“He’s hurting you. That was never the plan.”
“He didn’t hurt me—”
“He’s hurting you, Story.” I spun us, until her back was flush against the wall, my fist caged between us.
“There’s a briar caging your heart, little nun. Because of him, because of me, because of that night, I would rip it from you if I could. The longer you’re with him, the more it grows. Am I right?”
“Are you asking me to run?”
I slammed my other hand against the wall, next to her head, and closed my eyes, reining it in.
When I spoke again, my voice was dark and edged, barely contained. “I need to protect you.”
“Tell me what you know!” she demanded. “Tell me your secrets!”
“Oh, he just realized what I did months ago.”
West stood near the entrance to the hall, his body backlit by golden light so all you could see was his silhouette. He was a dark, shadowy monster as he came to us, his footfalls a low echo.
Story gripped my fist tighter, like she knew I was about to spring off her and lunge at West.
No.
No.
This could not be our only fucking option.
“What is he talking about?” Story asked.
West threw his arm around my shoulder. “We’re all on the same team now, Angel.”
STORY
“What is he talking about?” I asked.
Grayson shoved West off him, but West grinned. “I’m right, aren’t I, Crowne?”
West and Grayson shared another look, like they were speaking in a silent language.
All Gray said was, “Shut the fuck up.”
Yet his voice was the most serious I’d ever heard it.
“Grayson?” I hated that my voice wavered. I’d like to think that I’d become stronger over the past few months.
Grayson’s eyes finally found mine.
Broken.
And I stumbled, but he gripped my cheeks, dragging me back to him, eyes burning.
“Stop.” I don’t know what I was asking for. I just know whatever caused the groove between his brows, the deadly timber in his voice, I need to end.
His shoulders dropped, and the muscle in his golden jaw feathered.
His stormy, ocean eyes traveled to my left, and I felt it again—they were talking. Even as he held my face in a death grip.
“You’re scaring me, Grayson.”