Page 152 of Reckless Hearts

“I—I don’t…”

“Take it. Cash it. It’ll go through, I promise.”

My eyes pierce into hers.

“You have money as well as opportunity now. Your life can be whatever you want it to be. If you choose to make it nothing more than revenge for a guy who was a piece of shit rapist, by all means, come for me again. But you will not walk away. And if you come forher?” My chin nods at Dahlia, my eyes darkening. “If I even have adreamthat you’re after her, I’ll wear your fucking skin.”

Allison goes white, but she nods her head quickly. “I understand,” she says quietly.

“Good. Make what you will of your life. But this part of it isover. Do we understand each other?”

She nods again, turning to Dahlia with genuine sadness on her face. “I—”

“Do not look at her.”

She starts to cry as she drops her gaze. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to deceive you or to rope you into a trap or anything. I just… He wanted me to beyouwhen he filmed me…” she chokes. “And so I just wanted to know who you were. And…and be you, maybe. Just a little—”

Dahlia pushes past me and hugs Allison close. I frown and go to pull her back, but she shakes her head and shoves my hand away.

So I allow it for another minute before Dahlia finally lets me pull her from the embrace. I turn to look down at Allison.

“You will leave New York tonight.”

She nods quickly. “I understand.”

I wrap my jacket around Dahlia as I lead her to the door.

“Wait!”

Allison stands, chewing on her lip as her fingers pick at her cuticles. She looks scared.

“I…”

She looks terrified, actually.

“I’m not supposed to say anything,” she says quietly. “He made me swear on Chase’s memory…”

My jaw tightens as Dahlia and I turn and walk slowly back into the living room.

“Say anything about what, Allison?” I murmur darkly. “And who made you swear?”

She swallows, her face white as her eyes drag to Dahlia. “Your stepdad. He’s—”

I see the shadow in the window behind her, and I react on instinct.

“DOWN!”

I slam Dahlia to the floor, just as the glass shatters and the bullets start flying.

It’s over as quickly as it started. I yank Dahlia’s face to mine.

“Are you—!”

“I’m fine!” she blurts as I lurch to my feet, my gun out as I storm over to the window.

Whoever was out there on the fire escape has already gone, though.

“Deimos!”

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