Page 196 of Ignite

He clears his throat.

“I don’t believe you. I’m sure there are plenty of willing women out there to go running with you.”

That hurts to say.

“Hallie. I’m sorry, okay? I had no idea you were a contestant. That you’d be mixed up in this fucked-up lifestyle. We host the games to hunt the real evil men in this world. Like the man who entered you.”

“Right. Of course. Evil hunting evil. How perfect. You can all just kill each other, yeah?”

“It’s our way of life.”

I nod. Wait. Who the hell entered me if it wasn’t Conan?

“Who?” I spit.

“Who, what?”

I take another step back until I crash into the wall.

“Entered me into your fucking games, Conan.”

He rubs his hands over his face.

“Ben. I’ve taken care of him. This time, properly. I shouldn’t have left that asshole breathing the first time.”

All the air is knocked out of my lungs.

“Why? And y-you killed him?” My hands shake.

Even now, I’m still not scared of this man.

“He did it to get back at me, Hallie. It wasn’t your fault. It was mine. I had no idea of his real family, his real last name. If I’d have known…”

“You’d have killed him quicker?” I fire back. This seems to be his solution to most things.

Violence. Hunting.

“Yes. And I’d kill him all over again for you. I’d kill anyone who hurts you, trouble.”

“You hurt me too,” I whisper, holding back my tears.

He slowly lifts his hand to me, wrapping his fingers around the gun, and I let go. His touch feels like fire.

“Then you have permission to do whatever you need to do. I told you before, I’m included in that list.” He lays the gun flat on his palm in front of me.

“No.”

I shake my head and let the tears fall. Losing him like this is hard enough. Losing him entirely—by my own hands? Never.

“Don’t make me ask you to leave again, Conan. We’re done.”

“I’m not giving up on us, trouble.”

He cages me in, his hands braced on the wall above me.

“I’ll make this right. I won’t lose you. I can’t.”

I press my palms against his chest, but I don’t push him away. His heart pounds against my hands.

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