Page 152 of Entangled

Walk away.

Just like that, my anger bleeds into something soft and aching. Understanding clicks into place. People have never had a problem walking away from me. My mother, my father, even Henry joined the Army without a glance backwards. I don’t know why this one should surprise me, but for some reason it does.

I was too difficult. I made it too hard for him to stay.

Of course he left.

Dom’s eyes, heavy and serious, travel over my face. “Jayk just needs some time to cool off, pet. Give him a few days and try again.”

“She’s not yours to take care of, Dom. Back off,” Beau says curtly, so cold and clipped that I recoil.

Something menacing charges across Dom’s face. “Then do a better job.”

No, this is wrong. Beau and Dom are a team. Their anger, Lucky’s panic, Jaykob’s pride. I’m in the middle of this whole mess and every single one of them is hurting because of me.

“Ugh, the testosterone,” Heather groans, and two sets of irritated gazes fly her way. “You need to get out of here, Eden? Just say the word and we can run away together. We’ll have a wonderful life.”

“Heather bailing out on us, how on-brand,” Beau mutters.

God,all of usneed to stop. Dom is right—the Sinners are still out there. That is the real threat. Women are still being kidnapped, and there are dozens more captive. Hurting. Afraid.

They’re going to come for us. Bristlebrook will be razed again—and at this rate, we’ll be too focused on our own drama to be properly prepared.

How am I meant to face them again? When it comes down to it, I know I’m not like Lucky, ready to take a bullet. I already know what I am.

I run. I hide. I poison in secret. I let prisoners run free. I lie about it.

But God, I can’t be alone again. I can’t go out into those woods, and...

Jayk is out in those woods. The Sinners are going to be marching right through there. Anything could happen to them out there.

My ribs tighten like bands around my panicked heartbeat. I stare up at Dom. “I’m sorry, but did you sayKaseywent with Jaykob? WithAkira? Why on earth would you send Kasey out there? She’s just a child. It’sdangerousout there.”

Dom’s brows lift slightly, but he keeps his calm, still watching me. “There’s no way the Sinners could get back here this fast. We have a few days at the earliest before they attack. The risk is minimal, and she insisted on joining them—she’s following him around like a puppy, ripped up her shirt to look just like him.” Dom snorts. “She idolizes him.”

I shake my head. Then I shake it again, not understanding. Kasey has been at his heels all week—of course she hero-worships him. But that’s all the more reason she should stay here. Sheisa puppy. A kid. Weak and vulnerable.

My throat feels tight. “That was a mistake, Dom. She shouldn’t be out there. I cannotbelieveyou approved that.”

“If we didn’t let her go, she would have trailed after them anyway.” Dom pauses, then looks at me dryly. “Much like someone else I know.”

“It’s still arisk,” I snap. “You should have kept her here.”

“Eden, do you really think Jayk would let anything happen to her?”

I lift a hand to my head. My heart is pounding, pounding, and I can’t slow it down. I can feel them all watching me, their eyes picking me apart.

Akira’s out with them. Akira who loathes me for killing Logan. Akira who can’t look at me without looking like she wants to peel the skin from my body.

She wouldn’t do something to Jayk to get back at me, would she?

“Jayk can’t protect Kasey. No one can. It doesn’t matter how many people she has around her, she’s in danger. Don’t you see that?”

“Akira doesn’t have a problem with anyone but you and Heather. She’s been good with the other civilians. Some time away from the two of you might do her some good. Jayk’s keeping an eye on her.” Dom lowers his voice. “Eden, is this really about Kasey? Or are you afraid for yourself?”

My chest is constricting, and I’m struggling for air.

My eyes flick from face to face—Dom, Heather, Beau—every one of them brave and steady and so much stronger than me.

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