Page 130 of Hate Me

I’d get to the bottom of it.

And then we’d really see what was going on here.

Footsteps sounded down the stairs, and I looked to see Cas leading Skylar down the steps.

Dante walked to her and held out his hand, introducing himself politely.

“Wow, you’re a legend,” she breathed.

Urgh.

He chuckled. “Much appreciated. However, you have become quite the legend yourself.”

She grimaced. “I think notorious is more apt.”

“I’m not referring to your recent activities in your pursuit of Jett Bane.” He gestured between me and Cas. “I meant among your loves. As well as the beautiful words Caspian has spoken about you.”

“Oh, well, thank you,” she said, looking between him and Cas, her cheeks heating at the overt compliments.

Caspian smiled and nuzzled her hair. “You’re worthy of all the beautiful words in the world, love.”

I watched Dante taking in their interactions, observing her shrewdly.

He looked away when Cas eyed him and said, “She’s ready to see what we’ve laid out.”

They walked back over and Skylar slid her hand into mine and gave me a sweet kiss on the cheek.

“Hey, darling. How was your session?” I asked quietly as Dante and Cas brought up the details on the monitor, heading back to the beginning of the site itself as well as the recruits Jett had gathered to give her an overview before getting to the actual plan.

“Good,” she said, smiling up at me. “She’s helping me, like you are.”

Her eyes were a little red, indicating she’d been crying, possible signs of a breakthrough, or at the very least her unloading things she’d been bottling up for too long.

I stroked her hair with my free hand and she moaned softly, relaxing into me.

Unfortunately, that reverie was short-lived, as Cas motioned for her.

She pulled from me and stepped up to the monitors and he started laying out the plan, hissing when she saw that Jett had obtained more recruits after her efforts to stop that twice already. But she managed to move past it and focus on what mattered—taking the fucker down permanently.

And then, I hoped, she could finally be at peace with that aspect of things.

Although she was getting better, getting back to herself, it was clear he was still haunting her. Knowing he was still out there was eating at her.

But it wouldn’t be long now.

She’d get the justice she’d long deserved.

Beyond Jackals justice.

26

~Skylar~

Adrenaline was thrumming through me.

My whole being was electrified.

On edge.

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