Page 24 of Reckless Covenant

“Why are you here?” I ignore her faint insult.

“It’s none of your fucking business, Serpent!” She crosses her arms, tight against her chest. “We both know you don’t concern yourself with feelings, so don’t pretend to give a shit now.”

Damn, I’m a fool, thinking that she has moved on from the shit I had to pull all those years ago. How many have passed now? Eight? Judging by the look in her eyes, even if twenty went by, her disdain toward me would be just as vivid.

I hurt her…

“What did he do?” I can’t lie and say her situation doesn’t bother me. It does. A lot.

I don’t miss the hitch in her shoulders.

“Who?” She feigns ignorance.

Stopping a few feet away from her, I cock my head and watch. I won’t entertain that question with a response.

She sighs, long and loud, exasperation in her tone, but her eyes tell a much more painful story as she concedes. “I can’t get out of it…”

“Why? What’s holding you?”

“I can achieve many things on my own, but this…” She shakes her head, and for a moment, she looks away in the distance, taking a deep breath before continuing. “It’s bigger than I am, and I don’t know how big. I’m some sort of card in an unknown game and I don’t know how many players are involved. I need an ally at the table.”

I nod. She’s caught in the middle of the game I’m already inserting myself into. I suspect somehow this was meant to be.

“You want to get away from Holt.”

“I have for a while now.” She sighs again.

Oh. Interesting.

I shove my hands in my pockets, narrowing my eyes on her. “But do you want out of the game?”

She blinks once, twice, cocking an eyebrow as her eyes defocus from me. I cock my head and the light that pours from behind me hits her pale face. Only it’s not as pale as it should be… not with the angry reddening on the side of it. The other side doesn’t look intact either now that I’m observing more clearly.

“He hit you.” My hands come out of my pockets, rolling into tight fists as I fight a growl.

She shakes her head, her eyes honest.

“My father. Ryan is more creative with his pain.”

Motherfucking O’Rourke!But I’m confused again. What the hell is she saying?! That fire in her eyes falters for a second.

“What doyouwant?”

She debates telling me for a moment too long.

“I want to be free. Free of him. Of them. I can’t marry him.”

“Run, then.” I know it’s a useless thing to say, yet I said it anyway.

“Never!” she seethes. “That son-of-a-bitch took one thing too many away from me. He doesn’t get to chase me out of my home too, my damn future! He has to pay. Iwillmake him pay!” She spits every single word, hate vibrating in her throat.

“How?”

She stands there, cocking her head and watching me intensely for a moment longer than I’m comfortable.

“You.” She drags out those letters, like a spell she’s mouthing under the light of the moon.

And I’m thoroughly enthralled, taking a step closer.

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