Page 72 of The Viper

Of course there’s to be a caveat. “Which is?”

“You tell me where you are.”

“No, I can’t do that. I can’t risk Adrian busting down the door to get to Eliza.” And me. “It’s best if I don’t put you in the middle of it.”

“I’m already in the middle of all of this.”

“Don’t make me run away from you, please.” I swallow the hurt sitting in my throat. “Just let me go.”

He lifts his chin as he drives, refusing to look at me. We both know it has to end. My inner darkness coils in the corner. I hate having to give up a part of myself I’m just discovering in order to protect my sister, but that’s what has to happen for her to survive.

It’s the sacrifice I have to make.

“Where will you go?” Dominic’s voice is hard.

“I honestly don’t know.” And I wouldn’t tell him if I did.

He pulls up to his house and the gates open to let us in. Dominic drives around to the extensive garage and parks the car. My heart is heavy as I exit the car, but I quietly walk inside, head upstairs and get my clothes from his room. I walk down to the room I was in, and plonk everything on the bed. Taking my phone out of my pocket, I call Eliza. “Rose,” she says through heavy puffs.

“Are you safe?”

“Yeah, I’m hiding out. Are you okay?”

“I am.” My throat tightens with my lie. “I’m going to the bank in the morning. Can you meet me?”

“I’ll be there.” Neither of us says anything for what feels like forever. “Rose?”

My eyes well with tears. “Yeah,” I try to keep my voice even so she doesn’t hear the sadness choking me.

“Thank you.”

“You never have to thank me, Eliza. I’m your sister.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I hang up and throw my phone on the bed. I sink to the floor and cover my head with my arms as the tears begin falling. I hate how I’ve fallen for Dominic, but mostly, I hate having to leave him.

But family comes first.

Chapter eighteen

Dominic

One week later

I slam my fist into his jaw and hear a definite crack. I step back and spit to the ground. “I don’t know who,” Johnny whimpers.

I slam my fist twice more, one to the same spot on his jaw, the other to his nose. “Another sixty pounds has disappeared from here, Johnny. You’re the last one to touch the shipment.”

“Dominic, you know me. I’ve worked for your uncle for ten years and I’ve never had sticky fingers.” I smash him in the jaw again so he can wipe that fucking pleading look off his face.

Marco steps in and places his hand on my shoulder. “Dominic,” he murmurs under his breath.

“What?” I turn to square up with Marco, who takes a small step back.

“I swear to you, check the ledger,” Johnny begs. “On my Martha’s life.”

“Your daughter can’t help you.” I reach behind me to retrieve the gun jammed under the belt of my pants. Marco lifts his phone and nods before holding it out to me. I stare at Johnny as I snatch the phone out of Marco’s hand and walk away. “What?”

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