Page 132 of Succumbed

Me: i’m safe

The tears rush faster, my vision blurring as I continue to type.

Me: they’re not

Cass: what?

Me: cuz of me

Me: i’m breaking them

Me: i don’t want to

Cass: oh, honey

Roo: you haven’t broken shit, lex

Me: i hope you’re right

I’ll give anything for her to be right.

Chapter 39

Linc

“We got an email from Parker. He wants to meet Wednesday. That work for you two?” I look across the dining table, my phone in hand and a bowl of cereal in front of me.

Shane grunts, intent on his avocado toast.

“If we must,” Declan mutters.

He’s been morose since we got back from Paris, but he’s done literally nothing about it. Not a goddamn thing.

“You know what, Dec?” I snarl, leaning back in my chair. “Fuck you and your shit attitude.”

He turns to me, eyes wide. “Whoa, Linc. What the fuck?”

“She told us from the beginning he’d be taking over,” Shane cuts in, his tone calm and even. “Everything’s going to plan.”

“Everything.” My brother rolls his eyes. “Really? Everything’s going to plan.”

Shane looks up at him with just his eyes, brows raised. “Yes. Want to say it one more time?”

“Fuck off, Shane.”

“Pretty sure you’re the one who needs to do that, Declan.”

Dec shoves his chair back. “Okay, we’re doing this. What the fuck, guys? We need to clear the damn air.”

“We do.” I stand, taking my bowl to the sink and tossing it in. “Downstairs.”

Dec’s brows draw together. “Why?”

“Because if I don’t have something to hit while we have this conversation, I’m going to hit you.”

Shane snorts and gets to his feet, dumping his plate in the sink before trailing after me.

I pause at the top of the stairs, looking back at Dec’s bewildered expression. “You coming?”

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