My heart’s racing, my emotions firing all over the place. Maybe it won’t help at all... but I won’t know unless I try.
“I know how to make him snap,” I say.
Koby bolts upright, red-faced. “If that plan includes you actually facing that fucker, then no way in hell.”
“It’s not your decision, Koby.”
“The fuck it isn’t,” he growls, the veins in his neck standing out as he puts his body between me and the others. “You think I’ll sit back and let you walk straight into his hands? You think I’ll stand by while you dangle yourself in front of him like a fucking carrot? Over my dead body.”
“Koby,” Carter summons his attention. “Octavius is coming over next Saturday morning. If Leilani’s not with Blaze when—”
“Stop,” Koby clips, staring his boss down. He takes a step his way, his whole frame stiffening. “Would you entertain this idea if it was Hailey?” He turns to Broadway. “If it was Violet?”
“Don’t guilt-trip them,” I say. “This is different.”
Koby’s jaw locks, his fists flex, and his chest heaves like he’s seconds from swinging for someone. When his gaze comes back to me, it’s not just anger burning there.
It’s fear.
Raw, unshakable terror.
Terror of losing me.
That softens my cold little heart because... he obviously cares about me. I open my mouth, ready to calm him down, try another, more reasonable approach. We can make arrangements, decide on as many precautions as he wants. We can play ten different angles to keep me safe, but Koby doesn’t let me speak.
“I don’t fucking care about your arguments,” he spits out, hands fisting at his sides. “You’renotgetting involved.” Hedoesn’t wait for anything else, storming out of Dante’s office and slamming the door shut so hard the frame shakes.
My temper spikes too, heat flaring in my chest, pulse kicking into a dangerous rhythm. Forcing a tight smile, I follow the category five tornado Mr. Maddox has become.
“Excuse us for a moment,” I say, my voice tight.
Broadway’s smirk and cocked eyebrow flash by me as I exit the office. I don’t stop to wonder which way to turn, certain the only thing that can calm Koby is fresh air.
I head toward the back garden, the evening chill seeping into my skin. Koby’s right by the door, leaning against the wall, eyes closed, jaw set like he’s doing his utmost to keep his shit together.
“Let’s get a few things straight.” I stop two feet away from him. “You don’t—”
He pushes off the wall, getting in my face. “I saidno fucking way, Leilani. Your safety is the one thing I refuse to argue about. You don’t get to push. You’re staying the fuck out of it!”
“Don’t yell at me!” I shove at him. “I’m not your fucking prisoner. This ismychoice!”
“Yourchoice?” He laughs bitterly, dragging his hand through his hair. “If you choose to put yourself in danger then you don’t fuckinggeta choice.”
“I didn’t ask for permission. Don’t for a second think you can order me around. I know you’re worried, but you can’t chain me up and call it protection!”
“You think I give a shit?” He takes a step into me, towering above me, his chest brushing mine, hot breath fanning my face. “I’m not watching you flip into his porcelain doll again.”
All his attitude does is fuel the fire. It pushes me into a corner, and what do cornered animals do?
“You’re not going anywhere near Anton, Leilani. That’s final. You either do as you’re told or—”
My vision tunnels, the familiar crack in my chest splitting wider. The world tilts and my fist flies. I clock Koby’s jaw, pain exploding in my knuckles, screaming up my arm, but I don’t stop.
I can’t stop.
“Don’t you dare!” I yell, pounding his chest, arms, anywhere I can reach. “Don’t you fucking dare manipulate me like he did!”
“Leilani—”
