Page 275 of Entangled

Alastair can expose my lies as easily as I can his.

Taking a steadying breath, I walk forward until I’m standing beside Dom, who doesn’t budge.

“Dom,” I whisper, but he just shakes his head.

“You don’t know how dangerous he is,” he growls back quietly.

“I know what he is.” He’s a snake, and I am, too. Dom shouldn’t be trying to protect me right now. Alastair is my mistake. Slick with shame, I say, “Go with the others, Dom. Alastair and I have... an understanding.”

At that, Dom gives me a sharp look, but I can’t meet his eyes. Not now.

“Trust me,” I whisper, hating myself.

After only a moment’s hesitation, he nods. I could throw up from my nauseous guilt. Dom shouldn’t trust a word I say.

Dom doesn’t walk away, though... he sinks to a kneel beside me. My stomach jolts at the sight. There’s nothing submissive about it. There’s too much anger in him. Too much power and ease. Dominic would look dominant gagged and hog-tied.

Alastair gives me a considering look, and I hear the impatient rustles through the men surrounding us. How does he want to play this?

“Your timing is terrible,” he says with mild disapproval, and I nod as though this was our arrangement all along.

“I know. I’m sorry,” I agree meekly.

I’m hyperaware of Dom beside me, not even seeming to breathe. Of Heather staring at me like I’ve transformed into some shadow form of myself. I can feel Lucky, Jasper, and Beau behind me—can practically taste their confusion. My throat starts to ache, and my palms feel clammy.

I think I see a way out of this, but it might cost me everything.

Aaron pushes between the Sinners, spots of color blotching his cheeks. “No,no. That wasn’t the plan. They were planning on killing all of you. I was in the room, Bentley and Dom and thatbitchMadison had it all ready.”

There’s a dark rumble around the courtyard, and it reminds me of arriving in the Sinner’s camp. That same sense of stomach-churning threat coats the air.

Alastair’s eyes remain on mine, cold and dead and full of warning in his gorgeous face. “It doesn’t matter what they planned. Clever Eden and I had our own deal. She was meant to bring them while we were gone and Sam’s men were here alone so they could take care of that little problem for us. In exchange, I promised we’d leave their burned-out heap of a home alone.”

The rumble quietens at Alastair’s bored confidence, and Dom is stony silent beside me. Waiting. Listening. Does he believe Alastair? It’s a pretty blend of truth and lie. I did make a deal, and he was meant to leave Bristlebrook alone. There’s enough truth in it that I can feel the doubts rolling off our people.

Alastair’s displeasure makes divots in his brow. “But she didn’t contact me in time, and so our hand was forced... and nowIhave lost men. I don’t like losses, Eden.”

“Fuck you, bitch,” someone shouts from the balcony, and they’re joined by cruel, sneering jeers.

This situation is too volatile. It needs damage control, fast. I don’t know what kind of hold Alastair has on these men, but I know I can’t make him look weak. He’s the only person who might open a door for us to leave.

“She’s not loyal,” Aaron spits, coming up beside Alastair’s table. “She hates the Sinners. I’ve heard her. You can’t trust any of them—you need to kill them.”

There’s a frantic fear in his voice, and I understand it. I wouldn’t want Heather or my brutes alive and after me, either.

Sounds of agreement fill the room, and the ground starts to feel slippery under me. This is dangerous. Alastair might be willing to try to get us out of this, but I’ve seen his self-interest. If the mob turns against us, I know he won’t risk his position.

“Trust,” Alastair muses. His head tilts up, and the harsh lights limn him in silver. “It is so important in those we keep around us. Loyalty iseverything.”

Each word twists the hot, treacherous knife in my gut. My intestines feel knotted around it, and they slice with every turn. Loyalty is everything to Dom, too, and he’s had so little of it given to him.

Alastair looks down at his gun thoughtfully, then with a slow, casual grace, he lifts it, and shoots Aaron between his eyes.

I slap a hand over my mouth to muffle my scream.

Aaron slumps in a heap in front of Alastair, the back of his head a blown out, bloody mess. Red pools underneath him. I gag a little, but only partially from the sight.

Alastair killed him like he was swatting a fly.

---