Page 91 of The Devil We Know

He chuckles almost wryly, but then his other hand moves away from mine, and he says good-naturedly, “Let’s not forget, Car. I have a perfect track record of getting myself out of dumb situations.”

I look at the steel lock on the steel cage and look back at him, shaking my head. “She’s never going to forgive me.”

“She will,” he replies. “If anyone understands having to make difficult decisions in high-stress situations, it’s Antoinette. Mostly, she’s just going to be mad at me.”

I hear shouting across the room, and I look up to see everyone in position. I turn back to Dare and ask, “Are you sure?”

He nods, moving back across the cage where he sits against the bars, his feet coming out in front of him and crossing at the ankle, looking relaxed as can be. “Tell her if she ever tries to fuck another man, I will haunt her.”

I say nothing further and look up at him again, and he just nods and says, “Go.”

I nod, incapable of words, as emotion overwhelms me. I shake it off, centering myself on the greater mission, knowing I have no other choice but to do as he asks.

I push away from the cage, rising and racing around the way I came, both guns at the ready to ensure I have a clear path. I push my despair aside, reaching deep for the rage, disgust, and tenacity that was forged over time. I push toward the exit, grateful that Kaian and Camilla are there and not Antoinette, Tony, or Matt.

We rush out the doorway down the hallway, Kaian leading our way through the labyrinth towards the exit.

I’m sure it’s only minutes, but it feels like hours until we’re finally bursting out into the darkness, cool air hitting me in the face.

We’re running. I see Lilith on the far side yelling, and I run toward her, knowing that she’s the only voice of reason to hear what I have to say.

I stop in front of her, and she grips my biceps, leaning in as she asks, “What is it?”

I shake my head, completely incapable of words, and after a moment, she frowns, glancing around.

She meets my eyes again as she whispers, “Dare?”

Once again, I shake my head, words stuck in the sob I’m holding deep in my chest.

She looks back at the building and then at Antoinette, who just now starts to look around. “Fuck.”

38

A Crack in the Armor

Antoinette

Where the fuck ishe?

It would be just like that fucker to try to make a big exit when he finally gets out of the goddamn building.

I glance around again, taking count of all the familiar faces, even the ones that are made up not to be familiar.

I see Lilith and Carolina off to the side, and I do a double-take at the look on Lilith’s face as she glances at me.

My heart sinks, and I turn my focus to Carolina, who looks grief-stricken as she stares at the ground. Pain jackknifes through me.

I’m already shaking my head as Lilith starts walking toward me, so by the time she gets to me, I’m muttering, “No. No, no, no.”

She reaches for me, and I slip her hold, taking off back toward the building, but then Carolina, who had been still standing off to the side, is in front of me, blocking my way.

She grabs onto me, and I attempt to shake her off, but she tightens her grip and gets right in my face and says, “You can’t.”

“Get out of my fucking way,” I seethe, once again attempting to shake her off, but her fingers dig into me painfully. She leans in closer, her nose touching mine as she whisper-shouts, “He made me promise.”

“I don’t fucking care about your promises,” I shout.

I shove my knee into her leg, pushing her away violently, finally shaking her off and sprinting toward the building, only to have Lilith yanking on me from behind. Tony and Matt are suddenly standing in my way now, too.

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