Page 20 of Crown of Lies

“You’re going to let me go,” I tell him in a low, hard voice. “Unlock these cuffs and let me walk out of here. Right. Fucking. Now.”

His gaze is unwavering. Piercing. I feel like he’s trying to peer into my soul, to see so deep inside me that he’ll learn every secret I’ve ever hidden away.

“You know I won’t do that,” he murmurs.

“You don’t have a choice,” I remind him harshly, my finger grazing the trigger.

“There’s always a choice.” He shakes his head slightly, never looking away from me. “You really think this thing between us will be over even if I let you walk out of this basement? It won’t. No matter where you try to escape to, I won’t let you go.Ever. I’llfind you, no matter how long it takes. You’ll have to kill me if you want this to end.”

I huff out a breath, gritting my teeth.

“If that’s what you want,husband.”

My finger curls on the trigger. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve used a gun to end a life. I’m comfortable with the weapon, even if I prefer to be more hands on.

Nico has made his choice. He said it loud and clear. To be free, I have to kill him.

So why am I hesitating?

Pull the fucking trigger, Quinn.

Do it.

Now!

My body is primed, my arms braced for the kickback… but it’s as if my hand has suddenly turned to stone, my finger refusing to move any farther.

In my mind’s eye, I can see the bullet entering Nico’s head before blowing out the top of his skull—but the more I picture it, the harder it is to actually do it.

Because some part of me isn’t ready to see him die.

Some part of me can’t stand the thought of being his executioner.

I wonder briefly if this feeling, this wretched, misplaced guilt or whatever the fuck it is, is the same feeling that kept Nico and the others from hurting me more than they could have while they had me captive. The same thing that made Nico decide to offer me this truce.

This kind of hesitation is damning for people in our position.

Yet here I am, my eyes locked on his, his cum dripping out of my body and onto his stomach, and I can’t pull the goddamn trigger.

His tongue darts out, wetting his lips. Our gazes remain locked as something passes through his mismatched eyes that throws me off.

Is it… regret?

“If you’re going to do it, get it over with,” he says, his voice strangely broken. “Fucking do it, mia cara.”

My chest tightens. “Alright,” I whisper, swallowing hard.

He closes his eyes, and I know he thinks this is the end.

7

QUINN

I stare downat Nico’s face for a long moment, taking in the harsh lines of his features and the set of his jaw. With his eyes still closed, I feel like I can look at him in a way that I can’t when they’re open. A little less guarded, maybe, less worried that he’ll see something in my own eyes that I don’t want him to notice.

He looks less cold and untouchable like this—morehuman, as he makes his peace with death.

I give myself one last second to gaze down at him, then let out a slow breath.

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