Page 99 of Darkest Retribution

“Do what?”

To his credit, the man in front of me is perfectly calm. His skin is dry. His breaths are deep and unbothered. His eyes are merely questioning, like he’s not afraid. Like he doesn’t think I’m actually going to kill him.

Has he not realized it yet? What I can do? What I’m capable of?

Can you really do this, Jade? Can you really kill the man you’ve fallen so stupidly, foolishly hard for?

“I don’t have a choice. If I don’t, I’ll never see Rosie again. She might die. And I can’t let—she means everything to me, Dominic.”

“I know she does,” he says softly.

My gun hangs loosely in my hand. Why am I not pointing it at him? Why is he acting like this? “Dom...”

“Where is she?”

“I don’t know.”

He nods.

“This wasn’t part of my plan.Youweren’t part of my plan. I’m sorry I got you caught up in all of it. I truly am, grumpy. I didn’t mean to fall in love with you. But now I—”

I falter as his eyes slide shut. It takes another second for what I said to hit me.I didn’t mean to fall in love with you.

And he looks so... pained at those words.

You’re a despicable person, Jade Albright.

“My brother has her,” I say. “We were supposed to run. Me and her, tonight. We were supposed to be able to get away from him. But somehow David knew I’d try to leave, and he took her before we could get away. And now...” I choke on the rest of the words.

Dominic’s eyebrows shoot up while I try to swallow down the lump in my throat.

Just do it, Jade. Just kill him.

I raise the gun, aiming for his head.

But then Dominic does something I’ve never seen before in a situation like this. Normally if they see me coming, my marks beg for their lives. Cry. Piss themselves.

But Dominic?

Dominic smiles.

And then helaughs.

“I can’t believe I didn’t see it. You know, the two of you have always looked familiar, but I couldn’t place it until now.”

“What?” My grip on the gun tightens.

How the hell am I losing control of this situation?

“David is Rosie’s father, isn’t he? Your brother.You’rehis sister.”

I nod, mind whirring, trying to catch up.

How does he know that?

Why does it matter?

Dom shakes his head. “Jade Brown. Is that even your real name?”

---