Page 12 of Pay the Price

I told myself I didn’t want to leave because I was tired — it was even partly true — but deep down I knew there was more to it. Knew it was because of the Beasts, three men who’d watched over me, rescued me from my dad’s henchmen.

As soon as Otis had burst through the door at the dam, I’d felt safe. I’d been pissed and still hurt by the knowledge that they’d killed Blake, but I’d known from that moment forward I would be okay.

And the truth was, I’d felt that way ever since they’d moved into the house. I’d felt unsafe in some ways too — mostly because of my traitorous body — but I’d felt physically safe, protected in a way I’d never felt behind the walls of my dad’s mansion.

Leaving felt wrong, especially after being kidnapped and held prisoner, but I couldn’t stay.

I forced myself to get up and move. I packed a bag with my toiletries and some clothes, then threw in my knitting for good measure. I doubted I still had a job at Cantwell, but I couldn’t think about that now. I filed it away with all the other things I couldn’t think about just yet, including how to deal with my dad.

When I’d packed all my stuff, I zipped up my bag, then stuffed my feet into the comfiest shoes Jace had left in my closet, a pair of black suede boots that did nothing for the lavender tracksuit but had an almost-flat heel.

The Beasts were in the kitchen when I got there, huddled around the old table and nursing cups of coffee, talking in low voices.

Wolf looked up when I stepped off the back stairs. “Hey there, sunshine. I thought you’d be asleep by now.”

His voice was laced with an uncertainty I’d never heard before. We hadn’t talked about the elephant in the room — Blake’s murder — when we’d raced through the woods, piled into Benji, and made our way back to the house.

We’d been too worried we might be followed, that some of my guards had survived the firefight and might come after us. And anyway, what could the Beasts say?

They’d killed Blake. They’dadmittedit. Had gone to prison for it.

I was the one who’d been delusional enough to make excuses for them.

Stupid. I’d been so, so stupid.

Now Otis’ gaze dropped to my bag. “Where are you going?”

“To Cassie’s.”

Jace’s mouth was set in a hard line. “You can’t leave.”

“I can,” I said. “I am.”

“Don’t be stupid. We can’t protect you anywhere else.”

The insult wormed its way through the numbness that had started to settle like a heavy blanket over my psyche. “Stupidwas inviting you to live here.Stupidwas thinking I could I trust you.”

Stupid was thinking you hadn’t killed Blake.

The last sentence stuck in my throat. I couldn’t even get the words out. Saying it would make it more true.

Yeah, I know. I was all kinds of fucked up.

“We never lied to you,” Otis said.

“You didn’t tell the truth either.” I looked at Wolf. “And I guess when you saidno more secretsyou only meant me.” He didn’t respond, but I saw the pain in his eyes “Anyway, it’s not up for debate. I’m an adult. I’m leaving.”

“We’ll go.” Wolf’s voice was heavy with sadness, a match to my own. “This is your house.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want… I can’t be here.”

Herewas where I’d gotten close to Wolf and Otis, where sparring with Jace had started to feel like fun.

Herehad started to feel like home, and nothing was more dangerous than that.

Jace stood. “We’re not letting you— ”

I was already glaring at him (lettingme?) when Wolf spoke. “Let her go.”

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