“I knew you’d come back to us,” Gemma cried, probably leaving a trail of snot in my hair. She was laughing and crying and sniffing all at the same time.
“It’s good to have you back, Ava,” Hunt murmured, and I swear there were tears in his eyes.
The boat jolted underneath us as it moved away from the dock.
“Let’s get inside.” Grayson gestured to the cabin. “They’re here.”
The FBI had finally caught up. They had decided to continue their pursuit on foot, not wanting to barrel through a whole market of civilians. They were running up to the dock, taking aim at us.
The cabin was bulletproof I quickly found out as bullets rained against the glass. The boat shot forward, away from the gunfire. It was Liam driving the boat. He hadn’t even acknowledged my presence.
I hadn’t seen him since he saved me from the Russians. It felt like ages ago.
I made my way over to him, touching his arm to get his attention. When he turned to me his face was sad. We stared at each other.
“How did he take it?” he finally spoke.
I diverted my eyes, not able to even look at him. What he did to Owen was shameful. Whatwedid, was despicable.
Liam sighed and circled an arm around me. “I really hate us right now.”
I nodded, a lump cutting off my airway. “Me too.”
Grayson stroked a finger down my arm. “It’s time. We need to get ready.”
“For what?” I wondered.
“Our deaths,” Hunter answered.
Owen
“Becket.Becket!”Emerie’svoicebroke through the roaring in my ears. She was crouching in front of me, shaking my shoulders. “I know you’re hurting right now, but you need to pull it together. It’s not over yet. Varon and Ava are on the roof.”
There was pity in her eyes. Pity for me. Had she known Ava and I were together?
Of course, she knew. Shit, they all probably knew. We hadn’t been very good at hiding it.
But now… I dragged myself off the floor, fighting my limbs not to crumble under the weight of the pain radiating through my body. It crushed my lungs and roared in my ears.
She left. Withhim. She left me.
I blinked at my surroundings. I was running. Running behind Emerie through the museum corridors. She was shouting thingsat me I couldn’t hear. I was vaguely aware we weren’t heading for the roof.
But that’s where Ava was. Withhim. Not me.
I blinked again and we were standing before a car. Emerie pushed me into the passenger seat, annoyed by my slow reactions. I tried to focus, but all my mind could do was replay the look on Ava’s face through that door.
Right before she left me. Right as she chose the devil.
But this couldn’t be right. She had wanted so badly to be mine. We both did. Shesaidshe was mine. Shelovedme.
My body was propelled forward, the seatbelt digging into my sore chest as Emerie hit the brakes.
We were in the street. A black car with tinted windows had swerved right out in front of us.
“Varon!” Emerie yelled from beside me.
It pulled me from my stupor. Ava was in that car. She was so close!
