keep the pieces of my life from cracking in two. “If you want to leave, be my guest. But the hard drive stays with me.”
Trinity’s chest heaves up and down. I can sense another panic attack in the works.
