Page 65 of When Sinners Rise
“You knew the risks. You went anyway.”
She looks at me like I just slapped her across the face. And maybe I did, but I didn’t say anything but the truth. She left me for a man she barely knew, with people she only just met, to go on the run with a criminal. She knew this. If that hurts, then so be it. We’ve both been through worse.
We finish our meal, but there’s little conversation before we go to bed. And I don’t sleep, either. I lie awake thinking of everything that might have been or could have happened. What might have happened to Naja. And if we’ll ever get back to the way things were before.
~
“Time to go.” Shaw knocks on the door to wake us.
My sense of time or even what day it is has deserted me.
“I’ll go and grab a shower first.” Naja rolls out of bed and straight into the bathroom.
After our brief words, there’s still tension and the weight of things left unsaid is rising. However, it’s not as easy as I thought it would be between us. I assumed being free and seeing me would be enough.
We get ready and leave the room. Shaw’s standing by the car.
“I want to know where we’re going.” Naja stops and crosses her arms, facing off at Shaw.
“I'm getting you somewhere safe that’s beyond the reach of my brothers. You don’t need to know any more.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to wash. I don’t trust you. I don’t care what my sister says.”
“Give it a rest, Naja. He’s not gone through all of this just to turn around and hand us both back.”
“No. They’ll simply wait until our defences are down and then do it. They’re ruthless, evil men who seem hellbent on revenge.”
“There’s nothing to seek revenge for,” I say, tired of this.
“Maybe for you.”
“Hey, we can do this if you want, but don’t think you’re the only one who has cause for revenge.” I keep my eyes on Naja and refuse to glance at Shaw.
“Yet you’re happily making puppy dog eyes at him. I don’t know what happened, Miri, but you really don’t know what these men are like.” She shakes her head, her voice cold and hard, and turns to storm off.
Shaw grabs her arm.
“Hey,” she snaps, ripping it from his grasp.
“Listen, I don’t give a fuck about you, but for once in my goddamn life, I’m going to make the right choice, and that’s to see Miri safe. What you do after that doesn't mean shit to me. I’m not here to make friends. Just get in the fucking car or call it now and I’ll drive off and leave you both in the dust. Good luck getting anywhere without my help.”
Hearing that he’d just up and leave us stings, and I’m snapped back to the reality that I have no clue what I’m doing or where my heart or feelings lie. There’s no future for me and Shaw. I shouldn’t want there to be a future between us, either.
Naja finally moves to open the back door. I can’t help but glance at Shaw, wanting to see if I can read his face and look for something that might tell me he wouldn’t just leave me after everything. But there’s nothing, and I get in after her.
“We’re heading for New York.”
“Why? Jackson’s not there. You made sure of that,” Naja accuses.
“Logan Cane,” Shaw announces, before starting the engine.
Naja looks at me, her eyes suddenly alert. I recognise the name, too. It was back when we were running with Jackson and went to Landon for help. He had a connection with him, but he was nervous to call in a favour.
“Logan Cane?” Naja questions.
“Yeah.”
CHAPTER TWENTY - FIVE
