Page 91 of Hate Me

“Until we can do it together.”

“What?” she choked.

Cal and I exchanged a shocked look that matched hers.

“Cas?” I queried.

“Careful,” Cal warned. “Mancini needs to be factored in. This isn’t just your operation.”

“I’m well aware,” Cas responded. Then he laid his hand on Sky’s shoulder and told her, “Things are at a fragile stage regarding the takedown of Elijah. If we move now, it could jeopardize years of work. I can’t allow that. However, within a few weeks, my people and Dante’s will be in position and primed to strike. Then I will be right there by your side with all the resources and support you could possibly ever need to wipe that psychopath from the face of the earth. I’ll even allow you to do the honors and take his life. All I ask are two things of you.” He held up his hand and bent one finger down. “One. You wait. In the meantime, we will develop a tactical plan together that ensures there are no sacrifice plays.” He bent a second finger. “Two. You start rebuilding your life independent of this crusade. We’ve given you the tools through those gifts we delivered to your room. You know how to use them. Now there’s no need for a sacrifice to be made, there should be nothing stopping you.”

Damn, he was good.

“Caspian, I don’t want this ruining what you’ve been working toward all this time.”

“It won’t. If you wait and work with me.”

“No more lone-wolfing it, darling.”

“For the love of God, finally,” I uttered.

She looked between us, weighing up what Cas had put out there, what he was offering.

And then the corner of her mouth turned up and she held out her hand to him. “Let’s do this.”

They shook firmly and he smiled out at her. “Excellent.”

The moment the handshake was done, I was there, wrapping my arms around her.

In the next beat, so was Cal, nuzzling her hair as she buried her face in my chest.

Cas wrapped himself around the three of us, holding us together.

That was definitely his thing.

And he’d proven that yet again just now.

“You’re not alone,” I told Sky.

“Never again,” Caleb said.

“We’re with you, love. Now and always.”

“Thank you,” she choked, emotion bleeding from her.

Thank fuck. She was opening up again, letting us back in.

“I missed you. I missed you all so much.”

That wouldn’t be happening ever again.

She wasn’t going anywhere this time.

No matter what fucking happened.

We wouldn’t lose her again.

20

---