Page 117 of Root

“I was saving yours.”

“Bullshit.”

I grab her arms and haul her up, right up against me. “Are you a member of this fucking gang?”

“What? No, I just said I went to help you.”

I consider her words and don’t let her go. But the anger in me turns to ice. What if she and her fucking brother planned this? The mythical brother? The one who is in the hands of this gang? It’s clear she’s been in contact, clear she’s trying to deliver them…something… I’m gonna go with dirt on us.

Nikolai isn’t careless. The fact this group’s a threat is one thing…her involvement?

That’s something else.

And I’ll take her out if I have to.

If I need to.

“Listen to me and listen good, Jess,” I say. “I need the truth or you’re dead.”

She goes white and pasty. Then her eyes narrow. She lifts her chin, and I’ve never wanted someone so much in my life. I’ve never wanted to beat someone’s ass so much either.

I’ll take her out.

Nikolai? He’d kill her.

“Are you going to kill me? That it, big guy?”

“Not me, sweet baby bunny.” I give her a shake. “But the Ten64 might. Nikolai definitely will.”

“You’re that weak?”

“No,” I say. “But if I decided to throw you to him, then clearly I wouldn’t stop him. I might not be Nikolai, but I’m not weak. I’m different, but don’t mistake any of that for toothless, Jess. I’ve got my own brand of dangerous. So don’t fucking test me.”

I let her go, pushing her back and she stumbles but stays standing. Her hands curl into fists. But that little knife in her ring doesn’t come out.

“Weighing your options?” I ask.

“I’m not going to stab you.”

“No,” I say, “because I’m not going to let you.”

She sucks in a breath. “I went there to try and…protect you.”

“Try again.”

Anger flashes, pain, too, and I harden myself.

“You’re right. You’re dangerous, Rush. To me. To my brother. I went in there and risked myself for you.”

“Bullshit. It was your brother you risked yourself for. Not me. You know I mentioned Lucy and you decided to use that connection, see if it could be exploited. Because, hey, I’m hot enough that she might want me.”

She grabs my tie and hauls me in. “You’re telling me now that you’re hot? Your ego…”

“Not what I fucking meant. I’m saying that’s what you see and yeah, I am. It’s what I have. Women want to fuck me. They usually prefer Nikolai, but he’s off the table.” I stop. I don’t know what it is about her that reverts me back to that teen that wanted what Nikolai had. The teen that saw the girls I wanted lust after him. And now Jess—

But she’s not into him.

I feel that in my bones.

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