“You used me and lied to me.” I wipe my tears furiously. I don’t want him to think these are for him. These tears are forme. For what he did to me. “You promised you wouldn’t let anything happen to me,” I say softer, and my throat constricts.
Roman’s hazel eyes narrow, still glazed with tears, and he nods. “I know I did, baby.” He closes the distance between us and wraps his arms around me. I fight his embrace and unsheathe my knife. He doesn’t react to it, only watches with the same hurt expression.
“Why did you do this to me? Why? Why!” He tries to hug me again, and something snaps in my mind. I don’t want him to comfort me. I don’t want him to make it better. All I want is to stop hurting.
I plunge my knife into his chest.
36
BRIAR
Roman makesa pained sound as the tip of my blade skates across the bulletproof mesh covering his heart. It stopped the knife from going farther than a few centimeters into his flesh, but the act itself speaks volumes.
I realize what I’ve done, and horror ripples through me. I gasp and drop the knife, seeing stars and stumbling backward as I stare at his bleeding chest.
Roman grabs my wrist and pulls me to him, wrapping me in his arms tightly and stroking my head. “It’s okay,” he murmurs in my ear. “I’m so sorry, Briar. I’m so fucking sorry I lied to you.”
His blood warms my chest, seeping into my shirt and making me hyperventilate.
“I love you, Briar. I love you, and I’m not letting you go again. Not ever. No matter what you do to me. I will never let you go.” He kisses the top of my head and pulls back enough to see my face. “I’m so sorry.”
Tears fall from our chins.
He waits for me to say something.Anything.
“I hate you, Roman.”
His eyes widen as I shove him back and run into the crowd. I lose him quickly and have to bite back the emotions. I don’tstop until I’m back at Callum’s truck and find Grahm leaning up against the back.
“There you are—” his expression falters. “Thornton? What’s wrong?” He catches me as I collide into his chest. It took everything I had to not let Roman hold me.Everything.But he fucking betrayed me just like Callum did. Sure, he didn’t try to kill me himself, but he left me with the devil.
Grahm holds me at arm’s length and looks me over with concern. “Are you hurt? There’s so much blood.” He sounds panicked and quickly escorts me into the back of the truck.
“It’s not my blood.” I manage to get out between shallow breaths. I can’t control my breathing, knowing that I stabbed Roman.
He stills and looks over his shoulder. Roman and the Icarus Squad are standing at the top of the slope just before the crowd, staring down at us.
“Shit,” Grahm curses and slams the door before getting in the driver’s seat and backing out of the parking lot.
I watch the squad break for their motorcycles from the rear window.
“Where’s Callum and the others?” I ask, still feeling like a passenger in my own body.
Grahm drives quickly down the dirt road before he turns hard onto the highway and floors it. His truck roars, and we’re thrown forward as he speeds in the direction of the lake.
My bones chill. Why are we going to the lake at this hour? It’s pitch-black outside. Wait, is that where we’re meeting the boss? My veins go cold, and chills move up my arms.
“They went ahead to meet the boss.” He glances in the mirror at me.
My brows are pinched.
Five motorcycles pull out behind us and are catching up fast.
Grahm curses and pulls a gun from his center console. “Looks like this might be the end of the line for us, Thornton.”
I look at his somber expression and understand what he’s getting at. I quickly buckle my seat belt and grip the door tightly. “Grahm, we can talk to them. Roman tried speaking with me, but I…” Tried stabbing him. My stomach feels sick.
He shakes his head and glances at how close they are in his side mirror. “No, I don’t think we can. I’m not letting them get to Callum or you. Tonight is too important.”
