Grahm does as he’s told, forcing Roman to his feet before he pulls down his gag.
“Fuck off, Sutherland,” Roman snaps at him. Grahm smirks but keeps his hand firmly around Roman’s bound wrists.
“I have a message for your general.” Callum grasps the cowl of Roman’s jacket and gets a few inches from his face. Roman’s jaw feathers, and he bares his teeth. “Tell him that if he wants the key to Bane Falls’ gate into the underworld, all he has to do is ask.” His voice is ominous and cruel.
My leg gives out on me, and I fall to my knees. A pained groan slips from my mouth as the glass pushes farther into my body.
Roman’s eyes flick to me, but his expression is impassive.
“Tell your general of the Dark Forces that I know his game. I know what he really wants, so tell him to come here and ask for it himself.” Callum shoves Roman back and pats off the lieutenant’s jacket as if he’s right as rain now. “Off you go. Take this as a mercy.Oh, wait.”
Callum squats down next to me and wraps his arm around my shoulders and tilts my jaw up so I have to look at Roman.
“Are you going to take Chloe with you? She helped you, didn’t she? You fucked her? Chloe doesn’t belong down here with devils. Take her with you. If you don’t, I’ll make sure she’s buried right this time around.”
I don’t like Callum’s tone. He makes it sound like he knows Roman won’t take me with him.
I hate that hope ignites in my heart.
I hate that I remember Roman’s promise to me.
Ihatethat my soul is on the verge of shattering as I wait for Roman to soften his gaze and help me up. To take me in his armsand carry me home with him. I want to curl up in bed next to him and let him hold me.
The silence in the room is thick like oil.
Roman looks at me for only a handful of seconds before he turns the other way, offering his hands to Grahm to untie him by walking over and standing in front of Grahm.
Callum nods at his men, and they untie the Icarus Squad.
I hold my breath as Roman leads them slowly out of the laundromat. Not one of them looks back at me or questions their lieutenant’s decision.
Roman sees how hurt I am. I know he does. He knows from what I’ve shared with him that Callum will likely kill me.
Does my blood mean nothing to him? Tears race down my expressionless face as I watch them leave.
You promised.
32
BRIAR
Four weekslater
Callum’s bluff had power behind it.“You see a person’s true colors when you give them the worst-case scenario and they still let you go.”
Those were the words he said to me when I woke up a few days later after surgery. Roman thought Callum would kill me, and he let him take me anyway.
The cards are down; I lose.
My heart is dead.
Grahm sets down a hot cup of coffee as I move the chess piece across the board and take his knight.
“Cheater,” he says as he wrinkles his nose at me.
I smile and take a sip of the bitter drink. “You can’t keep saying people are cheaters just because you keep losing, Sutherland.”
He crosses his arms and frowns as he stares down at the board to figure out his next move.
