Page 128 of A Smile Full of Lies
She knew I’d kill him.
She knew I’d throw away my life to avenge my family, and maybe it made me a selfish bastard, but I didn’t even give a shit about justice anymore. I just gave a shit abouther.
And she still did it anyway. She walked into that nightmare to keep me from becoming a vigilante and a convicted murderer.
My jaw locked. I leaned forward and brushed the backs of my fingers over hers.
“You weren’t supposed to be the one bleeding for this,” I whispered. “You were supposed to write the book. Close the chapter. Survive it.”
Her fingers didn’t move, but the heart monitor kept beeping. And I held onto that like it meant something.
NOVEMBER 3RD 6:00 AM
It started with a sound. A sharp inhale. Ragged. Wet around the edges. Then a groan — low and pained, barely more than a whisper.
My spine snapped straight.
“Ros?”
Her head shifted on the pillow, just slightly. Her brow pinched, her lips parting on another broken breath.
My chest cracked wide open.
I was out of the chair and beside the bed in half a second. Careful not to touch anything. Careful not to bump the tubes or wires or IVs. Her breathing hitched again, like every inhale was a fight.
“Rosalind,” I said, quiet but steady.
Her lashes fluttered. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
“Hey,” I whispered, stepping closer. “You’re safe. You’re in the hospital. Alyssa got you out. The surgeons—” My voice broke. “They did what they had to. You’re gonna be okay.”
Her eyes cracked open — glassy and dazed, but fuckingalive— and locked on mine.
And fuck, I could’ve dropped to my knees right then and there.
“Knox,” she rasped, the syllable frayed and half-formed, butmine.
I nodded, throat too tight to speak.
Tears slipped down her temples.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t know how else?—”
“No,” I said, finally finding my voice. “No apologies. Not right now.”
Her lip trembled.
“You’re mad at me.”
“Fuck yes, I’m mad,” I said, stepping closer. “You almostdied, Ros. You went behind my back. You took everything onto yourself.”
“I didn’t want you to go to prison,” she choked out. “If you knew it was him, I thought?—”
“You thoughtright,” I growled. “I would’ve killed him. Iwantedto kill him. I’m livid that Alyssa got the pleasure of avenging my family instead of me.”
She flinched.
“I’m sorry.”
