Page 26 of Entangled

I learned to hate this week.

But in that moment, I learn to hate myself.

“Presidente—” Mateo starts.

Turning toward Mateo, Sam puts both palms in the air with a grin. “I know, I know. I’ll save it for the Den.”

He winks down at me.

I want to pluck out his eyeballs so he can never do it again.

Every inch of flesh he touched feels infested, like something small and insidious has nested beneath it. I cross my arms, and let my nails dig into my elbows until the pain centers me.

“We aren’t going back to base,” Mateo contests hotly.

Just for a moment, his gaze darts from Sam to me, then to Madison. As quietly as I can, I bend down beside her as Mateo argues with the almighty leader about leaving tomorrow. I’m not sure if it’s meant as a distraction, but he and Sam both sound violent, and I see Owen and Logan and a handful of other hunters edging closer to them, like pack wolves around a fresh carcass.

“What hurts the most?” I whisper.

Madison’s face is tight with pain, her gray eyes dark as a cavernous rock. They fix on me, wide and incredulous. “Yousavedme.”

“As I’ve been trying to this whole time,” I snipe, and she blinks in shock.

Ignoring it, I look her over. Her arm looks the worst. The blood isn’t spurting, at least, but it is thick and flowing. Moving fast, I clean it as best I can and pull out some of the bandages they gave me from my bag, hoping they won’t notice I’m using them on her.

Sam shoves Mateo hard, and Logan rushes over, swearing. Another of Sam’s Sinners creeps around behind Logan, slipping his dagger into his palm.

“Move back,” I mutter, wondering if this is about to turn into a bloodbath.

Madison meets my gaze, still studying me, then nods slowly.

We edge backwards, staying low, as the group descends into shouts and shoves. For just a moment, I think I see a flash of movement in the highest trees in front of us, a flare of white between the green. I focus on the spot, staring with a frown as we move closer, but it doesn’t happen again. The leaves are steady and still. Shaking my head against the paranoia, I pick up my pace.

Couldwe escape? I can see the determination in Madison’s eyes, but this feels thoughtless. Reckless. I have a plan—and this isn’t it.

But I don’t stop moving.

We’re almost,almostto the trees when a shadow falls over us from behind.

“I’m sorry,chicas,” Mateo says, and shock makes my steps stutter. “There’s no escaping the boss.”

A boot lands between my shoulder blade and kicks me down into the dirt. I hardly notice. I’m reeling, and though I know—Iknow—I shouldn’t, I feel...betrayed.

“Fuck you,” Madison spits, and I hear a hard smack before she collapses next to me, a small mark already livid on her pale temple.

He’s going to hand us back to Sam. Despite all their issues, despite what Sam has planned... he’s going to do it.

“I helped you,” I say stupidly, my voice as small and hurt as I am.

“I know,” he says in a voice that weighs a thousand pounds. “But you belong to us now. We’re not letting you go.”

Chapter8

Dominic

Survival tip #118

If your feelings are beating you up,

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